n. & v.
n. 1 an area of land and its buildings used under one management for growing crops, rearing animals, etc. 2 a place or establishment for breeding a particular type of animal, growing fruit, etc. (trout-farm; mink-farm). 3 = FARMHOUSE. 4 a place for the storage of oil or oil products. 5 = sewage farm.
v. 1 a tr. use (land) for growing crops, rearing animals, etc. b intr. be a farmer; work on a farm. 2 tr. breed (fish etc.) commercially. 3 tr. (often foll. by out) a delegate or subcontract (work) to others. b contract (the collection of taxes) to another for a fee. c arrange for (a person, esp. a child) to be looked after by another, with payment. 4 tr. let the labour of (a person) for hire. 5 tr. contract to maintain and care for (a person, esp. a child) for a fixed sum. farm-hand a worker on a farm. farmable adj. farming n.
[ ME f. OF ferme f. med.L firma fixed payment f. L firmus FIRM(1): orig. applied only to leased land ]