ˈhu:və n. & v. --n. propr. a
vacuum cleaner (properly
one made by
the Hoover company). --v. (hoover) 1 tr. (also absol.)
clean (a
carpet etc.)
with a vacuum cleaner. 2 (foll. by up) a tr.
suck up with or as with a vacuum cleaner (hoovered up the crumbs). b absol. clean a
room etc. with a vacuum cleaner (decided to hoover up
before they arrived). [W. H. Hoover, Amer. manufacturer d. 1932]