I. ˈtēm noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English teme, tem, from Old English tēam offspring, lineage, group of draft animals; akin to Old Frisian tām bridle, progeny, lineage, Old High German zoum rein, bridle, Old Norse taumr, Old English tēon to draw, pull — more at tow
1. obsolete : lineage , race
2. : a group of animals having something in common: as
a. : a brood of young animals (as pigs or ducks)
b. : a number of animals moving together
c. : a flock of birds flying together
d. : a matched group of animals for exhibition
e. Australia : a group of rams used together on a flock of ewes
3.
a. : two or more horses, oxen, or other draft animals harnessed to the same vehicle (as a coach, wagon, sled) or to the same plow or other implement
b.
(1) : draft animals with their harness and attached vehicle
(2) : a single animal used for labor and service often with harness and vehicle
c. : a wagon, carriage, or other drawn vehicle
a horse and team
4. : a number of persons associated together in work or activity: as
a. : a number of persons selected to contend on one side in a match (as in cricket, football, rowing, or a debate)
b. : a group of workmen each completing one of a set of operations : crew , gang
team of riveters
team of divers
c. : a group of specialists or scientists functioning as a collaborative unit
the diagnostic team of psychiatrist, clinician, and social worker in a child guidance clinic
5. : a person of extraordinary ability or energy
he's a whole team by himself
6. old English law
a. : an action to authenticate a claim (as to purchased goods) by summoning a seller to court
b. : a right or franchise of holding a court into which persons out of jurisdiction may be vouched as warrantors (as where a purchaser vouches his seller as warrantor to prove that goods were not stolen) — used usually in the phrase toll and team
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to yoke or join in a team
one horse and one cow which were teamed to a crude plow — R.A.Billington
2. : to convey or haul with a team
team lumber
intransitive verb
1. : to drive a team or motortruck : be a teamster
2. : to form a team : join forces or efforts
teamed together in a defensive alliance
— often used with up
Communist tactics of teaming up with hot-blooded nationalism — Tillman Durdin
III. adjective
: of, belonging to, or performed by a team
team horse
team game
team effort