I. ˈfärm, ˈfȧm transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English fermen, from Old English feormian to cleanse; akin to Old High German āfermī filth
dialect England : cleanse , empty
II. noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English ferme rent, lease, from Old French, lease, from fermer to make a contract, fix, fasten, from Latin firmare to make firm, from firmus firm — more at firm
1. obsolete : a sum or due fixed in amount and payable at fixed intervals (as by way of rent or tax)
2.
a. : a fixed sum payable at set intervals (as yearly) by a person in lieu of taxes or other dues that he has authority to collect
b. : a sum assessed upon a municipality or place as the amount to be paid from taxes to be collected within its limits
c. : a letting out of revenues or taxes for a fixed sum to one authorized to collect and retain them
d. : the farmers of public revenues
3.
a. : the condition of being let out at a fixed rent
b. obsolete : lease
4. : a district or division of a country leased out for the collection of the revenues of government
5.
a. : a piece of land held under lease for cultivation
b. : any tract of land whether consisting of one or more parcels devoted to agricultural purposes generally under the management of a tenant or the owner : any parcel or group of parcels of land cultivated as a unit
6.
a. : a plot of land devoted to the raising of domestic or other animals
a chicken farm
a fox farm
b. : a tract of water reserved for the artificial cultivation of some aquatic life-form
an oyster farm
c. : tree farm
7. : farmhouse — obs. except in proper names
8.
a. : farmer 5 — used with the
b. : the pool in the game of farmer
9. : a minor-league baseball club associated with a major-league club as a subsidiary to which recruits are assigned until needed or for further training
10. : a rurally located rest home for alcoholics or other psychiatric patients
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English fermen, from ferme, n.
transitive verb
1. obsolete : rent
2. : to collect and take the fees or profits of (an occupation or business) on payment of a fixed sum
3. : to give up (as an estate, a business, or the revenue) to another on condition of receiving in return a fixed sum
4. : to contract for the maintenance and care of (a person or thing) at a fixed price
the town farms its paupers
— see farm out
5.
a. : to devote (land) to agriculture
they decided to clear and farm the north forty
b. : to manage and cultivate (land) as a farm
he farmed a small holding beside the river
intransitive verb
: to engage in the business of raising crops or livestock
he farmed for nearly 50 years
: manage or conduct a farm : work as a farmer
IV. noun
: an area containing a number of similar structures (as radio antennas or storage tanks)