team
team
Pronunciation
team
/tiː/ (as in "tee")
/m/ (as in "mm" sound)
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: team
Plural Noun: teams
Verb (base form): team
Verb (third-person singular present): teams
Verb (present participle): teaming
Verb (past tense/past participle): teamed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A group of individuals, often with complementary skills, who collaborate towards a common goal, purpose, or project.
Synonyms: group, squad, crew, unit, collective, partnership, alliance
Antonyms: individual, loner, competitor (in a non-collaborative sense)
Definition: Two or more animals harnessed together to pull a vehicle or work implements, or a group of players forming one side in a game or sport.
Synonyms: pair, duo, hitch (for animals); squad, side, lineup (for sports)
Antonyms: (Context-dependent; for animals, no direct antonym, but could be "single animal"; for sports, "opponent")
Verb
Definition: To come together or work collaboratively as a group in order to achieve a shared objective.
Synonyms: collaborate, cooperate, unite, join forces, partner, ally
Antonyms: separate, disband, compete, oppose
Definition: To form a pair or group for a specific purpose, often involving the combination of different elements.
Synonyms: pair, couple, match, combine, link
Antonyms: separate, uncouple, disassociate
Examples of Use
Books:
"The success of the mission hinged on the ability of the diverse scientific team to overcome their personal differences." (Excerpt from The Martian by Andy Weir)
"He had always been a solitary figure, but in that moment, he understood the true power of a united team." (Excerpt from Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman)
Newspapers:
"The local football team celebrated a decisive victory against their long-standing rivals yesterday evening." (The New York Times)
"An investigative team from the Ministry of Health has been dispatched to assess the outbreak." (The Standard)
Online Publications:
"Our development team is constantly working on new features to enhance user experience." (TechCrunch)
"The research team at MIT has made a significant breakthrough in renewable energy." (MIT News)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"Welcome to the stage, our fantastic dance team!" (America's Got Talent)
"In this episode, the two competing teams must design and build a functional bridge." (The Great British Bake Off)
"Our esports team is gearing up for the international championship next month." (Twitch Stream)
"The film's visual effects team truly outdid themselves with the breathtaking CGI." (Rotten Tomatoes review)
General Public Discourse:
"We need to team up if we're going to finish this project on time." (Heard in a casual conversation)
"As a team, we're committed to delivering high-quality results." (Statement by a CEO in a press conference)
"My favorite basketball team is playing tonight, I can't wait to watch." (Heard in a public park)
"The whole team came together to support her after the difficult news." (Heard in a family discussion)
10 Quotes Using Team
"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships." (Michael Jordan)
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." (Phil Jackson)
"Great things in business are never done by one person. They're done by a team of people." (Steve Jobs)
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." (Helen Keller)
"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." (Henry Ford)
"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." (Henry Ford)
"Teamwork makes the dream work." (John C. Maxwell)
"None of us is as smart as all of us." (Ken Blanchard)
"The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team." (John Wooden)
"If you can laugh together, you can work together." (Robert Orben)
Etymology
The word "team" has a surprisingly old and interesting history! It comes from the Old English word "tēam."
Originally, "tēam" referred to concepts related to child-bearing, offspring, or a "brood" of young animals. Imagine a group of ducklings hatched from the same mother – that could have been a "tēam."
Over time, its meaning shifted a bit. Because animals were often yoked together to pull things (like a plow or a cart), "tēam" also started to mean a "set of draught animals" – basically, a group of animals working together. Think of two horses harnessed side-by-side pulling a wagon.
From there, it wasn't a huge leap for the word to be used for groups of people working together. So, the idea of a "team" as a group of people collaborating towards a common goal, as we understand it today, developed from these earlier meanings of offspring and animals working in harness. The core idea of "pulling together" or "being connected" remained central to its evolution.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Team
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "team":
Team player: Someone who works well with others in a group.
Team up: To join forces or work together with someone.
Team effort: Work done by a group of people cooperating.
Dream team: An ideal or perfect group of people for a specific task.
A-team: The best or most skilled group within an organization.
Take one for the team: To make a personal sacrifice for the benefit of the group.
Team spirit: The feeling of comradeship and loyalty among members of a group.
Team building: Activities designed to improve the effectiveness of a group.
Be on the same team: To share the same goals and work together.
Get the team together: To assemble a group of people for a purpose.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of team from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
