Wischbewegung

Wischbewegung is a German term describing a sweeping, wiping motion performed with a hand, cloth, brush, or another tool across a surface. It denotes a glide or sweep rather than a specific technical procedure, and its precise meaning depends on the context in which it is used.

In everyday language, a Wischbewegung refers to actions such as wiping a surface, dusting, mopping, or spreading a substance (for example lotion) with a broad, flowing motion. The emphasis is on the continuous, curved or angled path of the movement.

In the field of human–computer interaction, the related concept is the swipe gesture. A Wischbewegung here describes dragging a finger or stylus across a touchscreen to navigate, dismiss items, or invoke actions. German-language documentation often uses the terms Wischen or Wischgeste to describe the action, with Wischbewegung serving as a descriptive noun.

In film and video editing, the analogous motion is a wipe transition. Duitse terminology commonly uses Wischblende or Wischeffekt to denote a transition where a shape or line sweeps across the frame to reveal or conceal the next scene; Wischbewegung can be used to describe the underlying sweeping motion of the transition.

In painting and art, a Wischbewegung may describe a sweeping brushstroke that distributes pigment along a curved or diagonal path, contributing to a sense of motion or texture.

Etymology: from Wisch (wipe) and Bewegung (motion). The term is primarily used in German-language contexts and can be translated as wipe motion or swipe motion in English.