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farm

/fɑrm/
/fɑm/
IPA guide

Other forms: farms; farming; farmed

A farm is a plot of land that's used for growing food crops or raising livestock. A dairy farm might have cows and fields of grass for them to eat.

Some farms consist of barns or other buildings, greenhouses, and fields. Small farms often grow a variety of vegetables and raise small numbers of animals such as egg-laying hens and dairy goats. Large farms frequently focus on one crop and operate like factories. To work on a farm is to farm. In the 15th century, to farm was "to rent land," from the Anglo-French ferme, "a lease," from the Latin firmare, "to fix, settle, or strengthen."

Definitions of farm
  1. noun
    workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit
    “it takes several people to work the farm
    see moresee less
    types:
    chicken farm
    farm where chickens are raised for sale
    croft
    a small farm worked by a crofter
    dairy, dairy farm
    a farm where dairy products are produced
    farm-place, farmplace, farmstead
    a farm together with its buildings
    grange
    an outlying farm
    home-farm
    a farm that supplies the needs of a large estate of establishment
    pig farm, piggery
    a farm where pigs are raised or kept
    cattle farm, cattle ranch, ranch, spread
    farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
    sewage farm
    a farm that is irrigated and fertilized with raw sewage
    sheeprun, sheepwalk
    farm devoted to raising sheep
    stud farm
    a farm where horses are bred
    truck farm, truck garden
    a farm where vegetables are grown for market
    vinery, vineyard
    a farm of grapevines where wine grapes are produced
    type of:
    work, workplace
    a place where work is done
  2. verb
    be a farmer; work as a farmer
    “My son is farming in California”
    see moresee less
    types:
    ranch
    manage or run a ranch
    type of:
    do work, work
    be employed
  3. verb
    cultivate by growing, often involving improvements by means of agricultural techniques
    synonyms: grow, produce, raise
    see moresee less
    types:
    carry
    bear (a crop)
    overproduce
    produce in excess; produce more than needed or wanted
    keep
    raise
    herd
    keep, move, or drive animals
    type of:
    cultivate
    foster the growth of
  4. verb
    collect fees or profits
    see moresee less
    type of:
    collect, take in
    call for and obtain payment of
Pronunciation
US
/fɑrm/
UK
/fɑm/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘farm'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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