swarm
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents
English[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
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Audio (US) (file)
- Rhymes: -ɔː(r)m
Etymology 1[edit]
From Middle English swarm, from Old English swearm (“swarm, multitude”), from Proto-Germanic *swarmaz (“swarm, dizziness”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“to buzz, hum”). Cognate with Scots swarm (“swarm”), Dutch zwerm (“swarm”), German Schwarm (“swarm”), Danish sværm (“swarm”), Swedish svärm (“swarm”), Icelandic svarmur (“tumult, swarm”), Latin susurrus (“whispering, humming”), Lithuanian surma (“a pipe”), Russian свирель (svirel', “a pipe, reed”).
Noun[edit]
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swarm (plural swarms)
- A large number of insects, especially when in motion or (for bees) migrating to a new colony.
- Milton
- a deadly swarm of hornets
- Milton
- A mass of people, animals or things in motion or turmoil.
- a swarm of meteorites
- Addison
- those prodigious swarms that had settled themselves in every part of it [Italy]
Translations[edit]
large number of insects
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a mass of people or animals in turmoil
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
Etymology 2[edit]
From Middle English swarmen, swermen, from Old English swierman (“to swarm”), from Proto-Germanic *swarmijaną (“to swarm”). Cognate with Scots swairm, swerm (“to swarm”), Dutch zwermen (“to swarm”), German schwärmen (“to swarm”), Danish sværme (“to swarm”), Swedish svärma (“to swarm”).
Verb[edit]
swarm (third-person singular simple present swarms, present participle swarming, simple past and past participle swarmed)
- (intransitive) To move as a swarm.
- (intransitive) To teem, or be overrun with insects, people, etc.
- Spenser
- Every place swarms with soldiers.
- Spenser
- (transitive) To fill a place as a swarm.
- (transitive) To overwhelm as by an opposing army.
- To climb by gripping with arms and legs alternately.
- W. Coxe
- At the top was placed a piece of money, as a prize for those who could swarm up and seize it.
- 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, chapter 55
- She called out, and a boy came running along. He swarmed up a tree, and presently threw down a ripe nut. Ata pierced a hole in it, and the doctor took a long, refreshing draught.
- W. Coxe
- To breed multitudes.
- Milton
- Not so thick swarmed once the soil / Bedropped with blood of Gorgon.
- Milton
Translations[edit]
to teem, or be overrun with insects
to overwhelm
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to climb by gripping with arms and legs
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
