Dictionary

farm en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• [ˈfɑːm] (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈfɑːm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈfɑɹm/ (General-American)
• [ˈfɑɹm] (General-American)

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English ferme, farme (“rent, revenue, produce, factor, stewardship, meal, feast”), influenced by Anglo-Norman ferme (“rent, lease, farm”), from Medieval Latin ferma, firma. There is debate as to whether Medieval Latin acquired this term from Old English feorm (“rent, provision, supplies, feast”), from Proto-Germanic *fermō, *firhuma- (“means of living, subsistence”), from Proto-Germanic *ferhwō (“life force, body, being”), from Proto-Indo-European *perkʷ- (“life, force, strength, tree”); or from Latin firmus (“solid, secure”), from Proto-Italic *fermos, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer-mo-s (“holding”), from the root *dʰer- (“to hold”). If the former etymology is correct, the term is related to Old English feorh (“life, spirit”), Icelandic fjör (“life, vitality, vigour, animation”), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌹𐍂𐍈𐌿𐍃 (fairƕus, “the world”). Compare also Old English feormehām (“farm”), feormere (“purveyor, supplier, grocer”). Cognate with Scots ferm (“rent, farm”).

Meanings

1. (countable) A place where agricultural and similar activities take place, especially the growing of crops or the raising of livestock.
2. (countable) A tract of land held on lease for the purpose of cultivation.
3. (countable, in-compounds, often) A location used for an industrial purpose, having many similar structures.
   • antenna farm; fuel farm; solar farm; wind farm
   • The skies are threatening to pour on the Apple solar farm but as the woman in-charge of the company’s environmental initiatives points out: the panels are still putting out some power. Apple is still greening its act. 2014 July 25, Suzanne Goldenberg, “Apple eyes solar to power the cloud and iPhone 6 sapphire manufacturing”, in The Guardian:
4. (countable) A group of coordinated servers.
   • a server farm
   • a render farm
5. (obsolete) Food; provisions; a meal.
6. (obsolete) A banquet; feast.
7. (obsolete) A fixed yearly amount (food, provisions, money, etc.) payable as rent or tax.
   • The most usual and customary feorm or rent..must be reserved yearly on such lease. 1767, W. Blackstone, Comm. Laws Eng. II. 320:
   • All..Tythings shall stand at the old Farm, without any Increase. 1700, J. Tyrrell, Gen. Hist. Eng. II. 814:
   • If a man be bounden unto 1.s. in 100.l.£ to grant unto him the rent and farme of such a Mill. 1642, J. Perkins, transl., Profitable Bk. (new ed.) xi. §751. 329:
8. (historical) A fixed yearly sum accepted from a person as a composition for taxes or other moneys which he is empowered to collect; also, a fixed charge imposed on a town, county, etc., in respect of a tax or taxes to be collected within its limits.
   • He [the Sheriff] paid into the Exchequer the fixed yearly sum which formed the farm of the shire. 1876, E. A. Freeman, Hist. Norman Conquest V. xxiv. 439:
9. (historical) The letting-out of public revenue to a ‘farmer’; the privilege of farming a tax or taxes.
   • The first farm of postal income was made in 1672. 1885, Edwards in Encycl. Brit. XIX. 580
10. The body of farmers of public revenues.
    • They despair of a suppression of the Farm. 1786, T. Jefferson, Writings (1859) I. 568:
11. The condition of being let at a fixed rent; lease; a lease.
    • It is a great willfullnes in any such Land-lord to refuse to make any longer farmes unto their Tennants. 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:
    • The words demise, lease, and to farm let, are the proper ones to constitute a lease. 1818, W. Cruise, Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) IV. 68:
    • Thence the Leases so made were called Feormes or Farmes, which word signifieth Victuals. 1647, N. Bacon, Hist. Disc. Govt. 75:
12. (historical) A baby farm.
    • Oliver’s sobs checked his utterance for some minutes; when he was on the point of beginning to relate how he had been brought up at the farm, and carried to the workhouse by Mr. Bumble, a peculiarly impatient little double-knock was heard at the street-door: and the servant, running upstairs, announced Mr. Grimwig. 1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], Oliver Twist; […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

