---
title: teem — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «teem» in the school dictionary: To teem with something is to be full of it, crowded with lots of living things moving about: «The pond teemed with tadpoles». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# teem

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** living things, pond, rain, it, rock pool, Rainforests · **What happens:** teem, be, move about, teem down, rain, stay · **To what, where:** living things, market, microscope, increase

<!-- .vabout -->
«teem» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [teem in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/teem.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To teem with something is to be full of it, crowded with lots of living things moving about: «The pond teemed with tadpoles».

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teem:m1:1
# text = To teem with something is to be full of it, crowded with lots of living things moving about: «The pond teemed with tadpoles».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	teem	teem	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	crowded	crowded	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	_
18	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	17	acl	_	_
19	about	about	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	24	punct	_	_
21	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	_
24	teemed	teem	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	acl	_	_
25	with	with	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
26	tadpoles	tadpole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teem** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn swarm-47.5.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with something; of it; full *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  | with lots of living things | tree rules |
| 4 | **move about** | gerund | living things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **teem** *in a quote* | participle | the pond | living things *not said here* |  |  |  | with tadpoles | vn swarm-47.5.1-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location thing=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When rain is teeming down, it is raining very heavily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teem:m2:1
# text = When rain is teeming down, it is raining very heavily.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	teeming	teem	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	heavily	heavily	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teem down** | present · progressive | rain |  |  |  |  |  | vn swarm-47.5.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **rain** | present · progressive | it |  |  |  |  | heavily *property* | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rock pool was teeming with tiny crabs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teem:x1:1
# text = The rock pool was teeming with tiny crabs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	teeming	teem	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	crabs	crab	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teem** | past · progressive | the rock pool |  |  |  |  | with tiny crabs | vn swarm-47.5.1-1 «PP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with crab=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rainforests teem with insects and birds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teem:x2:1
# text = Rainforests teem with insects and birds.
1	Rainforests	rainforest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	teem	teem	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teem** | present | Rainforests |  |  |  |  | with insects and birds | vn swarm-47.5.1-1 «PP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with insect=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was teeming down, so we stayed inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teem:x3:1
# text = It was teeming down, so we stayed inside.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	teeming	teem	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teem down** | past · progressive | It |  |  |  |  | down *property* | vn swarm-47.5.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **stay** | past | we |  |  |  |  | inside *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The market teemed with shoppers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teem:x4:1
# text = The market teemed with shoppers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	market	market	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	teemed	teem	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	shoppers	shopper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teem** | participle |  | the market *not said here* |  |  |  | with shoppers | vn swarm-47.5.1-1 «PP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with shopper=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The river teems with fish in spring.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teem:x5:1
# text = The river teems with fish in spring.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	teems	teem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teem** | present | the river |  |  |  | spring | with fish | vn swarm-47.5.1-1 «PP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with fish=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A drop of pond water teems with microbes under the microscope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teem:x6:1
# text = A drop of pond water teems with microbes under the microscope.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	drop	drop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	teems	teem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	microbes	microbe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
9	under	under	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	microscope	microscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teem** | present | a drop of pond water |  |  | the microscope |  | with microbes | vn swarm-47.5.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme under microscope=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The earth, no longer teeming with fruitfulness, only yielded her increase after much toil and labour.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:teem:x7:1
# text = The earth, no longer teeming with fruitfulness, only yielded her increase after much toil and labour.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	no	no	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
6	teeming	teem	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	fruitfulness	fruitfulness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
10	only	only	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	yielded	yield	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	increase	increase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	after	after	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	toil	toil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	labour	labour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teem** | gerund | the earth *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with fruitfulness; long *property* | vn swarm-47.5.1-1 «PP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with fruitfulness=Theme |
| 2 | **yield** | past | the earth | earth's increase |  |  | after much toil and labour |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent increase=Theme |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

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