bream

1
[ brim, breem ]

noun,plural (especially collectively) bream, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) breams.
  1. any of various freshwater fishes of the genus Abramis, as A. brama, of Europe, with a compressed, deep body and silvery scales.

  2. any of various related and similar fishes.

  1. any of several porgies, as the sea bream, Archosargus rhomboidalis.

  2. any of several freshwater sunfishes of the genus Lepomis.

Origin of bream

1
1350–1400; Middle English breme<Anglo-French; Old French bresme, braisme<Old Low Franconian *brahsima; compare Old High German brahsema,Dutch brasem

Words Nearby bream

Other definitions for bream (2 of 3)

bream2
[ breem ]

verb (used with object)Nautical.
  1. to clean (a ship's bottom) by applying burning furze, reeds, etc., to soften the pitch and loosen adherent matter.

Origin of bream

2
1620–30; <Middle Dutch brem(e) furze

Other definitions for Bream (3 of 3)

Bream
[ breem ]

noun
  1. Julian (Alexander), 1933–2020, English guitarist and lutenist.

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

How to use bream in a sentence

  • The Black bream (Cantharus lineatus) is an omnivorous feeder, and will take both animal and vegetable baits.

    The Sea Shore | William S. Furneaux
  • The creeks ran towards the north-west watershed and were full of codfish, bream, and perch.

    Robbery Under Arms | Thomas Alexander Browne, AKA Rolf Boldrewood
  • One small tank of young bream, for example, can be a perpetual and continually fresh delight.

British Dictionary definitions for bream (1 of 3)

bream1

Australian brim (brɪm)

/ (briːm, Austral brɪm) /


nounplural bream or brim
  1. any of several Eurasian freshwater cyprinid fishes of the genus Abramis, esp A. brama, having a deep compressed body covered with silvery scales

  2. white bream or silver bream a similar cyprinid, Blicca bjoerkna

  1. short for sea bream

  2. Australian any of various marine fishes

Origin of bream

1
C14: from Old French bresme, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German brahsema; perhaps related to brehan to glitter

British Dictionary definitions for bream (2 of 3)

bream2

/ (briːm) /


verb
  1. nautical (formerly) to clean debris from (the bottom of a vessel) by heating to soften the pitch

Origin of bream

2
C15: probably from Middle Dutch bremme broom; from using burning broom as a source of heat

British Dictionary definitions for Bream (3 of 3)

Bream

/ (briːm) /


noun
  1. Julian (Alexander). born 1933, English guitarist and lutenist

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