swoop

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.

• enPR: swūp, IPA^(key): /ˈswuːp/
• (obsolete) enPR: sūp, IPA^(key): /ˈsuːp/

• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -uːp

swoop (third-person singular simple present swoops, present participle swooping, simple past and past participle swooped)

1. (intransitive) 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.

2. (intransitive) To move swiftly, as if with a sweeping movement, especially to attack something.

   The dog had enthusiastically swooped down on the bone.

   • 1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:

     There 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.

   • 2022 January 12, Howard Johnston, “Regional News: Scotland”, in RAIL, number 948, page 19:

     Bridge of Weir: Protection of the site of the former Kilmacolm branch station (closed on January 3 1983) has been lifted, and developers have swooped in with plans for new housing.

3. (transitive) To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing.
   • Quoted in 1971, The Scriblerian (volumes 4-5, page 2)

     And his Eagles, which can with the same ease as a kite swoops a chicken, snatch up a strong built Chamber of wood 12 foot square, & well crampt & fortified with Iron, with all its furniture, & a man besides, & carry it to the Clouds?

4. (transitive) To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.
   • 1661, Joseph Glanvill, “An Apology for Philosophy”, in The Vanity of Dogmatizing: Or Confidence in Opinions. , London: E. C for Henry Eversden , →OCLC, page 247:

     Thus the Phyſitian looks with another Eye on the Medicinal hearb, then the grazing Oxe, which ſwoops it in with the common graſs:

   • 1670, John Dryden, The Conquest of Granada:

     And now at last you come to swoop it all.

5. (intransitive) To pass with pomp; to sweep.
   • 1612, Michael Drayton, “(please specify the chapter)”, in , editor, Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other Parts of this Renowned Isle of Great Britaine, , London: for M Lownes; I Browne; I Helme; I Busbie, →OCLC, page 6:

     Proude Tamer swoopes along, with such a lustie traine / As fits so brave a flood two Countries that divides:

6. (British, prison slang) To search the ground for discarded cigarette butts that can be made into new cigarettes.
   • 1989, Michael Bettsworth, Marking Time: A Prison Memoir, page 32:

     He was forever diving into dustbins or swooping on to the ground for cigarette ends.

   • 2015, Noel 'Razor' Smith, The Criminal Alphabet: An A-Z of Prison Slang:

     Swooping is picking up discarded cigarette butts from the exercise yard and anywhere else they can be found.

swoop (plural swoops)

1. 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

   • 1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit:

     One 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.

   • 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 151:

     The switchback road to Diabaig - pronounced 'Jer-vague' - passes through some of the most exhilarating scenery in Scotland. With a final swoop, the road plummets down into Diabaig, where cottages are dotted across the slopes of a rocky semi-circle.

2. A sudden act of seizing.
   • 1612, John Webster, The White Devil:

     Fortune's a right whore. If she give ought, she deals it in small parcels, that she may take away all at one swoop.

3. (music) A quick passage from one note to the next.
   • 2008, Russell Dean Vines, Composing Digital Music For Dummies, page 281:

     Originally, computers' attempts at making music were recognizable by their beeps and boops and weird swoops.

• one fell swoop