What does "sweepage" mean?
The crop of hay obtained from a meadow.
Sweepage
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The crop of hay obtained from a meadow.
- Grammar: sweepage is listed as noun.
- Usage evidence: This right is defined by Lord Coke to extend to the enjoyment of the corn, grass, underwood, sweepage (i.e. everything which falls to the sweep of the scythe), and the like, but not to houses, timber, trees, or mines, .or inany way to the land itself
How to use "sweepage"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "sweepage" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "sweepage" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "sweepage" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "sweepage" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "sweepage" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with a nearby word before publishing so the final choice matches the reader's expectations.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "sweepage", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The crop of hay obtained from a meadow. UK, countable, dialectal, uncountable
"This right is defined by Lord Coke to extend to the enjoyment of the corn, grass, underwood, sweepage (i.e. everything which falls to the sweep of the scythe), and the like, but not to houses, timber, trees, or mines, .or inany way to the land itself"
- 2 The process by which gases passing beneath the electrodes of an electrostatic precipitator pick up dust from the hoppers, removing it from the precipitator exit. countable, uncountable
"One consequence of poor gas flow is hopper sweepage. High gas flow near the bottom of the precipitator and improper baffling can cause gas flow into the hopper area."
- 3 Detritus that is swept up with a broom or similar implement. countable, uncountable
"The drainage, or flow of suds into road ditches or borders, or the drainage of water upon the road itself, as well as any pollution of the same by rubbish, stones, and sweepage from houses or stables, etc., is prohibited."
- 4 The circuit of an oscilloscope used to track the time dimension. countable, uncountable
"The transient visualizer used in the past were mostly of types in which the voltage for the time sweepage is generated by a relaxation oscillation circuit made up of a hot-cathode discharge tube, say, a thyratron, and a condenser, and the control voltage for the generation of the transient to be observed is also generated by the same circuit."
- 5 The act of sweeping or flowing. countable, uncountable
"A drainage gallery of size 1.524 m. -- 0m. x 2.1336 m. -- 0.152 m. runs almost throughout the entire length of the main dam, to intercept sweepage water from the reservoir."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 The movement of matter by a current. countable, uncountable
"In reservoirs characterized by the presence of well-connected high-permeability streaks, early breakthrough and subsequent water buildup occur due to sweepage along high-permeability channels."
- 7 The matter that has been moved by a current. countable, uncountable
"The mangrove becomes a solid barrier there, which by its strong, arched and labyrinthine roots collects the sweepage of the fresh water and the salt and holds back the parent sea."
- 8 The state when a sweepboat is moving faster than the current of the water. countable, uncountable
"He explained that a sweepboat, given the opportunity, will quickly accelerate beyond the speed of the current. This speed is called sweepage, and only when you have sweepage can you effectively sweep."
Example
"This right is defined by Lord Coke to extend to the enjoyment of the corn, grass, underwood, sweepage (i.e. everything which falls to the sweep of the scythe), and the like, but not to houses, timber, trees, or mines, .or inany way to the land itself"
Common questions
How do you use "sweepage" in a sentence?
This right is defined by Lord Coke to extend to the enjoyment of the corn, grass, underwood, sweepage (i.e. everything which falls to the sweep of the scythe), and the like, but not to houses, timber, trees, or mines, .or inany way to the land itself
Etymology
From sweep + -age.