teem

1
[ teem ]
See synonyms for teem 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

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

  • It just teemed down, and in a few hours Flanders was churned up into a swamp of mud.

    The Romance of the Red Triangle | Arthur Keysall Yapp
  • Already the big plaza teemed with commuters who neatly sidestepped the homeless people begging there.

    Little Brother | Cory Doctorow
  • Medical treatises teemed with discussions about its properties, some condemning, others commending it.

    The Jesuits, 1534-1921 | Thomas J. Campbell

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