2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone makes a sweeping statement or generalization, they make a statement which applies to all things of a particular kind, although they have not considered all the relevant facts carefully. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It is far too early to make sweeping statements about gene therapy.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Sweeping changes are large and very important or significant. □ The new government has started to make sweeping changes in the economy.
4 → see also sweep
sweep|stake /swiː pste I k/ (sweepstakes ) N‑COUNT A sweepstake is a method of gambling in which each person pays a small amount of money and is given the name of a competitor before a race or contest. The person who has the name of the winner receives all the money.
sweet ◆◇◇ /swiː t/ (sweeter , sweetest , sweets )
1 ADJ Sweet food and drink contains a lot of sugar. □ …a mug of sweet tea. □ If the sauce seems too sweet, add a dash of vinegar. ● sweet|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ Florida oranges have a natural sweetness.
2 N‑COUNT Sweets are small sweet things such as toffees, chocolates, and mints. [BRIT ] in AM, use candy 3 N‑VAR A sweet is something sweet, such as fruit or a pudding, that you eat at the end of a meal, especially in a restaurant. [BRIT ] □ The sweet was a mousse flavoured with coffee. in AM, use dessert 4 ADJ A sweet smell is a pleasant one, for example the smell of a flower. □ She'd baked some bread which made the air smell sweet.
5 ADJ If you describe something such as air or water as sweet , you mean that it smells or tastes pleasantly fresh and clean. □ I gulped a breath of sweet air.
6 ADJ A sweet sound is pleasant, smooth, and gentle. □ Her voice was as soft and sweet as a young girl's. □ …the sweet sounds of Mozart. ● sweet|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ He sang much more sweetly than he has before.
7 ADJ If you describe something as sweet , you mean that it gives you great pleasure and satisfaction. [WRITTEN ] □ There are few things quite as sweet as revenge.
8 ADJ If you describe someone as sweet , you mean that they are pleasant, kind, and gentle towards other people. □ How sweet of you to think of me! ● sweet|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ I just smiled sweetly and said no.
9 ADJ If you describe a small person or thing as sweet , you mean that they are attractive in a simple or unsophisticated way. [INFORMAL ] □ …a sweet little baby girl. □ The house was really sweet.
10 → see also sweetly , sweetness
11 a sweet tooth → see tooth
swee t and sou r also sweet-and-sour ADJ [ADJ n] Sweet and sour is used to describe Chinese food that contains both a sweet flavour and something sharp or sour such as lemon or vinegar.
sweet|bread /swiː tbred/ (sweetbreads ) N‑COUNT Sweetbreads are meat obtained from the pancreas of a calf or a lamb.
sweet|corn /swiː tkɔ r n/ also sweet corn N‑UNCOUNT Sweetcorn is a long rounded vegetable covered in small yellow seeds. It is part of the maize plant. The seeds themselves can also be referred to as sweetcorn .
sweet|en /swiː t ə n/ (sweetens , sweetening , sweetened )
1 VERB If you sweeten food or drink, you add sugar, honey, or another sweet substance to it. □ [V n] He liberally sweetened his coffee. □ [V n + with ] The Australians fry their bananas and sweeten them with honey.
2 VERB If you sweeten something such as an offer or a business deal, you try to make someone want it more by improving it or by increasing the amount you are willing to pay. □ [V n] They may have to sweeten the deal to keep investors on board.
sweet|en|er /swiː tənə r / (sweeteners )
1 N‑VAR Sweetener is an artificial substance that can be used in drinks instead of sugar.
2 N‑COUNT A sweetener is something that you give or offer someone in order to persuade them to accept an offer or business deal.
sweet|heart /swiː thɑː r t/ (sweethearts )
1 N‑COUNT You call someone sweetheart if you are very fond of them. □ Happy birthday, sweetheart.
2 N‑COUNT Your sweetheart is your boyfriend or your girlfriend. [JOURNALISM , OLD-FASHIONED ] □ I married Shurla, my childhood sweetheart, in Liverpool.
sweetie /swiː ti/ (sweeties )
1 N‑COUNT You can call someone sweetie if you are fond of them, especially if they are younger than you. [INFORMAL ]
2 N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a sweetie , you mean that they are kind and nice. [INFORMAL ]
3 N‑COUNT Sweets are sometimes referred to as sweeties by children or by adults speaking to children. [BRIT ]
sweet|ish /swiː t I ʃ/ ADJ A sweetish smell or taste is fairly sweet.
sweet|ly /swiː tli/
1 ADV [ADV with v] If an engine or machine is running sweetly , it is working smoothly and efficiently. □ He heard the car engine running sweetly beyond the open door.
2 ADV [ADV with v] If you kick or hit a ball sweetly , you kick or hit it in the very middle of it so that it goes firmly and accurately to the place you are aiming for. □ He could strike the ball as sweetly as when he was 28 years younger.
3 → see also sweet
sweet|meat /swiː tmiːt/ (sweetmeats ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Sweetmeats are sweet items of food, especially ones that are considered special. [OLD-FASHIONED ]