hoover
hoover Lexical Profile
hoover Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British An electrical household appliance that cleans floors, carpets, and upholstery by drawing in dust and dirt through suction; a vacuum cleaner.
"She plugged in the hoover to clean up the crumbs around the dining table."
• verb
British To clean a surface, room, or carpet using a vacuum cleaner.
"He spent Saturday morning hoovering the living room and hallway before the guests arrived."
To consume, devour, or take in something (especially food or resources) rapidly and eagerly, often with 'up'.
"The hungry teenagers hoovered up the entire plate of sandwiches in less than five minutes."
Word Nuance & Usage
Originally a proprietary trademark (Hoover), the lowercase form 'hoover' has become the standard generic term for a vacuum cleaner and the act of vacuuming in British English, whereas American English overwhelmingly favors 'vacuum'.
• Rhymes for hoover
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 20th century as a genericized trademark from The Hoover Company, founded by American businessman William Henry Hoover (1849–1932), who purchased the patent for the electric suction sweeper in 1908.