gentleman farm · content farm · farm holder · farm league · Beverly Farms · fur farm · farm cat · fish farm · farm business tenancy · farm girl · missile farm · Chalk Farm · pizza farm · beefarm · farm-to-table · turret farm · farm animal · working farm · Bobs Farm · work farm · wiki farm · truck farm · bee farm · poor farm · farm-to-fork · buy the farm · farm worker · farm the strike · store farm · baby-farm · gold farm · bot farm · rage farm · goat farm · cat farm · farm stand · stud farm · county farm · ribbon farm · pig farm · dairy farm · glebe-farm · farm shop · bird farm · farm runoff · brain farm · honor farm · farm-mate · granny farm · factory farm · Allenfarm · give away the farm · farm club · farmaceutical · click farm · funny farm · farm stall · farm hand · bet the farm · health farm · tree farm · ant farm · farm team · farm house · fat farm · kitten farm · farm sim · cubicle farm · prison farm · farm land · farm show · hobby farm · body farm · home farm · wind farm · oyster farm · farm market · The Farm · farm owner · solar farm · server farm · farm upstate · tank farm · glebe farm · link farm · baby farm · farm nigger · farm work · Pepperidge Farm remembers · SIM farm · troll farm · cube farm

Descendants

farma · פֿאַרם · farm · farmear · farm · farm · farm · Farm · farme · farmi · ฟาร์ม

Translations (247)

