SWARMING

Noun

swarming (plural swarmings)

The motion of a swarm.

(colloquial, Canada) A crime where an unsuspecting innocent bystander is attacked by several culprits at once, with no known motive.

Verb

swarming

present participle of swarm

Anagrams

• swingarm, warmings

Source: Wiktionary


SWARM

Swarm, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Swerve.]

Definition: To climb a tree, pole, or the like, by embracing it with the arms and legs alternately. See Shin. [Colloq.] At the top was placed a piece of money, as a prize for those who could swarm up and seize it. W. Coxe.

Swarm, n. Etym: [OE. swarm, AS. swearm; akin to D. zwerm, G. schwarm, OHG. swaram, Icel. svarmr a tumult, Sw. svƤrm a swarm, Dan. svƦrm, and G. schwirren to whiz, to buzz, Skr. svar to sound, and perhaps to E. swear. *177. Cf. Swerve, Swirl.]

1. A large number or mass of small animals or insects, especially when in motion. "A deadly swarm of hornets." Milton.

2. Especially, a great number of honeybees which emigrate from a hive at once, and seek new lodgings under the direction of a queen; a like body of bees settled permanently in a hive. "A swarm of bees." Chaucer.

3. Hence, any great nimber or multitude, as of people in motion, or sometimes of inanimate objects; as, a swarm of meteorites. Those prodigious swarms that had settled themselves in every part of it [Italy]. Addison.

Syn.

– Multitude; crowd; throng.

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.

2. To appear or collect in a crowd; to throng together; to congregate in a multitude. Chaucer.

3. To be crowded; to be thronged with a multitude of beings in motion. Every place swarms with soldiers. Spenser.

4. To abound; to be filled (with). Atterbury.

5. To breed multitudes. Not so thick swarmed once the soil Bedropped with blood of Gorgon. Milton.

Swarm, v. t.

Definition: To crowd or throng. Fanshawe.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

27 June 2025

SQUARE

(adjective) having four equal sides and four right angles or forming a right angle; ā€œa square peg in a round holeā€; ā€œa square cornerā€


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