• (America) IPA: /swɔɹm/
• (RP) IPA: /swɔːm/

swarm (plural swarms)

1. A large number of insects, especially when in motion or (for bees) migrating to a new colony.
   • 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: Printed by J. M[acock] for John Starkey […], OCLC 228732398 ↗, lines 19–21, [https://archive.org/stream/paradiseregaindp00milt_0#page/{}/mode/1up page 10]:

     {...}} reſtleſs thoughts, that like a deadly ſwarm / Of Hornets arm'd […] ruſh upon me thronging,

2. A mass of people, animals or things in motion or turmoil.

   a swarm of meteorites

   • 1705 (revised 1718), Joseph Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy

     those prodigious swarms that had settled themselves in every part of it [Italy]

3. (computing) A group of nodes sharing the same torrent in a BitTorrent network.

• French: essaim (flying insects), grouillement (crawling insects)
• German: Schwarm
• Italian: sciame, nugolo
• Portuguese: enxame, nuvem (in flight), correição (especially ants)
• Russian: рой
• Spanish: enjambre, nube

• French: nuée, essaim
• German: Schwarm
• Portuguese: multidão, enxame, turba, turbamulta, turbilhão, tropel, roda-viva, barafunda
• Russian: толпа́
• Spanish: multitud, muchedumbre, masa, aglomeración

swarm (swarms, present participle swarming; past and past participle swarmed)

1. (intransitive) To move as a swarm.
   • 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, OCLC 5661828 ↗:

     There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy. Mail bags, so I understand, are being put on board. Stewards, carrying cabin trunks, swarm in the corridors.

2. (intransitive) To teem, or be overrun with insects, people, etc.

   • Every place swarms with soldiers.

3. (transitive) To fill a place as a swarm.
4. (transitive) To overwhelm as by an opposing army.
5. To climb by gripping with arms and legs alternately.

   • At the top was placed a piece of money, as a prize for those who could swarm up and seize it.

   • 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, chapter 55

     She called out, and a boy came running along. He swarmed up a tree, and presently threw down a ripe nut. Ata pierced a hole in it, and the doctor took a long, refreshing draught.

6. To breed multitudes.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book IX ↗”, in Paradise Lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books, London: Printed [by Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […] [a]nd by Robert Boulter […] [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], OCLC 228722708 ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: The Text Exactly Reproduced from the First Edition of 1667: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554 ↗, lines 526–527:

     Not ſo thick ſwarm'd once the Soil / Bedropt with blood of Gorgon,

• French: essaimer (bees only)
• Italian: pullulare
• Portuguese: enxamear
• Russian: кишеть
• Spanish: enjambrar

• Italian: pullulare
• Portuguese: fervilhar, pulular
• Russian: кише́ть

• Portuguese: infestar
• Russian: кишеть
• Spanish: atestar, infestar

• Russian: кара́бкаться