ky ферма (place where agricultural activities take place) · ba ферма (place where agricultural activities take place) · khb ᦓᦳᧂᧉᦌᦱᧂ (place where agricultural activities take place) · tg мазраа (place where agricultural activities take place) · lt ūkis (place where agricultural activities take place) · az təsərrüfat yeri (place where agricultural activities take place) · ug فېرما (place where agricultural activities take place) · ru хозя́йство (place where agricultural activities take place) · km កសិដ្ឋាន (place where agricultural activities take place) · crh çiftlik (place where agricultural activities take place) · ml കൃഷിഭൂമി (place where agricultural activities take place) · gag çiftlik (place where agricultural activities take place) · cy amaethfa (place where agricultural activities take place) · uk фа́рма (place where agricultural activities take place) · tl sakahan (place where agricultural activities take place) · mr शेती (place where agricultural activities take place) · dng нунҗуон (place where agricultural activities take place) · mfe laferm (place where agricultural activities take place) · sk statok (place where agricultural activities take place) · ca granja (place where agricultural activities take place) · az مزرعه (place where agricultural activities take place) · ky чарба (place where agricultural activities take place) · sa क्षेत्र (place where agricultural activities take place) · ary فيرمة (place where agricultural activities take place) · hu gazdaság (place where agricultural activities take place) · ee agble (place where agricultural activities take place) · vo farm (place where agricultural activities take place) · wuu 農場 /农场 (place where agricultural activities take place) · kmr çewlik (place where agricultural activities take place) · kk ферма (place where agricultural activities take place) · oc bòrda (place where agricultural activities take place) · pa ਖੇਤ (place where agricultural activities take place) · hi फ़ार्म (place where agricultural activities take place) · fi vuokrapelto (tract of land held on lease for cultivation) · es chácara (place where agricultural activities take place) · ro fermă (place where agricultural activities take place) · tk ferma (place where agricultural activities take place) · ru фе́рма (place where agricultural activities take place) · de Bauernhof (place where agricultural activities take place) · nb bondegård (place where agricultural activities take place) · es chagra (place where agricultural activities take place) · ga feirm (place where agricultural activities take place) · fy pleats (place where agricultural activities take place) · ur کاشْت (place where agricultural activities take place) · ur فارْم (place where agricultural activities take place) · fa-ira کاشْت (place where agricultural activities take place) · luy kumukunda (place where agricultural activities take place) · mr फार्म (computing: group of coordinated servers) · eu baserri (place where agricultural activities take place) · hu földbirtok (place where agricultural activities take place) · yi פֿאַרם (place where agricultural activities take place) · zza resane (place where agricultural activities take place) · bn খেত (place where agricultural activities take place) · cmn 農莊 /农庄 (place where agricultural activities take place) · tr çiftlik (place where agricultural activities take place) · mt razzett (place where agricultural activities take place) · et farm (place where agricultural activities take place) · sl kmetija (place where agricultural activities take place) · bg фе́рма (place where agricultural activities take place) · ha gona (place where agricultural activities take place) · th ไร่นา (place where agricultural activities take place) · kmr cotgeh (place where agricultural activities take place) · vi trang trại (place where agricultural activities take place) · my လယ်တော (place where agricultural activities take place) · id perkebunan (place where agricultural activities take place) · luy lishamba (place where agricultural activities take place) · af plaas (place where agricultural activities take place) · gag firma (place where agricultural activities take place) · ur کھیت (place where agricultural activities take place) · az ferma (place where agricultural activities take place) · pt fazenda (place where agricultural activities take place) · gu ખેતર (place where agricultural activities take place) · be фэ́рма (place where agricultural activities take place) · af boerdery (place where agricultural activities take place) · la fundus (place where agricultural activities take place) · pl gospodarstwo (place where agricultural activities take place) · nb gårdsbruk (place where agricultural activities take place) · lv ferma (place where agricultural activities take place) · is bær (place where agricultural activities take place) · hi खेत (place where agricultural activities take place) · fa-ira مَزْرَعِه (place where agricultural activities take place) · cs farma (place where agricultural activities take place) · sq fermë (place where agricultural activities take place) · sah пиэрмэ (place where agricultural activities take place) · de Farm (place where agricultural activities take place) · ast granxa (place where agricultural activities take place) · rue ферма (place where agricultural activities take place) · akl uma (place where agricultural activities take place) · rsk салаш (place where agricultural activities take place) · rue ґаздівство (place where agricultural activities take place) · si ගොවිපළ (place where agricultural activities take place) · sh фа̑рма (place where agricultural activities take place) · hi फार्म (place where agricultural activities take place) · tsg uma (place where agricultural activities take place) · pl farma (place where agricultural activities take place) · uz ferma (place where agricultural activities take place) · sv gård (place where agricultural activities take place) · kmr kûfregeh (place where agricultural activities take place) · pt quinta (place where agricultural activities take place) · es finca (place where agricultural activities take place) · lld luech da paur (place where agricultural activities take place) · cy ffarm (place where agricultural activities take place) · ml വിളനിലം (place where agricultural activities take place) · be фе́рма (place where agricultural activities take place) · fy buorkerij (place where agricultural activities take place) · oc bòria (place where agricultural activities take place) · or ଖମାର (place where agricultural activities take place) · kum къошлукъ (place where agricultural activities take place) · alt перма (place where agricultural activities take place) · ko 농장 (place where agricultural activities take place) · ro gospodărie agricolă (place where agricultural activities take place) · cy fferm (place where agricultural activities take place) · war u-ma (place where agricultural activities take place) · mn ферм (place where agricultural activities take place) · fo búgv (place where agricultural activities take place) · ta வயல் (place where agricultural activities take place) · gd tuathanas (place where agricultural activities take place) · nl boerderij (place where agricultural activities take place) · hu tenyészet (place where agricultural activities take place) · la vīlla (place where agricultural activities take place) · it podere (place where agricultural activities take place) · nan-hbl 農場 /农场 (place where agricultural activities take place) · cs statek (place where agricultural activities take place) · th ทุ่งนา (place where agricultural