ream
1 Americannoun
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a standard quantity of paper, consisting of 20 quires or 500 sheets (formerly 480 sheets), or 516 sheets printer's ream, or perfect ream.
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Usually reams. a large quantity.
He has written reams of poetry.
verb (used with object)
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to enlarge to desired size (a previously bored hole) by means of a reamer.
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to clear with a reamer; remove or press out by reaming.
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to extract the juice from.
to ream an orange.
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Slang.
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to scold or reprimand severely (usually followed byout ).
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to cheat; defraud.
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noun
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a number of sheets of paper, formerly 480 sheets ( short ream ), now 500 sheets ( long ream ) or 516 sheets ( printer's ream or perfect ream ). One ream is equal to 20 quires
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informal (often plural) a large quantity, esp of written matter
he wrote reams
verb
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to enlarge (a hole) by use of a reamer
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to extract (juice) from (a citrus fruit) using a reamer
Etymology
Origin of ream1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English rem(e), from Middle French reime, rame, from Spanish rezma, from Arabic rizmah “bale”
Origin of ream2
First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
British Curling already collects reams of data on training sessions and competitions, but how might that be better used to develop match strategies?
From BBC
The reams of documents, emails, photos and videos have touched almost every corridor—including finance, government, the media, arts, sports and academia.
He went on to have an especially good financial crisis, defending banks against reams of litigation triggered by Wall Street’s near-collapse.
Concerns remain about an AI bubble and big tech’s colossal investments in AI infrastructure, and the technology still spews out reams of inaccurate information.
From MarketWatch
The finished costume of rich red silk lay across her bed, and she was busy draping reams of sunny yellow material across the foot of mine.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
