ream

[ reem ]

See synonyms for: ream reamed reaming reams on Thesaurus.com

noun

a standard quantity of paper, consisting of 20 quires or 500 sheets (formerly 480 sheets), or 516 sheets (printer's ream, or perfect ream ).
Usually reams. a large quantity: He has written reams of poetry.

Origin of ream

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

Other definitions for ream (2 of 2)

ream²

[ reem ]

verb (used with object)

to enlarge to desired size (a previously bored hole) by means of a reamer.
to clear with a reamer; remove or press out by reaming.

to extract the juice from: to ream an orange.
Slang.
- to scold or reprimand severely (usually followed by out).
- to cheat; defraud.

Origin of ream

First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ream in a sentence

Young Lieutenant Blood was to his feet holding a reaming glass high as his head.
Heralds of Empire | Agnes C. Laut
Small holes are often finished in the lathe by drilling and reaming without the use of a boring tool.
Turning and Boring | Franklin D. Jones
Fig. 11 shows how a taper hole is bored in an engine piston-head, preparatory to reaming.
Turning and Boring | Franklin D. Jones
The lathe is run very slowly for reaming and the reamer is fed into the work by feeding out the tailstock spindle.
Turning and Boring | Franklin D. Jones
Babbitt metal is also worked dry, ordinarily, although kerosene or turpentine is sometimes used when boring or reaming.
Turning and Boring | Franklin D. Jones

British Dictionary definitions for ream (1 of 2)

ream¹

/ (riːm) /

noun

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
(often plural) informal a large quantity, esp of written matter: he wrote reams

Origin of ream

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

British Dictionary definitions for ream (2 of 2)

ream²

/ (riːm) /

verb(tr)

to enlarge (a hole) by use of a reamer
US to extract (juice) from (a citrus fruit) using a reamer

Origin of ream

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

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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