teem

¹ American  

[teem] / tim /

verb (used without object)

1. to abound or swarm; be prolific or fertile (usually followed bywith ).

   Synonyms:

   bristle, overrun, brim, overflow

2. Obsolete. to be or become pregnant; bring forth young.

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verb (used with object)

1. Obsolete. to produce (offspring).

teem ² American  

[teem] / tim /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to empty or pour out; discharge.

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teem ¹ British  

/ tiːm /

verb

1. to be prolific or abundant (in); abound (in)

2. obsolete to bring forth (young)

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teem ² British  

/ tiːm /

verb

1. (intr; often foll by down or with rain) to pour in torrents

   it's teeming down

2. (tr) to pour or empty out

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Other Word Forms

• teemer noun

Etymology

Origin of teem¹

before 900; Middle English temen, Old English tēman, tīeman to produce (offspring), derivative of tēam team

Origin of teem²

1250–1300; Middle English temen < Old Norse tæma to empty, derivative of tōmr empty, cognate with Old English tōm free from

Example Sentences

Concert halls are packed, the famed Tretyakov Gallery is teeming even on a midweek afternoon.

From Barron's

These derelict streets, wind-swept by the bracing North Sea air, were once the envy of the community, teeming with life.

From BBC

The 18th century teemed with picaresque tales of comic misadventure.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was a time in London teeming with humans.

From The Wall Street Journal

An ocean teeming with sea life, from tiny coral polyps to massive whales to birds skimming the surface of the waves.

From Literature

Related Words

• brim
• bustle
• crawl
• overflow
• overrun
• swarm
• swell