bream

[ brim, breem ]

/ brɪm, brim /

noun, plural (especially collectively) bream, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) breams.

any of various freshwater fishes of the genus Abramis, as A. brama, of Europe, with a compressed, deep body and silvery scales.

any of various related and similar fishes.

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

any of several freshwater sunfishes of the genus Lepomis.

Nearby words

breakthrough, breaktime, breakup, breakwater, breakweather, bream, breast, breast beam, breast drill, breast line, breast pump

Origin of bream

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

Definition for bream (2 of 3)

bream

[ breem ]

/ brim /

verb (used with object) Nautical.

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

Origin of bream

1620–30; < Middle Dutch brem(e) furze

Definition for bream (3 of 3)

Bream

[ breem ]

/ brim /

noun

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bream

We have in multiple requests,” Bream answered meekly, “and when it comes in, we'll let you know.
Fox News' Man of Reason|Lloyd Grove|October 30, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Bream Mortimer looked as though he would rather have hopped on to a perch, but he sat down.
The Girl on the Boat|Pelham Grenville Wodehouse
With this last gallant remark Captain Bream left the lodging and strolled down to the sea-beach.
The Young Trawler|R.M. Ballantyne
Now, Captain Bream, shall we put you on board the mission-ship at once, or will you wait to see us boarded for empty trunks?
The Young Trawler|R.M. Ballantyne

Oh no, Bream is going to sit down below and look after poor Pinky.
The Girl on the Boat|Pelham Grenville Wodehouse
It gave strangers a momentary shock of surprise when they saw Bream Mortimer in restaurants, eating roast beef.
The Girl on the Boat|Pelham Grenville Wodehouse

British Dictionary definitions for bream (1 of 3)

bream

Australian brim (brɪm)

/ (briːm, Austral brɪm) /

noun plural bream or brim

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

white bream or silver bream a similar cyprinid, Blicca bjoerkna

short for sea bream

Australian any of various marine fishes

Word Origin for bream

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)

bream

/ (briːm) /

verb

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

Word Origin for bream

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

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