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Band vs Swarm - What's the difference?

band | swarm | Related terms |

In intransitive terms the difference between band and swarm

is that band is to group together for a common purpose; to confederate while swarm is to teem, or be overrun with insects, people, etc.

As nouns the difference between band and swarm

is that band is a strip of material used for strengthening or coupling while swarm is a large number of insects, especially when in motion or (for bees) migrating to a new colony.

As verbs the difference between band and swarm

is that band is to fasten with a band while swarm is to move as a swarm.

band

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) band (also bond), from (etyl) beand, .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A strip of material used for strengthening or coupling.
  • # A strip of material wrapped around things to hold them together.
  • #* , chapter=10
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=The Jones man was looking at her hard. Now he reached into the hatch of his vest and fetched out a couple of cigars, everlasting big ones, with gilt bands on them.}}
  • # A narrow strip of cloth or other material on clothing, to bind, strengthen, or ornament it.
  • #* 1843 , (Thomas Hood), (The Song of the Shirt)
  • band and gusset and seam
  • # A strip along the spine of a book where the pages are attached.
  • # A belt or strap that is part of a machine.
  • (label) A strip of decoration.
  • # A continuous tablet, stripe, or series of ornaments, as of carved foliage, of colour, or of brickwork.
  • # In Gothic architecture, the moulding, or suite of mouldings, which encircles the pillars and small shafts.
  • That which serves as the means of union or connection between persons; a tie.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
    • to join in Hymen's bands
  • A linen collar or ruff worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.
  • (label) Two strips of linen hanging from the neck in front as part of a clerical, legal, or academic dress.
  • (label) A part of the radio spectrum.
  • (label) A group of energy levels in a solid state material.
  • (obsolete) A bond.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
    • thy oath and band
  • (label) Pledge; security.
    • (Spenser)
  • A ring, such as a wedding ring (wedding band), or a ring put on a bird's leg to identify it.
    • Derived terms
    * bandless * elastic band * gum band * lacquer band * rubber band * smart band * wedding band

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To fasten with a band.
  • (ornithology) To fasten an identifying band around the leg of (a bird).

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) band, from (etyl) bande, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A group of musicians, especially (a) wind and percussion players, or (b) rock musicians.
  • A type of orchestra originally playing janissary music; i.e. marching band.
  • A group of people loosely united for a common purpose (a band of thieves).
  • * 1900 , L. Frank Baum , The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 23
    • "My third command to the Winged Monkeys," said Glinda, "shall be to carry you to your forest. Then, having used up the powers of the Golden Cap, I shall give it to the King of the Monkeys, that he and his band may thereafter be free for evermore."
  • (anthropology) A small group of people living in a simple society.
  • * 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)
    • But in the meantime Robin Hood and his band lived quietly in Sherwood Forest, without showing their faces abroad, for Robin knew that it would not be wise for him to be seen in the neighborhood of Nottingham, those in authority being very wroth with him.
  • (Canada) A group of aboriginals that has official recognition as an organized unit by the federal government of Canada.
    • Derived terms
    * band rotunda * bandstand * brass band * jug band * marching band
    Descendants
    * German (colloquial, "Denglish"):

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To group together for a common purpose; to confederate.
  • * Bible, Acts xxiii. 12
    • Certain of the Jews banded together.
    Derived terms
    * band together

    See also

    * (wikipedia "band") * ----

    swarm

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A large number of insects, especially when in motion or (for bees) migrating to a new colony.
  • * Milton
    • a deadly swarm of hornets
  • A mass of people, animals or things in motion or turmoil.
    • a swarm of meteorites
  • * Addison
    • those prodigious swarms that had settled themselves in every part of it [Italy]
  • (label) A group of nodes sharing the same torrent in a BitTorrent network.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (lb) To move as a swarm .
  • *
  • *:There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy. Mail bags, so I understand, are being put on board. Stewards, carrying cabin trunks, swarm in the corridors.
  • (lb) To teem, or be overrun with insects, people, etc.
  • *(Edmund Spenser) (c.1552–1599)
  • *:Every place swarms with soldiers.
  • (lb) To fill a place as a swarm .
  • (lb) To overwhelm as by an opposing army.
  • To climb by gripping with arms and legs alternately.
  • * (1748–1828)
  • *:At the top was placed a piece of money, as a prize for those who could swarm up and seize it.
  • *1919 , , (The Moon and Sixpence) ,
  • *:She called out, and a boy came running along. He swarmed up a tree, and presently threw down a ripe nut. Ata pierced a hole in it, and the doctor took a long, refreshing draught.
  • To breed multitudes.
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:Not so thick swarmed once the soil / Bedropped with blood of Gorgon.

    • See also

    *

    Anagrams

    * (l) English collective nouns