English Explanatory Dictionary

sweeping

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. present participle and gerund of sweep
noun
  1. An instance of sweeping.
  2. The activity of sweeping.
adj
  1. Wide, broad, affecting or touching upon many things.
  2. Completely overwhelming.
  3. Moving in a continuous motion, rather than by intermittent jumps. (For example, the second hand on a clock face may move either in the sweeping manner or in the ticking manner.)

Pronunciation

/ˈswiːpɪŋ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-sweeping.wav

Word forms

sweeping sweepings more sweeping most sweeping

Etymology

By surface analysis, sweep + -ing.

Synonyms

across-the-board wide-ranging all around all-embracing all-encompassing blanket broad thick comprehensive exhaustive overall sound sweeping thorough catholic common ecumenical general generic nonsingular nonspecific universal unparticular unsingular unspecific

Derived words

at a sweeping reduction minesweeping sweeping day sweeping flood sweeping-machine sweeping rain sweepings oversweeping sweepingly sweepingness
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