/ swɔːm; NAmE swɔːrm/ noun , verb
■ noun swarm (of sth)
1.
a large group of insects, especially bees , moving together in the same direction :
a swarm of bees / locusts / flies
2.
a large group of people, especially when they are all moving quickly in the same direction
SYN horde
■ verb [ v ]
1.
[+ adv. / prep. ] (often disapproving ) ( of people, animals, etc. ) to move around in a large group :
Tourists were swarming all over the island.
2.
( of bees and other flying insects ) to move around together in a large group, looking for a place to live
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PHRASAL VERBS
- swarm with sb/sth
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English swearm (noun), of Germanic origin; related to German Schwarm , probably also to the base of Sanskrit svarati it sounds.