Team Definition

team

English

Etymology

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 *taugijanan, *tugōnan, *teuhōnan, *teuhanan (“to lead, bring, pull, draw”), from Proto-Indo-European *deuk- (“to pull, lead”). Cognate with Dutch toom (“bridle, reins, flock of birds”), German Zaum (“bridle”), Norwegian tømme (“bridle, rein”), Swedish töm (“leash, rein”). More at tie, tow.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /tiːm/, SAMPA: /ti:m/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːm
• Homophone: teem

Noun

team (plural teams)

1. A set of draught animals, such as two horses in front of a carriage.
   • 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 referring to sports and work.

Usage notes

(UK, Ireland, rare in North America) 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.

1. • 1885, The Cambridge Review, “C.U. Rugby Union: the University vs. Manchester”, volume 86, page 121: 

     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

• German: Team

Verb

team (third-person singular simple present teams, present participle teaming, simple past and past participle teamed)

1. To form a group, as for sports or work.

   They teamed to complete the project.

Derived terms

• double-team

Anagrams

• mate, maté
• meat
• meta, Meta
• tame

Italian

Noun

team m. inv.

1. team (group of people)

Synonyms

• squadra, gruppo

Anagrams

• meta, metà, tema

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *taumaz (“pull, draw”). Cognate with Old Frisian tām ‘bridle, progeny’, Old Saxon tōm, Old High German zoum (Dutch toom ‘rein, offspring’, German Zaum ‘bridle’), Old Norse taumr (Swedish töm ‘leash, rein’).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /tæːam/

Noun

tēam m. (nominative plural tēamas)

1. childbirth
2. family, offspring
3. a team of draught animals
4. an Anglo-Saxon legal procedure in a stolen goods suit

Swedish

Noun

team n.

1. team

Declension

Synonyms

• lag

West Frisian

Noun

team n.

1. bridle
2. team

Example

"Sirkulaasjefollybal is in fariant op it 'gewoane' follybal, mei 4 spilers yn elts team." (Mini-volleyball is a variation of "normal" volleyball, with 4 players on each team.)

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