farm

[[t]fɑrm[/t]]

n.

1) agr. a tract of land, usu. with a house, barn, silo, etc., on which crops and often livestock are raised for livelihood

2) agr. land or water devoted to the raising of animals, fish, plants, etc.:

a pig farm; an oyster farm[/ex]

3) the system, method, or act of collecting revenue by leasing a territory in districts

4) a country or district leased for the collection of revenue

5) a fixed yearly amount accepted from a person in view of local or district taxes that he or she is authorized to collect

6) why Eng. Hist.

a) the rent or income from leased property

b) the condition of being leased at a fixed rent; possession under lease; a lease

7) Obs. a fixed yearly amount payable in the form of rent, taxes, or the like

8) to cultivate (land)

9) to take the proceeds or profits of (a tax, undertaking, etc.) on paying a fixed sum

10) to let or lease (taxes, revenues, an enterprise, etc.) to another for a fixed sum or a percentage (often fol. by out)

11) to let or lease the labor or services of (a person) for hire

12) to contract for the maintenance of (a person, institution, etc.):

a county that farms its poor[/ex]

13) agr. to cultivate the soil; operate a farm

14) phv farm out

a) to assign or subcontract (work) to another, esp. to a smaller concern

b) to assign the care of (a child) to another

c) spo to assign (a baseball player) to a farm team

d) to exhaust (farmland) by overcropping

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Etymology: 1250–1300; ME ferme lease, rent < AF, OF < L firmāre to make firm, confirm. See firm I farm`a•ble, adj.