Definition of teem
intransitive verb
1a : to become filled to overflowing : aboundb : to be present in large quantity
2 obsolete : to become pregnant : conceive
transitive verb
archaic : bring forth : give birth to : produce
teemingness
nounFrom the M-W Editors
teem was our Word of the Day on 02/22/2014. Hear the podcast!
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Recent Examples of teem from the Web
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The seawater is teeming with potential food sources like zooplankton.
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Thomas paints a portrait of the nation before its Civil War, teeming with opulence and possibility.
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Local fashion presentations and music festivals, while slowly improving, remain overwhelmingly white and one-note, despite a city teeming with artistic and musical diversity.
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Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
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Israelis see their small country made smaller still in a hostile region teeming with jihadis and struggle with how to divide Jerusalem between countries that will need a border.
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Census workers going door to door in Egypt’s teeming neighborhoods and crowded towns are discovering a new country _ of more than 20 million people born in the last decade alone.
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This was Miami’s idea of environmental management circa 1961: Take a placid natural lake on a lush barrier island teeming with wildlife.
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Sometimes, the best way to see Times Square is from high above the teeming crowds.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'teem.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of teem
Middle English temen, from Old English tīman, tǣman; akin to Old English tēam offspring — more at 1team
Recent Examples of teem from the Web
-
The seawater is teeming with potential food sources like zooplankton.
-
Thomas paints a portrait of the nation before its Civil War, teeming with opulence and possibility.
-
Local fashion presentations and music festivals, while slowly improving, remain overwhelmingly white and one-note, despite a city teeming with artistic and musical diversity.
-
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
-
Israelis see their small country made smaller still in a hostile region teeming with jihadis and struggle with how to divide Jerusalem between countries that will need a border.
-
Census workers going door to door in Egypt’s teeming neighborhoods and crowded towns are discovering a new country _ of more than 20 million people born in the last decade alone.
-
This was Miami’s idea of environmental management circa 1961: Take a placid natural lake on a lush barrier island teeming with wildlife.
-
Sometimes, the best way to see Times Square is from high above the teeming crowds.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'teem.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of teem
Middle English temen, from Old Norse tœma; akin to Old English tōm empty
TEEM Defined for Kids
teem
playDefinition of teem for Students
teemed
;teeming
: to be full of something The streams teemed with fish.
Learn More about teem
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See words that rhyme with teem Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for teem Spanish Central: Translation of teem Nglish: Translation of teem for Spanish speakers
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