Definition of "swath" [swath]

• The width of a scythe stroke or a mowing-machine blade. (noun)
• A path of this width made in mowing. (noun)
• The mown grass or grain lying on such a path. (noun)
• Something likened to a swath; a strip. (noun)
• Cut a swath To create a great stir, impression, or display: "He cut a bold and even sacrificial swath across American politics” ( Gail Sheehy). (idiom)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Through Tonight: The evening's looking pretty pleasant as the main swath of cloudiness holds off until after sunset."
• "The Michoud Assembly Facility east of New Orleans and the Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss., both were located along the main swath of the storm's devastation."
• "Bill Cosby tried, Chatter, but he got attacked for his sexual piccadilloes (a method used to silence his otherwise pithy words about what’s wrong with these certain young blacks - BTW, let’s not paint any other blacks with this brush …. the swath is narrow … it only includes those young men and women who commit the crimes and intimidate others)."