swathe

swathe¹ [sweıð US swa:ð, swo:ð, sweıð] n also swath [swɔθ US swa:θ]

[: Old English; Origin: swAth 'footstep, track']

1.) a long thin area of something, especially land

swathe of

▪ The bomb had left a swathe of the town centre in ruins.

▪ A swathe of sunlight lay across the floor.

2.) a long thin area of grass or plants that has been cut down

▪ We cut a swathe through the dense undergrowth.

3.) cut a swathe through sth

to destroy a large amount or part of something

swathe ²

swathe² v [T usually in passive] literary

[: Old English; Origin: swathian]

to wrap or cover something in something

▪ women swathed in expensive furs

▪ The moon was swathed in mist.