Sekirov Dictionary

swoop

/ˈswuːp/

verb 6
noun 4
forms 5
phrases 2

verb6

•
To fly or glide downwards suddenly; to plunge (in the air) or nosedive.
- The lone eagle swooped down into the lake, snatching its prey, a small fish.
•
To move swiftly, as if with a sweeping movement, especially to attack something.
- The dog had enthusiastically swooped down on the bone.
To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing.
•
To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.
- Thus the Physitian looks with another Eye on the Medicinal hearb, then the grazing Oxe, which swoops it in with the common grass: […] — 1661
•
(UK, slang) To search the ground for discarded cigarette butts that can be made into new cigarettes.
- He was forever diving into dustbins or swooping on to the ground for cigarette ends. — 1989
•
To pass with pomp; to sweep.
- Proude Tamer swoopes along, with such a lustie traine / As fits so brave a flood two Countries that divides: […] — 1612

noun4

•
An instance, or the act of suddenly plunging downward.
- The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim. – Sun Tzu
•
A sudden act of seizing.
- Fortune's a right whore. If she give ought, she deals it in small parcels, that she may take away all at one swoop. — 1612
•
A quick passage from one note to the next.
- Originally, computers' attempts at making music were recognizable by their beeps and boops and weird swoops. — 2008
•
A group of swallows or other birds.
- an entire swoop of swallows plunges into a breach in time, so they can get across the pass at just the right moment. — 2022

forms

swooped · swooping · swoopeth · swoops · swoopest

Phrases with swoop

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