Definition for the word team

A team is a group of individuals (human or non-human) working together to achieve their goal.

As defined by Professor Leigh Thompson of the Kellogg School of Management, «[a] team is a group of people who are interdependent with respect to information, resources, knowledge and skills and who seek to combine their efforts to achieve a common goal».^[1]

A group does not necessarily constitute a team. Teams normally have members with complementary skills^[2]
and generate synergy^[3]
through a coordinated effort which allows each member to maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. Naresh Jain (2009) claims:

Team members need to learn how to help one another, help other team members realize their true potential, and create an environment that allows everyone to go beyond their limitations.^[4]

While academic research on teams and teamwork has grown consistently and has shown a sharp increase over the past recent 40 years, the societal diffusion of teams and teamwork actually followed a volatile trend in the 20th century.^[5] The concept was introduced into business in the late 20th century, which was followed by a popularization of the concept of constructing teams. Differing opinions exist on the efficacy of this new management fad.^[6]
Some see «team» as a four-letter word: overused and under-useful.^[7]

Others see it as a panacea that realizes the Human Relations Movement’s desire to integrate what that movement perceives as best for workers and as best for managers.^[8]

Many people believe in the effectiveness of teams, but also see them as dangerous because of the potential for exploiting workers — in that team effectiveness can rely on peer pressure and peer surveillance.^[9]
However, Hackman sees team effectiveness not only in terms of performance: a truly effective team will contribute to the personal well-being and adaptive growth of its members.^[10]

English-speakers commonly use the word «team» in today’s society to characterise many types of groups. Peter Guy Northouse’s book Leadership: theory and practice^[11]
discusses teams from a leadership perspective. According to the team approach to leadership, a team is a type of organizational group of people that are members.^{[citation needed]} A team is composed of members who are dependent on each other, work towards interchangeable achievements, and share common attainments. A team works as a whole together to achieve certain things. A team is usually located in the same setting as it is normally connected to a kind of organization, company, or community. Teams can meet in-person (directly face-to-face) or virtually when practicing their values and activities or duties. A team’s communication is significantly important to their relationship.^{[citation needed]} Ergo, communication is frequent and persistent, and as well are the meetings.^{[citation needed]} The definition of team as an organizational group is not completely set in stone, as organizations have confronted a myriad^[quantify] of new forms of contemporary collaboration. Teams usually have strong organizational structured platforms and respond quickly and efficiently to challenges as they have skills and the capability to do so.^{[citation needed]} An effective organizational team leads to greater productivity, more effective implementation of resources, better decisions and problem-solving, better-quality products/service, and greater innovation and originality.^{[citation needed]}

Alongside the concept of a team, compare the more structured/skilled concept of a crew, the advantages of formal and informal partnerships, or the well-defined – but time-limited – existence of task forces.

A team becomes more than just a collection of people when a strong sense of mutual commitment creates synergy, thus generating performance greater than the sum of the performance of its individual members.^[12]

Thus teams of game players can form (and re-form) to practise their craft/sport. Transport logistics executives can select teams of horses, dogs, or oxen for the purpose of conveying passengers or goods.

Types[edit]

Of particular importance is the concept of different types of teams.^{[citation needed]}

Categories by subject[edit]

Although the concept of a team is relatively simple, social scientists have identified many different types of teams. In general, teams either act as information processors, or take on a more active role in the task and actually perform activities. Common categories and subtypes of teams include:

Action teams[edit]

An action team is a group of people with leadership skills. It devises strategies, analyze situations and execute needed actions.

Advisory teams[edit]

Advisory teams make suggestions about a final product (Devine, 2002). For instance, a quality-control group on an assembly line would be an example of an advisory team: they may examine the products produced and make suggestions about how to improve the quality of the items being made. A product reaches the final stage and is put for sales after getting approved by the advisory teams. The advisory team consists of experts who possess extraordinary skills.

Command team[edit]

The goal of the command team is to combine instructions and to coordinate action among management. In other words, command teams serve as the «middle man» in tasks (Devine, 2002). For instance, messengers on a construction site, conveying instructions from the executive team to the builders, would be an example of a command team.^{[clarification needed]}

Executive team[edit]

An executive team is a management team that draws up plans for activities and then directs these activities (Devine, 2002). An example of an executive team would be a construction team designing blueprints for a new building, and then guiding the construction of the building using these blueprints.

Project teams[edit]

A team used only for a defined period of time and for a separate, concretely definable purpose, often^[quantify] becomes known as a project team. This category of team includes negotiation-, commission- and design-team subtypes. In general, these types of teams are multi-talented and composed of individuals with expertise in many different areas. Members of these teams might belong to different groups, but receive assignment to activities for the same project, thereby allowing outsiders to view them as a single unit. In this way, setting up a team allegedly facilitates the creation, tracking and assignment of a group of people based on the project in hand.^{[citation needed]} The use of the «team» label in this instance often has no relationship to whether the employees work as a team.

