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swoop

swoop

13 4.6
A quick, sweeping movement down through the air often by a bird or plane
  • noun
  • /swup/
translation icon : picado
  • During the aerial display, the fighter jets performed impressive swoops that thrilled the crowd.

Examples

  • I opened them in time to see a large seagull swoop down and pick the golf ball off the tee in its curved, yellow beak.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • In one fell swoop, the visible universe was enlarged by an inconceivable factor, eventually trillions of times over.

    Academic text (2009)
  • As it took off with a swoop of wings, I pointed out the great bird to Mother.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • I managed to purchase most of the Singer Sewing Reference Library in one fell swoop a couple of years ago.

    Blog text (30)
  • Many of these strategies save money, help alleviate poverty, and create healthier environments—all in one fell swoop.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The hawk made a swift swoop down to catch its prey from the grassy field.

  • With a graceful swoop, the eagle descended from the cliff to capture the fish below.

Synonyms

dive
vsswoop
  • Specialized
26 6.5

A steep nose-down descent by an aircraft during a maneuver

is a sweeping descent that is less vertical and more arcing
plunge
vsswoop
20 4.0

A steep sudden fall from a higher to a lower level

is a swift sweeping descent through the air rather than a general fall
nosedive
vsswoop
4 5.6

A sudden steep fall of a plane with its front pointing down

is a swift sweeping descent that is less abrupt and more arcing

Idioms

A single sudden action that happens all at once

How Swift

dive
104 1.0
plunge
20 4.0
swoop
13 4.6
drop
45 1.0
descent
89 3.7

Surface Forms

swoop singular
swoops plural

Etymology

Swoop comes from a sound word like swoosh that suggests a sudden drop. So a swoop is a quick, sweeping descent by a bird or aircraft.