swoop
[verb]
Synonyms:
- pounce, descend, dive, rush, stoop, sweep
[noun]
Synonyms:
- pounce, descent, drop, lunge, plunge, rush, stoop, sweep

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. swoop¹ /swuːp/ verb [intransitive]
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: swope 'to sweep' (11-19 centuries), from Old English swapan; ⇒ sweep¹]

1. if a bird or aircraft swoops, it moves suddenly down through the air, especially in order to attack something:
The eagle hovered, ready to swoop at any moment.
swoop down/over/across etc
A helicopter suddenly swooped down.

2. written if the police, army etc swoop on a place, they go there without any warning in order to look for someone or something
swoop on
Drug officers swooped on several addresses in London last night.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. swoop² noun [countable]

1. a sudden surprise attack on a place in order to get something or take people away – used especially in news reports
swoop on
Police arrested a man in a swoop on his house last night.

2. a swooping movement or action
⇒ at/in one fell swoop at fell⁴

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

swoop
verb
ADV. low An eagle swooped low over the trees.
suddenly | down, in
PREP. on, over, towards (figurative) Customs officers swooped on several houses last night looking for drugs.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

swoop
swu:p
See: at one fell swoop

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