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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Swarm

Swarm, n.

noun

n. [A-S. swearm, O. H. Ger. swârm, N. H. Ger. schwarm, D. zwerm, Icel. sverm, Sw. & Dan. svärm, from the root of Ger. schwirren, to make a sharp, shrill, or piercing noise, Skr. swar, to sound.]

  1. A large number of small animals or insects, especially when in motion. “A deadly swarm of hornets.” Milton.
  2. Especially, a great number of honey bees which emigrate from a hive at once, and seek new lodgings under the direction of a queen; or a like body of bees united and settled permanently in a hive.
  3. Hence, any great number or multitude, as of people in motion, or sometimes of inanimate objects.

Syn. — Multitude; crowd; throng.

Swarm, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. SWARMED; p. pr. & vb. n. SWARMING.] [A-S. swēarmian, L. Ger. swarmen, H. Ger. schwärmen, D. zwermen, Sw. svärma, Dan. svärme.]

  1. To collect and depart from a hive by flight in a body, as 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; to run.

In crowds around the swarming people join. Dryden. 3. To be crowded; to be thronged with a multitude of animals in motion. Every place swarms with soldiers. Spenser.

  1. To abound; to be filled, as with a number or crowd of objects.
  2. To breed multitudes.

Not so thick swarmed once the soil Bedropped with blood of Gorgon. Milton. 6. [Allied to worm, or to swarm, sware, 3.] To climb, as a tree, by embracing it with the arms and legs, and scrambling. See SHIN. At the top was placed a piece of money, as a prize for those who could swarm up and seize it. Coxe.

Swarm, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. To crowd or throng. [Obs.]