activities take place) · km ចំការ (place where agricultural activities take place) · eo bieno (place where agricultural activities take place) · arc ܐܓܘܪܣܐ (place where agricultural activities take place) · it fattoria (place where agricultural activities take place) · hu tanyagazdaság (place where agricultural activities take place) · hak 農場 /农场 (place where agricultural activities take place) · kjh ферме (place where agricultural activities take place) · mk фарма (place where agricultural activities take place) · sco ferm (place where agricultural activities take place) · kxd kabun (place where agricultural activities take place) · fi maatila (place where agricultural activities take place) · he חווה \ חַוָּה (place where agricultural activities take place) · lo ນິຄົມກະເສດ (place where agricultural activities take place) · my ခြံ (place where agricultural activities take place) · hu farm (place where agricultural activities take place) · az چفتلك (place where agricultural activities take place) · nn gard (place where agricultural activities take place) · dng нунчу (place where agricultural activities take place) · hy ագարակ (place where agricultural activities take place) · yue 農莊 /农庄 (place where agricultural activities take place) · te పొలం (place where agricultural activities take place) · la ager (place where agricultural activities take place) · kmr malgûndî (place where agricultural activities take place) · as খেতি (place where agricultural activities take place) · tg ферма (place where agricultural activities take place) · arz عزبة (place where agricultural activities take place) · ur مَزْرَعَہ (place where agricultural activities take place) · fi puisto (industrial location with many similar structures) · eo farmo (place where agricultural activities take place) · hu birtok (place where agricultural activities take place) · bcl uma (place where agricultural activities take place) · ug دېھقانچىلىق مەيدانى (place where agricultural activities take place) · es chacra (place where agricultural activities take place) · ajp مَزْرَعَة (place where agricultural activities take place) · ja 農場 (place where agricultural activities take place) · lv saimniecība (place where agricultural activities take place) · mr शेत (place where agricultural activities take place) · gl granxa (place where agricultural activities take place) · vi nông trường (place where agricultural activities take place) · pt sítio (place where agricultural activities take place) · lad chiflik (place where agricultural activities take place) · pt granja (place where agricultural activities take place) · lij fatorîa (place where agricultural activities take place) · sh fȃrma (place where agricultural activities take place) · fi tila (place where agricultural activities take place) · ki mugunda (place where agricultural activities take place) · id ladang (place where agricultural activities take place) · hu tanya (place where agricultural activities take place) · kn ಗದ್ದೆ (place where agricultural activities take place) · ps مزرعه (place where agricultural activities take place) · sv jordbruk (place where agricultural activities take place) · az جفتلك (place where agricultural activities take place) · izh tila (place where agricultural activities take place) · sk farma (place where agricultural activities take place) · la vīcus (place where agricultural activities take place) · tg киштзор (place where agricultural activities take place) · yue 農場 /农场 (place where agricultural activities take place) · et talu (place where agricultural activities take place) · ka ფერმა (place where agricultural activities take place) · ota چفتلك (place where agricultural activities take place) · es granja (place where agricultural activities take place) · kn ತೋಟ (place where agricultural activities take place) · sty пирме (place where agricultural activities take place) · nb gård (place where agricultural activities take place) · lad ג׳יפ׳ליק (place where agricultural activities take place) · rue фарма (place where agricultural activities take place) · wa cinse (place where agricultural activities take place) · ms ladang (place where agricultural activities take place) · izh maapaikka (place where agricultural activities take place) · acw مَزْرَعَة (place where agricultural activities take place) · kn ಜಮೀನು (place where agricultural activities take place) · fr ferme (place where agricultural activities take place) · fr domaine (place where agricultural activities take place) · bo ཞིང་ཁ (place where agricultural activities take place) · pa کھیت (place where agricultural activities take place) · az təsərrüfat müəssisəsi (place where agricultural activities take place) · hu kertészet (place where agricultural activities take place) · pdc Bauerei (place where agricultural activities take place) · fr exploitation agricole (place where agricultural activities take place) · sv farm (place where agricultural activities take place) · crh ferma (place where agricultural activities take place) · or ଫାର୍ମ (place where agricultural activities take place) · bg чифли́к (place where agricultural activities take place) · da gård (place where agricultural activities take place) · mk чифлиг (place where agricultural activities take place) · clt lu (place where agricultural activities take place) · gu ફાર્મ (place where agricultural activities take place) · oj gitigaan (place where agricultural activities take place) · ta பண்ணை (place where agricultural activities take place) · ps فارم (place where agricultural activities take place) · nrf fèrme (place where agricultural activities take place) · el αγρόκτημα (place where agricultural activities take place) · hu parasztgazdaság (place where agricultural activities take place) · nl hoeve (place where agricultural activities take place) · mi pāmu (place where agricultural activities take place) · ckb مووچە (place where agricultural activities take place) · sw shamba (place where agricultural activities take place) · la praedium (place where agricultural activities take place) · tt ферма (place where agricultural activities take place) · krc къош (place where agricultural activities take place) · bn খামার (place where agricultural activities take place) · fi farmi (place where agricultural activities take place) · mn аж ахуй (place where agricultural activities take place) · ne खेत (place where agricultural activities take place) · uk фе́рма (place where agricultural activities take place) · th ฟาร์ม (place where agricultural activities take place) · sty фирме (place where agricultural activities take place) · uk господа́рство (place where agricultural activities take place) · fa-ira کِشْتزار (place where agricultural activities take place) · dng нунчон (place where agricultural activities take place) · hy ֆերմա (place where agricultural activities take place) · ia ferma (place where agricultural activities take place) · or ଖେତ (place where agricultural activities take place) · lmw jówa (place where agricultural activities take place) · dng ферма (place where agricultural activities take place) · he מֶשֶׁק (place where agricultural activities take place) · lt ferma (place where agricultural activities take place) · ar مَزْرَعَة (place where agricultural activities take place) · my လယ်ယာ (place where agricultural activities take place) · bol kori (place where agricultural activities take place) · cmn 農場 /农场 (place where agricultural activities take place) · rsk фарма (place where agricultural activities take place) · grc ἀγρός (place where agricultural activities take place)

