swarm
- swarm
{{11}}
swarm (
n.) "
cloud of bees or other insects,"
O.E. swearm, from
P.Gmc. *swarmaz (
Cf. O.S.,
M.L.G. swarm,
Swed. svärm,
M.Du. swerm,
O.H.G. swarm,
Ger. Schwarm "
swarm;"
O.N. svarmr "
tumult"), usually derived from
PIE imitative root *swer- (see
SUSURRATION (
Cf. susurration)) on notion of humming sound. But
OED suggests possible connection with
base of
SWERVE (
Cf. swerve) and ground sense of "
agitated, confused, or deflected motion."
{{12}}swarm (v.) "to climb by clasping with the arms and legs alternately," 1540s, perhaps originally a sailors' word, of uncertain origin. Also recorded as swarve (16c.) and in Northern dialects swarble, swarmle.
{{12}}swarm (v.) "to leave a hive to start another," late 14c., from SWARM (Cf. swarm) (n.). Related: Swarmed; swarming.
Etymology dictionary.
2014.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
Swarm — 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},… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
SWARM — (engl. Schwarm) ist der Name einer Satellitenmission der ESA. Der Start ist für vor Mitte 2012[1] geplant. Sie ist Teil des Programms Earth Explorer Mission. Dabei werden drei identische Satelliten mit einer Masse von 500 kg[2] zusammenarbeiten.… … Deutsch Wikipedia
SWARM — Caractéristiques Organisation ESA Domaine Etude du champ magnétique terrestre Masse 3 satellites de quelques centaines de kg Lancement 2012 Durée de vie 4 ans Orbite … Wikipédia en Français
Swarm — (engl. Schwarm) ist der Name einer für das Jahr 2011 geplanten Satellitenmission der ESA. Sie ist Teil des Programms Earth Explorer Mission. Es werden dabei drei identische Satelliten mit einer Masse von 200–400 kg zusammen arbeiten. Sie… … Deutsch Wikipedia
swarm — ► NOUN 1) a large or dense group of flying insects. 2) a large number of honeybees that leave a hive with a queen in order to establish a new colony. 3) a large group of people or things. ► VERB 1) move in or form a swarm. 2) (swarm with) be… … English terms dictionary
swarm — swarm1 [swôrm] n. [ME < OE swearm, akin to Ger schwarm, prob. < IE base * swer , to buzz > L susurrare, to hiss, whisper, sorex, Gr hyrax, shrew] 1. a large number of bees, led by a queen, leaving one hive for another to start a new… … English World dictionary
swarm|er — «SWR muhr», noun. 1. one of a number that swarm; one of a swarm, as of insects. 2. Biology. swarm spore … Useful english dictionary
Swarm — 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. [1913 Webster] 2. To appear or collect in a crowd; to throng … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Swarm — 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.] [1913 Webster] At the top was placed a piece of money, as a prize for those who could swarm up and seize it … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
swarm — ‘group of insects’ [OE] and swarm ‘climb’ [16] are distinct words. The former comes from a prehistoric Germanic *swarmaz, which also produced German schwarm, and is closely related to Dutch swerm, Swedish svärm, and Danish sværm. It may go back… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
swarm — ‘group of insects’ [OE] and swarm ‘climb’ [16] are distinct words. The former comes from a prehistoric Germanic *swarmaz, which also produced German schwarm, and is closely related to Dutch swerm, Swedish svärm, and Danish sværm. It may go back… … Word origins
