Definition of: farm

(färm) noun
1. A tract of land forming a single property and devoted to agriculture, stock–raising, dairying, or some allied activity.
2. A tract of water used for the cultivation of marine life: an oyster farm.
3. Obs. a The system of farming out revenues or taxes. b A fixed annual sum paid as a rent or tax.
4. In baseball, a minor–league club used by a major–league club for training its recruits.
—v.t.
1. To cultivate (land).
2. To take a lease of, as the use of a business or the collection of taxes, for a fixed rental, retaining the profits.
3. To let at a fixed rental, as lands, collection of taxes, etc.: usually with out: to farm out taxes.
4. To let out the services of (a person) for hire.
5. To agree to maintain or care for at a fixed price, as paupers.
6. To arrange for (work) to be performed by persons or a firm not in the main organization; subcontract: with out.
7. In baseball, to place (a player) with a minor–league team for training: often with out.
—v.i.
8. To practice farming; be a farmer. [<F ferme <Med. L firma a fixed payment <L firmare fix, settle <firmus firm]