farm en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• [ˈfɑːm] (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈfɑːm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈfɑɹm/ (General-American)
• [ˈfɑɹm] (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English fermen, from Anglo-Norman fermer (“to let out for a fixed payment, lease, rent”) ultimately from the same Old English source as Etymology 1. Compare Old English feormian (“to feed, supply with food, sustain”).

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To work on a farm, especially in the growing and harvesting of crops.
2. (transitive) To devote (land) to farming.
3. (transitive) To grow (a particular crop).
4. To give up to another, as an estate, a business, the revenue, etc., on condition of receiving in return a percentage of what it yields; to farm out.
   • [The East-India Company] have contrived to farm their subjects, and their duties toward these subjects, to that very Nabob, whom they themselves constantly represent as an habitual oppressor and a relentless tyrant. 1783 December 1, “Speech on Mr. Fox's East-India Bill”, in The Works of R.H. Edmund Burke, volume 2, spoken by Edmund Burke, published 1855:
   • to farm the taxes
5. (obsolete, transitive) To lease or let for an equivalent, e.g. land for a rent; to yield the use of to proceeds.
   • We are enforced to farm our royal realm. 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
6. (obsolete, transitive) To take at a certain rent or rate.
   • In Paris it is stated that nearly half the birth-rate of the city finds its way to nurses who farm babies in the suburbs. 1886, The Fortnightly, volume 46, page 530:
7. (Internet) To engage in grinding (repetitive activity) in a particular area or against specific enemies for a particular drop or item.
   • The practice of gold farming is controversial within gaming communities and violates the end user licensing agreements[…] 2010, Robert Alan Brookey, Hollywood Gamers, page 130:
   • When you hit a black pudding with an iron weapon that does at least one point of damage there is a good chance it will divide into two black puddings of the same size (but half the hit points IIRC). […] When eaten black puddings confer several intrinsics so AC [armor class] is not the only potential benefit. […] Since black puddings are formidible^([sic]) monsters for an inexperienced character, farming is also a good way to die. 2004, Doug Freyburger, “Pudding Farming Requires Care”, in rec.games.roguelike.nethack (Usenet):
8. (Internet) To cultivate and/or disseminate through artificial algorithm-incentivized means.
   • X's suspension of the Stake-linked accounts and the UK Gambling Commission's enforcement action represent the first significant consequences for clip farming. 2026 February 11, Boaz Sobrado, “Inside The 'Clipping Farms' Driving Fintech's Marketing Boom”, in Forbes, archived from the original on 26 Feb 2026:
   • This type of SEO farming can be massively lucrative. Digital marketers have built an entire industry on top of credit card affiliate links, from which they then earn a generous profit. 2023 January 19, Mia Sato, Vincent James, “Inside CNET’s AI-powered SEO money machine”, in The Verge:
   • Will AI slop farming ultimately exhaust the soil of online spaces? Will people flee the slop, tolerate it, or even welcome it? Will we ultimately come to love slop? 2025 September 14, Kate Crawford, “Eating the Future: The Metabolic Logic of AI Slop”, in e-flux:
9. (Internet, derogatory) To cultivate and/or disseminate through artificial algorithm-incentivized means. ▸ To act performatively or deliberately to elicit a desired response.

