bream

[ brim, breem ]

/ brɪm, brim /

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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.

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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

Words nearby bream

break-up value, breakwater, breakweather, break wind, break with, bream, breast, breast beam, breast-beating, breastbone, breast drill

Other definitions for bream (2 of 3)

bream²

[ 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

Other definitions 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. 2021

How to use bream in a sentence

The migration of produce,” as Ooe coins it, “moves north in the warmer months, much like the sea bream.
Chef Ooe Is Rehabbing Fukushima’s Food Scene at the Park Hyatt Tokyo|Brandon Presser|March 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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
The Broads and rivers abound with bream and roach; and there are pike, perch, and eels.
The Rivers of Great Britain: Rivers of the East Coast|Various
And now Elsie starts in our boat; and all is commotion, till a fine blue bream, spotted with black, is landed.
Palmetto-Leaves|Harriet Beecher Stowe

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.
What Shall We Do Now?: Five Hundred Games and Pastimes|Dorothy Canfield Fisher

British Dictionary definitions for bream (1 of 3)

bream¹

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)

bream²

/ (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