swoop
Meaning
-
- To fly or glide downwards suddenly; to plunge (in the air) or nosedive.
- To move swiftly, as if with a sweeping movement, especially to attack something.
- To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing.
- To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.
- To pass with pomp; to sweep.
- (slang) To search the ground for discarded cigarette butts that can be made into new cigarettes.
Synonyms
nose dive
pounce on
round-up
swoop up
sudden attack
leap at
throw oneself on
power dive
sudden descent
straight thrust
Frequency
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈswuːp/
Etymology
In summary
From Middle English swopen, from Old English swāpan (“to sweep”). Doublet of swaip. See also sweep, which was probably the basis for analogical restoration of /w/ in this word.
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Notes