Definitions for: Swarm


[n] a group of insects
[n] a moving crowd
[v] move in large numbers; "people were pouring out of the theater"; "beggars pullulated in the plaza"
[v] be teeming, be abuzz; "The garden was swarming with bees"; "The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen"; "her mind pullulated with worries"



Webster (1913) Definition: Swarm, v. i. [Cf. Swerve.]
To climb a tree, pole, or the like, by embracing it with the
arms and legs alternately. See Shin. [Colloq.]

At the top was placed a piece of money, as a prize for
those who could swarm up and seize it. --W. Coxe.


Swarm, n. [OE. swarm, AS. swearm; akin to D. zwerm, G.
schwarm, OHG. swaram, Icel. svarmr a tumult, Sw. sv["a]rm a
swarm, Dan. sv[ae]rm, and G. schwirren to whiz, to buzz, Skr.
svar to sound, and perhaps to E. swear. [root]177. Cf.
Swerve, Swirl.]
1. A large number or mass of small animals or insects,
especially when in motion. ``A deadly swarm of hornets.''
--Milton.

2. Especially, a great number of honeybees which emigrate
from a hive at once, and seek new lodgings under the
direction of a queen; a like body of bees settled
permanently in a hive. ``A swarm of bees.'' --Chaucer.

3. Hence, any great number or multitude, as of people in
motion, or sometimes of inanimate objects; as, a swarm of
meteorites.

Those prodigious swarms that had settled themselves
in every part of it [Italy]. --Addison.

Syn: Multitude; crowd; throng.


Swarm, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Swarmed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Swarming.]
1. To collect, and depart from a hive by flight in a body; --
said of bees; as, bees swarm in warm, clear days in
summer.

2. To appear or collect in a crowd; to throng together; to
congregate in a multitude. --Chaucer.

3. To be crowded; to be thronged with a multitude of beings
in motion.

Every place swarms with soldiers. --Spenser.

4. To abound; to be filled (with). --Atterbury.

5. To breed multitudes.

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


Swarm, v. t.
To crowd or throng. --Fanshawe.

Synonyms: drove, horde, pour, pullulate, pullulate, stream, teem, teem

See Also: abound in, animal group, buzz, crawl, crowd, crowd, crowd together, hum, infestation, insect, plague, pour out, pullulate with, seethe, spill out, spill over, teem in

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