Forms

Deriveds

farm down · clip farm · farmer · aura farming · karma farm · refarmed · edit farming · nonfarmed · aura farm · unfarmed · gold farming · farm out · like farm · farming

Relateds

north forty · agriculture

Synonyms

bait

Translations (45)

pt lavrar (to grow a particular crop) · sh жетва (to grow a particular crop) · pt cultivar (to grow a particular crop) · cmn 務農 /务农 (to work on a farm) · sh род (to grow a particular crop) · pt cultivar (to work on a farm) · io kultivar (to grow a particular crop) · gl labrar (to work on a farm) · cmn 耕作 (to grow a particular crop) · la colō (to grow a particular crop) · cmn 種植 /种植 (to grow a particular crop) · sh кметовати (to work on a farm) · grc γεωργέω (to grow a particular crop) · sl kmetovati (to work on a farm) · mk одгледува (to grow a particular crop) · af boer (to work on a farm) · mr शेती करणे (to work on a farm) · es cultivar (to grow a particular crop) · pt amanhar (to grow a particular crop) · sh kmetovati (to work on a farm) · sv odla (to grow a particular crop) · fi viljellä (to grow a particular crop) · cmn 刷 (engage in grinding) · cmn 農 /农 (engage in grinding) · mi pāmu (to work on a farm) · grc γεωργέω (to work on a farm) · mk обработува (to work on a farm) · sv bruka (to grow a particular crop) · no dyrke (to grow a particular crop) · gl cultivar (to work on a farm) · da dyrke (to grow a particular crop) · el εκτρέφω (to work on a farm) · nv kʼiʼdiłé (to work on a farm) · la agricolor (to work on a farm) · el καλλιεργώ (to work on a farm) · da drive landbrug (to work on a farm) · es culturar (to grow a particular crop) · nrf fèrmer (to work on a farm) · el καλλιεργώ (to grow a particular crop) · sh rod (to grow a particular crop) · fa کشاورزی کردن (to work on a farm) · sh žetva (to grow a particular crop) · bg отглеждам (to grow a particular crop) · gl cultivar (to grow a particular crop) · izh viljellä (to grow a particular crop)

farm en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• [ˈfɑːm] (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈfɑːm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈfɑɹm/ (General-American)
• [ˈfɑɹm] (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English fermen, from Old English feormian (“to clean, cleanse”), from Proto-West Germanic *furbēn (“to clean, polish, buff”). Doublet of furbish.

Meanings

1. (UK, dialectal) To cleanse; clean out; put in order; empty; empty out
   • Farm out the stable and pigsty.

Forms