swoop

1. (intransitive) To fly or glide downwards suddenly; to plunge (in the air) or nosedive.Examples: "The lone eagle swooped down into the lake, snatching its prey, a small fish."intransitive

2. (intransitive) To move swiftly, as if with a sweeping movement, especially to attack something.Examples: "The dog had enthusiastically swooped down on the bone."; "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."; "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."intransitive

3. (transitive) To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing.Examples: "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?"transitive

4. (transitive) To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.Examples: "Thus the Phyſitian looks with another Eye on the Medicinal hearb, then the grazing Oxe, which ſwoops it in with the common graſs: […]"; "And now at last you come to swoop it all."transitive

5. (intransitive) To pass with pomp; to sweep.Examples: "Proude Tamer swoopes along, with such a lustie traine / As fits so brave a flood two Countries that divides: […]"intransitive

6. (British, prison slang) To search the ground for discarded cigarette butts that can be made into new cigarettes.Examples: "He was forever diving into dustbins or swooping on to the ground for cigarette ends."; "Swooping is picking up discarded cigarette butts from the exercise yard and anywhere else they can be found."Britishslang