swarm
1
[ swawrm ]
/ swɔrm /
noun
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
to swarm about, over, or in; throng; overrun.
to produce a swarm of.
Origin of swarm
1
before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English
swearm; cognate with German
Schwarm swarm, Old Norse
svarmr tumult; (v.) Middle English
swarmen, derivative of the noun
synonym study for swarm
3. See
crowd1.
OTHER WORDS FROM swarm
swarm·er, nounWords nearby swarm
swaption,
swaraj,
sward,
sware,
swarf,
swarm,
swarm cell,
swarm intelligence,
swart,
swarth,
swarthout
Definition for swarm (2 of 2)
swarm
2
[ swawrm ]
/ swɔrm /
verb (used with or without object)
to climb by clasping with the legs and hands or arms and drawing oneself up; shin.
Origin of swarm
2
First recorded in 1540–50; origin uncertain
Example sentences from the Web for swarm
British Dictionary definitions for swarm (1 of 2)
swarm
1
/ (swɔːm) /
noun
a group of social insects, esp bees led by a queen, that has left the parent hive in order to start a new colony
a large mass of small animals, esp insects
a throng or mass, esp when moving or in turmoil
verb
Word Origin for swarm
Old English
swearm; related to Old Norse
svarmr uproar, Old High German
swaram swarm
British Dictionary definitions for swarm (2 of 2)
swarm
2
/ (swɔːm) /
verb
(when intr, usually foll by up)
to climb (a ladder, etc) by gripping with the hands and feet
the boys swarmed up the rigging
Word Origin for swarm
C16: of unknown origin