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.

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  • 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

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