'Sweeping' definitions:

Definition of 'sweeping'

From: WordNet
adjective
Taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination; "a sweeping glance"; "a wide- sweeping view of the river"
adjective
Ignoring distinctions; "sweeping generalizations"; "wholesale destruction" [syn: sweeping, wholesale]
noun
The act of cleaning with a broom

Definition of 'Sweeping'

From: GCIDE
  • Sweep \Sweep\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swept; p. pr. & vb. n. Sweeping.] [OE. swepen; akin to AS. sw[=a]pan. See Swoop, v. i.]
  • 1. To pass a broom across (a surface) so as to remove loose dirt, dust, etc.; to brush, or rub over, with a broom for the purpose of cleaning; as, to sweep a floor, the street, or a chimney. Used also figuratively. [1913 Webster]
  • I will sweep it with the besom of destruction. --Isa. xiv. 23. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To drive or carry along or off with a broom or a brush, or as if with a broom; to remove by, or as if by, brushing; as, to sweep dirt from a floor; the wind sweeps the snow from the hills; a freshet sweeps away a dam, timber, or rubbish; a pestilence sweeps off multitudes. [1913 Webster]
  • The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies. --Isa. xxviii. 17. [1913 Webster]
  • I have already swept the stakes. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To brush against or over; to rub lightly along. [1913 Webster]
  • Their long descending train, With rubies edged and sapphires, swept the plain. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence, to carry in a stately or proud fashion. [1913 Webster]
  • And like a peacock sweep along his tail. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To strike with a long stroke. [1913 Webster]
  • Wake into voice each silent string, And sweep the sounding lyre. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Naut.) To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the bottom of a river with a net. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a telescope. [1913 Webster]
  • To sweep a mold or To sweep up a mold (Founding), to form the sand into a mold by a templet, instead of compressing it around the pattern. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Sweeping'

From: GCIDE
  • Sweeping \Sweep"ing\, a. Cleaning off surfaces, or cleaning away dust, dirt, or litter, as a broom does; moving with swiftness and force; carrying everything before it; including in its scope many persons or things; as, a sweeping flood; a sweeping majority; a sweeping accusation. -- {Sweep"ing*ly}, adv. -{Sweep"ing*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'sweeping'

From: Moby Thesaurus