Ream

Pronunciation

• IPA: /riːm/Rhymes: -iːm

From Middle English reme, rem, from Old English rēam ("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.

Alternative forms

• reem, raim

Full definition of ream

Noun

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

Verb

1. (UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) To cream; mantle; foam; froth.
• Sir Walter Scotta huge pewter measuring pot which, in the language of the hostess, reamed with excellent claret

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 *rūmijaną ("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.

Alternative forms

• reem, rim, rime

Verb

1. To enlarge a hole, especially using a reamer; to bore a hole wider.
2. To shape or form, especially using a reamer.
3. To remove (material) by reaming.
4. To remove burrs and debris from a freshly bored hole.
5. (slang) To yell at or berate.
6. (slang, vulgar) To sexually penetrate in a rough and painful way, by analogy with definition 1.

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

Alternative forms

• reme

Noun

1. A bundle, package, or quantity of paper, nowadays usually containing 500 sheets.
2. An abstract large amount of something.I can't go - I still have reams of work left.

Coordinate terms

• (quantity of paper) bale, bundle, quire

Anagrams

• Amer., amer., Erma, mare