Definitions for: Swoop


[n] a swift descent through the air
[n] a very rapid raid
[n] (music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale; "the violinist was indulgent with his swoops and slides"
[v] seize or catch with a swooping motion
[v] move down on as if in an attack; "The raptor swooped down on its prey"; "The teacher swooped down upon the new students"
[v] move with a sweep, or in a swooping arc



Webster (1913) Definition: Swoop, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swooped; p. pr. & vb. n.
Swooping.] [OE. swopen, usually, to sweep, As. sw[=a]pan to
sweep, to rush; akin to G. schweifen to rove, to ramble, to
curve, OHG. sweifan to whirl, Icel. sveipa to sweep; also to
AS. sw[=i]fan to move quickly. Cf. Sweep, Swift, a. & n.,
Swipe, Swivel.]
1. To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing;
as, a hawk swoops a chicken.

2. To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.

And now at last you came to swoop it all. --Dryden.

The grazing ox which swoops it [the medicinal herb]
in with the common grass. --Glanvill.


Swoop, v. i.
1. To descend with closed wings from a height upon prey, as a
hawk; to swoop.

2. To pass with pomp; to sweep. [Obs.] --Drayton.


Swoop, n.
A falling on and seizing, as the prey of a rapacious bird;
the act of swooping.

The eagle fell, . . . and carried away a whole litter
of cubs at a swoop. --L'Estrange.

Synonyms: pounce, slide, swoop up

See Also: come down, descend, descent, fall, foray, glissando, go down, maraud, move, raid, snap, snatch, snatch up, stoop

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