ream

¹

[ reem ]

noun

1. a standard quantity of paper, consisting of 20 quires or 500 sheets (formerly 480 sheets), or 516 sheets printer's ream, or perfect ream.
2. Usually reams. a large quantity:

   He has written reams of poetry.

ream

²

[ reem ]

verb (used with object)

1. to enlarge to desired size (a previously bored hole) by means of a reamer.
2. to clear with a reamer; remove or press out by reaming.
3. to extract the juice from:

   to ream an orange.

4. Slang.
   1. to scold or reprimand severely (usually followed by out ).
   2. to cheat; defraud.

ream

¹

/ riːm /

verb

1. to enlarge (a hole) by use of a reamer
2. to extract (juice) from (a citrus fruit) using a reamer

ream

²

/ riːm /

noun

1. 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
2. informal.
   often plural a large quantity, esp of written matter

   he wrote reams

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ream¹

C19: perhaps from C14 remen to open up, from Old English rӯman to widen

Origin of ream²

C14: from Old French raime , from Spanish rezma , from Arabic rizmah bale

Example Sentences

In many ways, CTV is a chance for ad tech vendors to bring in reams of dollars they wouldn’t have usually had access to as so much more of the ads there are now bought with dollars usually reserved for TV.

From Digiday

Rather than simply encrypting and holding your data hostage, attackers are also threatening to release reams of sensitive data publicly.

From Fortune

Unlike its rivals, Nokia can’t dominate TV schedules and online auctions with reams of cash.

From Digiday

Still, the time in between is generally used for senators and senior aides to vet the reams of paperwork that arrive at the Judiciary Committee, as well as for senators to prepare for the question time they each get at the high-profile hearings.

From Washington Post

You go to your attorney’s office, sign reams of documents, including the mortgage note witnessed by a notary who’s usually on the lawyer’s staff.

From Fortune

This year's survey included a ream of questions about returning-veteran violence.

From The Daily Beast

Drill the hole B with a small drill, about 1/16 in., in the center of the lower portion of the U and ream it out.

From Project Gutenberg

A sheet of fine drawing paper was a greater temptation than money sufficient to have purchased a ream.

From Project Gutenberg

A ream of stamped policies of insurance amounted to one hundred and ninety pounds—of common ones, without stamps, twenty.

From Project Gutenberg

Thin and thick sheets were frequently mixed to obtain the necessary weight per ream specified in any particular grade of paper.

From Project Gutenberg

I suppose there was a matter of half a ream of brown paper stuck upon me, from first to last.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• batch
• bundle
• scad
• stack
• ton