teem

1
[ teem ]
See synonyms for: teemteemedteemingteemer on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. to abound or swarm; be prolific or fertile (usually followed by with).

  2. Obsolete. to be or become pregnant; bring forth young.

verb (used with object)
  1. Obsolete. to produce (offspring).

Origin of teem

1
before 900; Middle English temen,Old English tēman, tīeman to produce (offspring), derivative of tēamteam

Other words for teem

Other words from teem

  • teemer, noun

Words Nearby teem

Other definitions for teem (2 of 2)

teem2
[ teem ]

verb (used with or without object)
  1. to empty or pour out; discharge.

Origin of teem

2
1250–1300; Middle English temen<Old Norse tæma to empty, derivative of tōmr empty, cognate with Old English tōm free from

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use teem in a sentence

  • Prep school faculties teem with Wasps who majored in English or history, as brokerage houses do with Wasps who majored in finance.

    The Last of the Wasps | Tad Friend | September 27, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • If the past eight months were full of international thrills, the next ones are more likely to teem with spills.

    Obama's Next Six Crises | Leslie H. Gelb | September 11, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Observe how the papers teem with the misery of the lower classes in England, yet this affects not the West India philanthropist.

    Newton Forster | Captain Frederick Marryat
  • Tears availing nothing, Elizabeth's quick brain began to teem with plans for John's escape.

    Revolutionary Reader | Sophie Lee Foster
  • The newspapers in most cases teem with scandals which absorb the thoughts or arouse the passions.

    The War Upon Religion | Rev. Francis A. Cunningham
  • Shining by reflected light, its pages literally teem with interesting anecdotes of many sorts.

    The Pagan's Cup | Fergus Hume
  • The volumes of the Health of Towns Report teem with instances of the mischief of insufficient ventilation.

    The Claims of Labour | Arthur Helps

British Dictionary definitions for teem (1 of 2)

teem1

/ (tiːm) /


verb
  1. (intr usually foll by with) to be prolific or abundant (in); abound (in)

  2. obsolete to bring forth (young)

Origin of teem

1
Old English tēman to produce offspring; related to West Saxon tīeman; see team

British Dictionary definitions for teem (2 of 2)

teem2

/ (tiːm) /


verb
  1. (intr; often foll by down or with rain) to pour in torrents: it's teeming down

  2. (tr) to pour or empty out

Origin of teem

2
C15 temen to empty, from Old Norse tœma; related to Old English tōm, Old High German zuomīg empty

Derived forms of teem

  • teemer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012