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View synonyms for ream

ream

1

[reem]

noun

  1. a standard quantity of paper, consisting of 20 quires or 500 sheets (formerly 480 sheets), or 516 sheets printer's ream, or perfect ream.

  2. Usually reams. a large quantity.

    He has written reams of poetry.



ream

2

[reem]

verb (used with object)

  1. to enlarge to desired size (a previously bored hole) by means of a reamer.

  2. to clear with a reamer; remove or press out by reaming.

  3. to extract the juice from.

    to ream an orange.

  4. Slang.

    1. to scold or reprimand severely (usually followed byout ).

    2. to cheat; defraud.

ream

1

/ riːm /

noun

  1. a number of sheets of paper, formerly 480 sheets ( short ream ), now 500 sheets ( long ream ) or 516 sheets ( printer's ream or perfect ream ). One ream is equal to 20 quires

  2. informal,  (often plural) a large quantity, esp of written matter

    he wrote reams

“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

ream

2

/ riːm /

verb

  1. to enlarge (a hole) by use of a reamer

  2. to extract (juice) from (a citrus fruit) using a reamer

“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ream1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English rem(e), from Middle French reime, rame, from Spanish rezma, from Arabic rizmah “bale”

Origin of ream2

First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ream1

C14: from Old French raime , from Spanish rezma , from Arabic rizmah bale

Origin of ream2

C19: perhaps from C14 remen to open up, from Old English rӯman to widen
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To do this, you have to feed it reams of data and know which dials to adjust—and by how much.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Of all the reams of words publicly spilled at Lakers media day Monday, only one really mattered.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

English flags, Korean spirits, reams of VHS tape and apocalyptic war zones all feature in works by the artists whose installations are going on show in this year's Turner Prize exhibition this weekend.

Read more on BBC

If the court declines to grant an acquittal, his attorneys argued that a new trial is required due to "severe spillover prejudice from reams of inflammatory evidence".

Read more on BBC

On Wednesday, a Reform spokesman added: "Cosying up to the EU and leaving us entangled in reams of retained EU law which Kemi Badenoch failed to scrap will not resuscitate Britain's struggling economy."

Read more on BBC

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