swipe

10 definitions • 12 examples

to hit or try to hit something, especially with a sideways movement:

She opened the window and swiped at the flies with a rolled-up newspaper to make them go out.

UK She swiped him round the head.

mainly US The car swiped the side of the garage as he pulled out.

to steal:

Okay, who swiped my keys?

to move a card containing information stored on a magnetic strip through a device that reads this information

to move your finger over the screen of a mobile phone or tablet in order to move onto the next page, choose something, etc.:

Swipe left to see more search results.

a criticism of someone or something, or an attempt to annoy them or damage it:

In a recent interview, she takes a swipe at the theatre management.

an act of hitting or trying to hit someone or something:

Ed took a swipe at the ball and missed.

to hit or try to hit something, esp. with a sideways movement of the arm:

[ I always + adv/prep ] Ray swiped at a tear running down his cheek.

to steal:

He was trying to swipe a sweatshirt.

a sideways movement of the arm in an attempt to hit something:

No one took a swipe at the ball or tried to knock it away from me.

fig. Thomas took a swipe at his competitors (= criticized them).

to pass a swipe card through a machine that can read the information stored on the card's magnetic strip:

Many shops still have the facility to swipe your card if the pin machine isn't working.