swarm

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Swarm

Wikipedia

PronunciationEdit

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ɔː(r)m

Etymology 1Edit

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”).

NounEdit

swarm of locusts.

swarm (plural swarms)

1. A large number of insects, especially when in motion or (for bees) migrating to a new colony.
   • Milton

     a deadly swarm of hornets

2. 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]

TranslationsEdit

Etymology 2Edit

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”).

VerbEdit

swarm (third-person singular simple present swarms, present participle swarming, simple past and past participle swarmed)

1. (intransitive) To move as a swarm.
2. (intransitive) To teem, or be overrun with insects, people, etc.
   • Spenser

     Every place swarms with soldiers.

3. (transitive) To fill a place as a swarm.
4. (transitive) To overwhelm as by an opposing army.
5. 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.

6. To breed multitudes.
   • Milton

     Not so thick swarmed once the soil / Bedropped with blood of Gorgon.

TranslationsEdit

See alsoEdit

• Appendix:English collective nouns

AnagramsEdit

• warms