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.
Phrases and idioms:
farm-hand a worker on a farm.
Derivatives:
farmable adj. farming n.
Etymology: ME f. OF ferme f. med.L firma fixed payment f. L firmus FIRM(1): orig. applied only to leased land