FARM

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English ferme, from Anglo-French, from fermer to fix, rent, from Latin firmare to make firm, from firmus firm Date: 14th century a sum or due fixed in amount and payable at fixed intervals, a letting out of revenues or taxes for a fixed sum to one authorized to collect and retain them, a district or division of a country leased out for the collection of government revenues, a tract of land devoted to agricultural purposes, 5. a plot of land devoted to the raising of animals and especially domestic livestock, a tract of water reserved for the artificial cultivation of some aquatic life form , a minor-league team (as in baseball) associated with a major-league team as a subsidiary, an area containing a number of similar structures or objects (as radio antennas or storage tanks), II. verb Date: 15th century transitive verb rent , to collect and take the fees or profits of (an occupation or business) on payment of a fixed sum, to give up (as an estate or a business) to another on condition of receiving in return a fixed sum, 4. to devote to agriculture, to manage and cultivate as a ~, to grow or cultivate in quantity , intransitive verb to engage in raising crops, animals, or fish