Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

            I will sweep it with the besom of destruction.
                                                  --Isa. xiv.
                                                  23.

   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.

            The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies. --Isa.
                                                  xxviii. 17.

            I have already swept the stakes.      --Dryden.

   3. To brush against or over; to rub lightly along.

            Their long descending train, With rubies edged and
            sapphires, swept the plain.           --Dryden.

   4. To carry with a long, swinging, or dragging motion; hence,
      to carry in a stately or proud fashion.

            And like a peacock sweep along his tail. --Shak.

   5. To strike with a long stroke.

            Wake into voice each silent string, And sweep the
            sounding lyre.                        --Pope.

   6. (Naut.) To draw or drag something over; as, to sweep the
      bottom of a river with a net.

   7. To pass over, or traverse, with the eye or with an
      instrument of observation; as, to sweep the heavens with a
      telescope.

   {To sweep, or sweep up}, {a mold} (Founding), to form the
      sand into a mold by a templet, instead of compressing it
      around the pattern.

Swept \Swept\,
   imp. & p. p. of {Sweep}.

Source : WordNet®

swept
     adj : possessing sweep; "the sleek swept wings of the plane" [ant:
            {unswept}]

sweep
     n 1: a wide scope; "the sweep of the plains" [syn: {expanse}]
     2: someone who cleans soot from chimneys [syn: {chimneysweeper},
         {chimneysweep}]
     3: winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge [syn: {slam}]
     4: a long oar used in an open boat [syn: {sweep oar}]
     5: (American football) an attempt to advance the ball by
        running around the end of the line [syn: {end run}]
     6: a movement in an arc; "a sweep of his arm"
     [also: {swept}]

sweep
     v 1: sweep across or over; "Her long skirt brushed the floor"; "A
          gasp swept cross the audience" [syn: {brush}]
     2: move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions; "The diva
        swept into the room"; "Shreds of paper sailed through the
        air"; "The searchlights swept across the sky" [syn: {sail}]
     3: sweep with a broom or as if with a broom; "Sweep the crumbs
        off the table"; "Sweep under the bed" [syn: {broom}]
     4: force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of
        action; "They were swept up by the events"; "don't drag me
        into this business" [syn: {embroil}, {tangle}, {sweep up},
         {drag}, {drag in}]
     5: to cover or extend over an area or time period; "Rivers
        traverse the valley floor", "The parking lot spans 3
        acres"; "The novel spans three centuries" [syn: {cross}, {traverse},
         {span}]
     6: clean by sweeping; "Please sweep the floor"
     7: win an overwhelming victory in or on; "Her new show dog
        swept all championships"
     8: cover the entire range of
     9: make a big sweeping gesture or movement [syn: {swing}, {swing
        out}]
     [also: {swept}]

swept
     See {sweep}