Swoop

Pronunciation

• enPR: swÅ«p, IPA: /ˈswuːp/
• Rhymes: -uːp

Origin

From Middle English swopen, from Old English swāpan ("to sweep").

Full definition of swoop

Verb

1. (intransitive) to fly or glide downwards suddenly; to plunge (in the air) or nosediveThe lone eagle swooped down into the lake, snatching its prey, a small fish.
2. (intransitive) to move swiftly, as if with a sweeping movement, especially to attack somethingThe dog had enthusiastically swooped down on the bone.
• 1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen RabbitThere was a person called Nana who ruled the nursery. Sometimes she took no notice of the playthings lying about, and sometimes, for no reason whatever, she went swooping about like a great wind and hustled them away in cupboards.
3. (transitive) To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing.A hawk swoops a chicken.
4. (transitive) To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.
• DrydenAnd now at last you came to swoop it all.
• GlanvillThe grazing ox which swoops it medicinal herb in with the common grass.
5. To pass with pomp; to sweep.

Noun

1. an instance, or the act of suddenly plunging downwardThe quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim. – Sun Tzu
• 1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen RabbitOne evening, when the Boy was going to bed, he couldn't find the china dog that always slept with him. Nana was in a hurry, and it was too much trouble to hunt for china dogs at bedtime, so she simply looked about her, and seeing that the toy cupboard door stood open, she made a swoop.
2. an act of rushedly doing somethingFortune's a right whore. If she give ought, she deals it in small parcels, that she may take away all at one swoop. – John Webster
3. (music) passing quickly from one note to the next

Anagrams

• woops