swipe
UK: swaɪp | US: swaɪp
vt. to strike or hit with a sweeping motion
vt. to steal or take something quickly
vi. to move one's hand or an object swiftly across a surface (e.g., a touchscreen)
n. an act of swiping
The word "swipe" originates from Old English swīpan, meaning "to sweep or strike forcefully." Over time, it evolved to describe a sweeping motion, whether physical (e.g., hitting) or metaphorical (e.g., stealing). The modern sense of "swiping" a touchscreen reflects the same sweeping gesture. The silent "e" is a vestige of Middle English spelling conventions.
He tried to swipe the ball away from the opponent.
The thief swiped her phone when she wasn’t looking.
Swipe left to delete the email.
She gave the table a quick swipe with a cloth.
The cat swiped at the dangling toy.