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 - (often plural)
a large quantity, esp of written matter: he wrote reams
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ream1 /rim/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
ream2 /rim/USA pronunciation v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Printinga standard amount of paper in the U.S., usually amounting to about 500 sheets.
- Usually, reams. [plural] a large quantity:wrote reams of poetry.
ream2 /rim/USA pronunciation v. [~ + object]
- to enlarge to desired size (a previously bored hole) by means of a special tool.
- to remove or press out with a special tool.
- Slang Terms
- to scold sharply: [~ + object + out]The boss reamed him out for his mistakes.[~ + out + object]reaming out his employees.
ream1
(rēm),USA pronunciation n.
ream2 (rēm),USA pronunciation v.t.
- Printinga standard quantity of paper, consisting of 20 quires or 500 sheets (formerly 480 sheets), or 516 sheets (printer's ream or perfect ream).
- Usually, reams. a large quantity:He has written reams of poetry.
- Arabic rizmah bale
- Spanish rezma
- Middle French reime, rame
- Middle English rem(e) 1350–1400
ream2 (rēm),USA pronunciation v.t.
- to enlarge to desired size (a previously bored hole) by means of a reamer.
- to clear with a reamer;
remove or press out by reaming. - to extract the juice from:to ream an orange.
- Slang Terms
- to scold or reprimand severely (usually fol. by out).
- to cheat;
defraud.
- origin, originally uncertain 1805–15
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
to enlarge (a hole) by use of a reamer to extract (juice) from (a citrus fruit) using a reamer
'ream' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):