swarm
B1Meanings
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1
noun
a group of many things in the air or on the ground
a swarm of insects obscured the light
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2
verb
be teeming, be abuzz
The garden was swarming with bees
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3
noun
A large number of insects, especially when in motion or (for bees) migrating to a new colony.
[…] reſtleſs thoughts, that like a deadly ſwarm / Of Hornets arm'd […] ruſh upon me thronging,
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4
noun
A mass of people, animals or things in motion or turmoil.
a swarm of meteorites
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5
noun
A number of small earthquakes (or other seismic events) occurring, with no clear cause, in a specific area within a relatively short space of time.
Earthquakes were another concern, particularly after swarms were felt in Oklahoma.
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6
verb
To move as a swarm.
There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy. Mail bags, so I understand, are being put on board. Stewards, carrying cabin trunks, swarm in the corridors.
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7
verb
To teem, or be overrun with insects, people, etc.
Every place swarming with soldiers.
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8
verb
To fill a place as a swarm.
All is well until Treorchy, where the platform is swamped by teenagers who have been attending an event. Around four dozen unescorted 12 to 16 year-olds swarm aboard and begin to run riot through the train. Their behaviour is appalling and the presence of CCTV no deterrent.
Etymology
From Middle English swarm, from Old English swearm (“swarm, multitude”), from Proto-West Germanic *swarm, from Proto-Germanic *swarmaz (“swarm, dizziness”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“to buzz, hum”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Swoorm (“swarm”), Dutch zwerm, German Schwarm, Danish sværm, Swedish svärm, Icelandic svarmur (“tumult, swarm”), Latin susurrus (“whispering, humming”), Lithuanian surma (“a pipe”), Russian свире́ль (svirélʹ, “a pipe, reed”). The verb is from Middle English swarmen, swermen, from Old English swirman (“to swarm”), from Proto-West Germanic *swarmijan, from Proto…