n.
Pronunciation: ' her- ə m
Function: noun
Etymology: ultimately from Arabic ḥ ar ī m, literally, something forbidden & ḥ aram, literally, sanctuary
Date: 1623
1 a : a usually secluded house or part of a house allotted to women in a Muslim household b : the wives, concubines, female relatives, and servants occupying a harem
2 : a group of women associated with one man
3 : a group of females associated with one male ― used of polygamous animals