Ream Definition

rēm
reamed, reaming, reams
noun
A unit of measure for a quantity of paper: the quantity varies from 480 sheets (20 quires) to 516 sheets, depending on the manufacturer.
Webster's New World
A great amount.
Webster's New World
An abstract large amount of something.
I can't go - I still have reams of work left.
Wiktionary

(UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Cream; also, the creamlike froth on ale or other liquor; froth or foam in general.

Wiktionary
verb
To enlarge (a hole) as with a reamer.
Webster's New World
To enlarge the bore of (a gun)
Webster's New World
To countersink or taper (a hole)
Webster's New World
To remove (a defect) with a reamer.
Webster's New World
To penetrate sexually.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Ream

Noun

Singular:
ream
Plural:
reams

Origin of Ream

  • From Middle English remen, rimen, rümen (“to open up"), from Old English rȳman (“to make roomy, extend, widen, spread, enlarge, amplify, prolong, clear, open up, make clear by removing obstructions, to clear a way"), from Proto-Germanic *rÅ«mijanÄ… (“to make roomy, give room, remove"), from Proto-Indo-European *rowǝ- (“free space"). Cognate with Dutch ruimen (“to empty, evacuate"), German räumen (“to make room"), Icelandic rýma (“to make room, clear"). More at room.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle English reme, rem, from Old English rÄ“am (“cream"), from Proto-Germanic *raumaz (“cream"), from Proto-Indo-European *rewǝgh- (“to sour [milk]"). Cognate with Dutch room (“cream, sour cream"), German Rahm (“cream"), Norwegian rømme (“sour cream"), Icelandic rjómi (“cream"). See also ramekin.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English reme from Old French reime from Old Spanish resma from Arabic rizma bundle from razama to bundle rzm in Semitic roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Possibly from Middle English remen to make room variant of rimen from Old English rȳman reuə- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English reeme, from Old French raime, rayme (“ream") (French rame), from Arabic رزمة (rizma, “bundle").

    From Wiktionary

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