Swoop vs Swipe - What's the difference?

In intransitive terms the difference between swoop and swipe

is that swoop is to move swiftly, as if with a sweeping movement, especially to attack something while swipe is to grab or bat quickly.

In transitive terms the difference between swoop and swipe

is that swoop is to seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep while swipe is to scan or register by sliding something through a reader.

swoop

English

Verb

(en-verb) (intransitive)

to fly or glide downwards suddenly; to plunge (in the air) or nosedive

The lone eagle swooped down into the lake, snatching its prey, a small fish.

to move swiftly, as if with a sweeping movement, especially to attack something

The dog had enthusiastically swooped down on the bone.

* 1922 , (Margery Williams), (The Velveteen Rabbit)

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.

To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing.

A hawk swoops a chicken.

To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.

* Dryden

And now at last you came to swoop it all.

* Glanvill

The grazing ox which swoops it [the medicinal herb] in with the common grass.

To pass with pomp; to sweep.

(Drayton)

Noun

(en noun)

an instance, or the act of suddenly plunging downward

The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim. – Sun Tzu

* 1922 , (Margery Williams), (The Velveteen Rabbit)

One evening, when the Boy was going to bed, he couldn't find the china dog that always slept with him. Nana was in a hurry, and it was too much trouble to hunt for china dogs at bedtime, so she simply looked about her, and seeing that the toy cupboard door stood open, she made a swoop .

an act of rushedly doing something

Fortune's a right whore. If she give ought, she deals it in small parcels, that she may take away all at one swoop . – John Webster

(music) passing quickly from one note to the next

Anagrams

swipe

English

Verb

(swip)

To steal or snatch.

Hey! Who swiped my lunch?

* 1968 , , 00:48:18:

"Maybe I could swipe some Tintex from the five-and-dime."

To scan or register by sliding something through a reader.

He swiped his card at the door.

To grab or bat quickly.

The cat swiped at the shoelace.

Noun

(countable) A quick grab, bat, or other motion with the hand or paw; A sweep.

(countable) A strong blow given with a sweeping motion, as with a bat or club.

(countable, informal) A rough guess; an estimate or swag.

Take a swipe at the answer, even if you're not sure.

(uncountable) Poor, weak beer; small beer.