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teem

 - 4 dictionary results

teem

1  [teem] ,
Use teem in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to abound or swarm; be prolific or fertile (usually fol. by with).
2. Obsolete. to be or become pregnant; bring forth young.
–verb (used with object)
3. Obsolete. to produce (offspring).
Origin:
bef. 900; ME temen, OE tēman, tīeman to produce (offspring), deriv. of tēam team

Related forms:
teemer, noun

Synonyms:
1. overflow, brim, overrun, bristle.

teem

2  [teem] ,
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
to empty or pour out; discharge.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME temen < ON tæma to empty, deriv. of tōmr empty, c. OE tōm free from
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To teem
teem 1   (tēm)   
v.   teemed, teem·ing, teems

v.   intr.

  1. To be full of things; abound or swarm: A drop of water teems with microorganisms.

  2. Obsolete To be or become pregnant; bear young.

v.   tr. Archaic
To give birth to.

[Middle English temen, to beget, bear, from Old English tīeman, tēman; see deuk- in Indo-European roots.]
teem'er n., teem'ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to be abundantly filled or richly supplied: The street teemed with pedestrians. The garden abounds with flowers. The sidewalk was crawling with vendors. The house overflowed with guests. The parade route swarmed with spectators.
teem 2   (tēm)   
tr.v.   teemed, teem·ing, teems
To pour out or empty: teemed the molten ore into a huge mold.

[Middle English temen, from Old Norse töma.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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