Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To be great in number or amount.
  • intransitive verb To have something in great numbers or amounts. Often used with in or with: synonym: teem.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To be in great plenty; be very prevalent.
  • To be unstinted in possession or supply (of anything); be copiously provided or furnished (with anything).
  • To teem or be replete (with), as that which is furnished or supplied, or is an intrinsic characteristic: as, the country abounds with wealth, or with fine scenery.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To be in great plenty; to be very prevalent; to be plentiful.
  • intransitive verb To be copiously supplied; -- followed by in or with.
  • intransitive verb to possess in such abundance as to be characterized by.
  • intransitive verb to be filled with; to possess in great numbers.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb intransitive To be highly productive.
  • verb intransitive To be copiously supplied;

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities
  • verb be in a state of movement or action

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English abounden, from Old French abonder, from Latin abundāre, to overflow : ab-, away; see ab– + undāre, to flow (from unda, wave; see wed- in Indo-European roots).]

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Examples

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  • "I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may abound in the gaieties which that season generally brings, and that your beaux will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the three of whom we shall deprive you." - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

    August 16, 2015