swarm

plural swarms

1. collectiveA large number of insects or other bugs (e.g. centipedes), especially when in motion or (for bees) migrating to a new colony.

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

   1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 10, lines 19–21

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

   a swarm of meteorites

   1 more example

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

   1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

3. computingA group of nodes sharing the same torrent in a BitTorrent network.
4. geographyA number of small earthquakes (or other seismic events) occurring, with no clear cause, in a specific area within a relatively short space of time.

   Earthquakes were another concern, particularly after swarms were felt in Oklahoma.

   2020, Daniel Yergin, The New Map, Penguin, published 2021, page 28

present singular third person swarms · participle present swarming · participle past swarmed · past swarmed

1. intransitiveTo move as a swarm.

   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.

   1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC

   1 more example

   When I was there, at about 0200 this morning [15 May], hundreds of students had swarmed up the steps of the Great Hall and sat there making political speeches. Troops were moved in, 100 or so filed out of the hall and drove the students back, but they were extremely gentle, saying xiexie, xiexie, thank you, thank you, and the relations seemed to be extremely good; I don't think that there is anything the authorities can do now to get them off even though they have said the square will be closed to pedestrians.

   1989 May 15 [1989 May 14], Tim Luard, quotee, “Split Between Students Reported”, in Daily Report: China, number 092, Foreign Broadcast Information Service, sourced from Hong Kong Domestic Service, From the "Hong Kong Today" Program—live telephone interview by anchorman Nick Bailey with Beijing correspondent Tim Luard, →ISSN, →OCLC, National Affairs, page 43, column 2

   Synonyms: horde

2. intransitiveTo teem, or be overrun with insects, people, etc.

   Every place swarming with soldiers.

   1596 (date written; published 1633), Edmund Spenser, A Vewe of the Present State of Irelande […], Dublin: […] Societie of Stationers, […], →OCLC; republished as A View of the State of Ireland […] (Ancient Irish Histories), Dublin: […] Society of Stationers, […] Hibernia Press, […] [b]y John Morrison, 1809, →OCLC

3. transitiveTo fill a place as a swarm.

   All is well until Treorchy, where the platform is swamped by teenagers who have been attending an event. Around four dozen unescorted 12 to 16 year-olds swarm aboard and begin to run riot through the train. Their behaviour is appalling and the presence of CCTV no deterrent.

   2024 November 13, Paul Bigland, “Much to admire... but pockets of neglect”, in RAIL, number 1022, page 48

4. transitiveTo overwhelm as by an opposing army.

   1 more example

   So, yeah. The overall conclusion of the big gunfight being that, if Yamato is able to tackle the Colorados early, then the Japanese probably have a, maybe a sixty-to-sixty-five-percent chance of pulling this off... although you say "pulling it off", it's more a case of "the Japanese are the last battleship standing"; they tend to then just get swarmed by angry Fletchers[…]

   2019 March 6, Drachinifel, 37:59 from the start, in The Battle of Samar (Alternate History) - Bring on the Battleships!, archived from the original on 20 Jul 2022

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.

   1784, William Coxe, Travels into Poland, Russia, Sweden and Denmark

   1 more example

   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.

   1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 55”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC

6. To breed multitudes.

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

   1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 526–527