swathe

Everyday

1. A swathe is a long, wide strip or area of land, crops or something else. tree →
2. To swathe something is to wrap it up in cloth or bandages. tree →
3. A swathe can be a large part of a group: «a swathe of the country». tree →

In the lessons

In nature and geography writing, «a swathe of forest» means a big strip of it. When grass or corn is cut with a scythe, each cut row is a swathe. «Cut a swathe through» means to move through and knock things down. In stories a hurt person is «swathed in bandages» or a baby «swathed in blankets».

Examples

• The fire burned a wide swathe of forest. tree →
• The baby was swathed in a warm blanket. tree →
• His arm was swathed in bandages. tree →
• The farmer cut the hay in long swathes. tree →
• A swathe of bluebells covered the wood. tree →
• Snow fell across a huge swathe of Canada. tree →

Note

Also spelt «swath» (especially in the US) for the strip meaning. Rhymes with «bathe». Regular verb: swathed.