Swarm — Defs

01 v. i. To climb a tree, pole, or the like, by embracing it with the arms and legs alternately. See Shin.

1.
To climb a tree, pole, or the like, by embracing it with the arms and legs alternately. See Shin.[Colloq.] See: Shin
“At the top was placed a piece of money, as a prize for those who could swarm up and seize it.” — W. Coxe.

02 n. A large number or mass of small animals or insects, especially when in motion.

1.
A large number or mass of small animals or insects, especially when in motion.
2.
Especially, a great number of honeybees which emigrate from a hive at once, and seek new lodgings under the direction of a queen; a like body of bees settled permanently in a hive.
3.
Hence, any great number or multitude, as of people in motion, or sometimes of inanimate objects; as, a swarm of meteorites.
“Those prodigious swarms that had settled themselves in every part of it [Italy].” — Addison.

Syn. Multitude; crowd; throng.

03 v. i. To collect, and depart from a hive by flight in a body; -- said of bees; as, bees swarm in warm, clear days in summer.

imp. & p. p. Swarmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Swarming

1.
To collect, and depart from a hive by flight in a body; -- said of bees; as, bees swarm in warm, clear days in summer.
2.
To appear or collect in a crowd; to throng together; to congregate in a multitude.
3.
To be crowded; to be thronged with a multitude of beings in motion.
“Every place swarms with soldiers.” — Spenser.
4.
To abound; to be filled (with).
5.
To breed multitudes.
“Not so thick swarmed once the soil Bedropped with blood of Gorgon.” — Milton.

04 v. t. To crowd or throng.