SWARM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does swarm mean? 

• SWARM (noun)
  The noun SWARM has 2 senses:

1. a moving crowd

2. a group of many things in the air or on the ground

  Familiarity information: SWARM used as a noun is rare.

• SWARM (verb)
  The verb SWARM has 2 senses:

1. be teeming, be abuzz

2. move in large numbers

  Familiarity information: SWARM used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SWARM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A moving crowd

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

drove; horde; swarm

Hypernyms ("swarm" is a kind of...):

crowd (a large number of things or people considered together)

Derivation:

swarm (move in large numbers)

swarm (be teeming, be abuzz)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A group of many things in the air or on the ground

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

cloud; swarm

Context example:

it discharged a cloud of spores

Hypernyms ("swarm" is a kind of...):

group; grouping (any number of entities (members) considered as a unit)

Meronyms (members of "swarm"):

insect (small air-breathing arthropod)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "swarm"):

infestation; plague (a swarm of insects that attack plants)

Derivation:

swarm (be teeming, be abuzz)

• SWARM (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they swarm    ... he / she / it swarms   
Past simple: swarmed   
Past participle: swarmed   
-ing form: swarming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be teeming, be abuzz

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

pullulate; swarm; teem

Context example:

her mind pullulated with worries

Hypernyms (to "swarm" is one way to...):

buzz; hum; seethe (be noisy with activity)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "swarm"):

crawl (be full of)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Sentence example:

The streets swarm with crowds

Derivation:

swarm (a group of many things in the air or on the ground)

swarm (a moving crowd)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move in large numbers

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

pour; pullulate; stream; swarm; teem

Context example:

beggars pullulated in the plaza

Hypernyms (to "swarm" is one way to...):

crowd; crowd together (to gather together in large numbers)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "swarm"):

pour out; spill out; spill over (be disgorged)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

The crowds swarm in the streets

Derivation:

swarm (a moving crowd)

 Context examples 

He was made dizzy by the swarming of them.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The boats already swarm from the bank.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Occasionally, I went to London; to lose myself in the swarm of life there, or to consult with Traddles on some business point.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

There was some thick, bush-like clump which seemed to be a parasite upon a branch up which I was swarming.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The boarders swarmed over the fence like monkeys.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Theresa kept on repeating our story to her mistress, while I swarmed up and cut the rope of the bell.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Previous research with Spitzer and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer suggested a swarm of comets may be to blame for the short-period dimming.

(Mysterious Dimming of Tabby's Star May Be Caused by Dust, NASA)

A swarm of ostlers and grooms had rushed out to us, and my uncle, throwing down the reins, gathered Fidelio on his cushion from under the seat.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Forthwith there was heard a great buzzing in the air, and a swarm of black bees came flying toward her.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

But at the last moment, as he stepped into the upstairs entrance, he recoiled and turned and fled through the swarming ghetto.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)