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swarm

Pronunciation: /swɔːm/
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Definition of swarm

noun

  • a large or dense group of flying insects:a swarm of locusts
  • a large number of honeybees that leave a hive en masse with a newly fertilized queen in order to establish a new colony.
  • (a swarm/swarms of) a large number of people or things:a swarm of journalists
  • a series of similar-sized earthquakes occurring together, typically near a volcano.
  • Astronomy a large number of minor celestial objects occurring together in space, especially a dense shower of meteors.

verb

[no object]
  • 1(of flying insects) move in or form a swarm: (as adjective swarming)swarming locusts
  • (of honeybees, ants, or termites) issue from the nest in large numbers in order to mate and found new colonies:the bees had swarmed and left the hive
  • 2 [no object, with adverbial] move somewhere in large numbers:protesters were swarming into the building
  • (swarm with) be crowded or overrun with (moving people or things):the place was swarming with police

Phrasal Verbs

swarm up

climb (something) rapidly by gripping it with one’s hands and feet, alternately hauling and pushing oneself upwards:I swarmed up the mast

Origin:

Old English swearm (noun), of Germanic origin; related to German Schwarm, probably also to the base of Sanskrit svarati 'it sounds'

swarm in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of swarm in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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