swarm

noun

/swɔːm/

/swɔːrm/

jump to other results

swarm (of something) a large group of insects, especially bees, moving together in the same direction
- a swarm of bees/locusts/flies
- Gnats came in swarms to torment them.
Topics Insects, worms, etc.c1
a large group of people, especially when they are all moving quickly in the same direction synonym horde

Word OriginOld English swearm (noun), of Germanic origin; related to German Schwarm, probably also to the base of Sanskrit svarati ‘it sounds’.

verb

/swɔːm/

/swɔːrm/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they swarm	/swɔːm/ /swɔːrm/
he / she / it swarms	/swɔːmz/ /swɔːrmz/
past simple swarmed	/swɔːmd/ /swɔːrmd/
past participle swarmed	/swɔːmd/ /swɔːrmd/
-ing form swarming	/ˈswɔːmɪŋ/ /ˈswɔːrmɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

jump to other results

[intransitive] + adv./prep. (often disapproving) (of people, animals, etc.) to move around in a large group
- Tourists were swarming all over the island.
- Police swarmed into the building.
(of bees and other flying insects) to move around together in a large group, looking for a place to live

Word OriginOld English swearm (noun), of Germanic origin; related to German Schwarm, probably also to the base of Sanskrit svarati ‘it sounds’.