• Team

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /tiːm/
    • Rhymes: -iːm
    • Homophones: teem

    Origin

    From Middle English teme, from Old English tēam ("child-bearing, offspring, brood, set of draught animals"), from Proto-Germanic *taumaz ("that which draws or pulls"), from Proto-Germanic *taugijaną, *tugōną, *teuhōną, *teuhaną ("to lead, bring, pull, draw"), from Proto-Indo-European *dewk- ("to pull, lead"). Cognate with Scots team, teem ("a chain, harness"), West Frisian team ("bridle, team"), Dutch toom ("bridle, reins, flock of birds"), German Zaum ("bridle"), Norwegian tømme ("bridle, rein"), Swedish töm ("leash, rein"). More at tie, tow.

    Full definition of team

    Noun

    team

    (plural teams)
    1. A set of draught animals, such as two horses in front of a carriage.
      • MacaulayIt happened almost every day that coaches stuck fast, until a team of cattle could be procured from some neighbouring farm to tug them out of the slough.
      • 1931, William Faulkner, Sanctuary, Vintage 1993, p. 111:The adjacent alleys were choked with tethered wagons, the teams reversed and nuzzling gnawed corn-ears over the tail-boards.
    2. Any group of people involved in the same activity, especially sports or work.We need more volunteers for the netball team.The IT manager leads a team of three software developers.
    3. (obsolete) A group of animals moving together, especially young ducks.
      • Hollanda team of ducklings about her
      • Drydena long team of snowy swans on high
    4. (UK, legal, obsolete) A royalty or privilege granted by royal charter to a lord of a manor, of having, keeping, and judging in his court, his bondmen, neifes, and villains, and their offspring, or suit, that is, goods and chattels, and appurtenances thereto.

    Usage notes

    When referring to the actions of a sports team, British English typically uses the third-person plural form rather than the third-person singular. However, this is not done in other contexts such as in business or politics.

    1885, The Cambridge Review, C.U. Rugby Union: the University vs. Manchester

    Manchester were unable to bring the strong team they originally intended, ...

    2000, Dan Goldstein, The rough guide to English football: a fans' handbook 2000-2001

    Leeds were champions again.

    Descendants

    Verb

    1. (intransitive) To form a group, as for sports or work.They teamed to complete the project.
    2. (transitive) To convey or haul with a team.to team lumber

    Derived terms

    Anagrams

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