farm

1 of 2

noun

ˈfärm 

often attributive

1

obsolete : a sum or due fixed in amount and payable at fixed intervals

2

: a letting out of revenues or taxes for a fixed sum to one authorized to collect and retain them

3

: a district or division of a country leased out for the collection of government revenues

4

: a tract of land devoted to agricultural purposes

5

a

: a plot of land devoted to the raising of animals and especially domestic livestock

b

: a tract of water reserved for the artificial cultivation of some aquatic life form

a fish farm

6

: a minor-league team (as in baseball) associated with a major-league team as a subsidiary

7

: an area containing a number of similar structures or objects (such as radio antennas or storage tanks)

farm

2 of 2

verb

farmed; farming; farms

transitive verb

1

obsolete : rent

2

: to collect and take the fees or profits of (an occupation or business) on payment of a fixed sum

3

: to give up (something, such as an estate or a business) to another on condition of receiving in return a fixed sum

4

a

: to devote to agriculture

b

: to manage and cultivate as a farm

c

: to grow or cultivate in quantity

farm trees for fuel

farm salmon

intransitive verb

: to engage in raising crops or animals

Synonyms

Noun

• estate
• farmstead
• grange
• ranch

Verb

• cultivate
• tend
• till

Examples of farm in a Sentence

Noun

She grew up on a dairy farm.

Running a farm is hard work.

Verb

My uncle has been farming this land for 60 years.

My uncle has been farming on this land for 60 years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some even had to relocate from third-generation farms due to inconsistent climate patterns, making farming unsustainable. —Christopher Marquis, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Historically, the Salton Sea has relied on agricultural runoff from nearby farms in the Imperial Valley for much of its water, as farmers used Colorado River water to irrigate crops, and the excess runoff would flow into the lake. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

And all Atlantic salmon sold in the U.S. is farmed. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024

Good to note that this is a family-run winery making organically farmed wine from Oregon’s Yamhill-Carlton AVA. —Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ferme, from Anglo-French, from fermer to fix, rent, from Latin firmare to make firm, from firmus firm

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing farm

• bet the farm on it
• buy the farm
• collective farm
• cube farm
• factory farm
• farm animals
• farm out
• farm team
• fat farm
• fish farm
• funny farm
• health farm
• non-farm
• poor farm
• sewage farm
• solar farm
• the funny farm
• tree farm
• truck farm
• wind farm
• work farm

Kids Definition

farm

1 of 2 noun

ˈfärm 

1

a

: a piece of land used for growing crops or raising livestock

b

: a body of water used for the cultivation of aquatic animals

an oyster farm

2

: a minor-league baseball team

farm

2 of 2 verb

1

: to turn over to another usually for an agreed payment

—usually used with out

farm out the electrical work

2

a

: to devote to agriculture

farm 60 acres

b

: to engage in raising crops or animals