Lundin and Soderholm define project teams as a special case in the more general category of temporary organizations which also includes task forces, program committees, and action groups. All of these are formed to «make things happen«. This emphasis on action leads to a demarcation between the temporary organization and its environment. The demarcation is driven by four interrelated concepts (the four T’s):

1. Time – the time horizons and limits are crucial to the existence of temporary organizations «whose very existence helps spread a sense of urgency«.
2. Task – the raison d` ètre for the temporary organization; no other party is attending to the same task at the same time in the same way
3. Team – provides the human resources to accomplish the task in the time available
4. Transition – an accomplishment or some sort of qualitative difference is expected after the time horizon

«The concepts also differ from the crucial concepts that define the permanent organization. Permanent organizations are more naturally defined by goals (rather than tasks), survival (rather than time), working organization (rather than team) and production processes and continual development (rather than transition)»
^[13]

Sports teams[edit]

A sports team is a group of people which play sports (often team sports) together. Members include all players (even those who are waiting their turn to play), as well as support members such as a team manager or coach.

Virtual teams[edit]

Developments in information and communications technology have seen the emergence of the virtual work-team. A virtual team is a group of people who work interdependently and with shared purpose across space, time, and organisational boundaries using technology to communicate and collaborate. Virtual team members can be located across a country or across the world, rarely meet face-to-face, and include members from different cultures.^[14]

In their 2009 literature-review paper, Ale Ebrahim, N., Ahmed, S. and Taha, Z. added two key issues to definition of a virtual team: «as small temporary groups of geographically, organizationally and/ or time dispersed knowledge workers who coordinate their work predominantly with electronic information and communication technologies in order to accomplish one or more organization tasks».^[15] Many virtual teams are solving customer problems or generating new work processes.

Work teams[edit]

Work teams are responsible for the actual act of creating tangible products and services (Devine, 2002). The actual workers on an assembly line would be an example of a production team, whereas waiters and waitresses at a diner would be an example of a service team.

Interdependent and independent[edit]

One common distinction is drawn between interdependent and independent teams.^[16] The difference is determined by the actions that the team members take while working.

Interdependent teams[edit]

A rugby team provides a clear example of an interdependent team:

• no significant task can be accomplished without the help and cooperation of every member;
• within their team members typically specialize in different tasks (r.r the ball, goal kicking and scrum feeding), and
• the success of every individual is inextricably bound to the success of the whole team. No rugby player, no matter how talented, has ever won a game by playing alone.

Independent teams[edit]

On the other hand, a track-and-field team is a classic example of an independent team:^[17]

• races are run, or points are scored, by individuals or by partners
• every person in a given job performs basically the same actions
• how one player performs has no direct effect on the performance of the next player

If all team members each perform the same basic tasks, such as students working problems in a maths class, or outside sales employees making phone calls, then it is likely that this team is an independent team. They may be able to help each other—perhaps by offering advice or practice time, by providing moral support, or by helping in the background during a busy time—but each individual’s success is primarily due to each individual’s own efforts. Runners do not win their own races merely because the rest of their teammates did, and maths students do not pass tests merely because their neighbours know how to solve equations.

In the business environment, sales teams and traditional professionals (such as doctors, lawyers, and teachers), work in independent teams.^[16] Most teams in a business setting are independent teams.^[16]

Coaching differences between interdependent and independent teams[edit]

Coaching an interdependent team like a football team necessarily requires a different approach from coaching an independent team like a gymnastics team, because the costs and benefits to individual team members—and therefore the intrinsic incentives for positive team behaviors—differ markedly. An interdependent team benefits from members getting to know the other team members socially, from developing trust in each other, and from conquering artificial collective challenges (such as those offered in outdoors ropes courses)^{[citation needed]}. Interdependent teams respond well to collective rewards, and independent teams perform better with individual rewards.^[18]

Hybrid teams and hybrid rewards, which try to combine characteristics of both, are sometimes created in the hope of getting the best of both types. However, instead, they tend instead to produce the negative features of each and none of the benefits, and consequently under-perform.^{[18][need quotation to verify]}

Pressuring teams to become independent or interdependent, on the grounds that management has decided that one type is intrinsically better than the other, results in failure.^[17] The nature of the team is defined by the type of work that is done, and not by management’s wishes or by the fashions of the latest management fad.

Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary[edit]

Teams in areas of work or study such as in the medical field, may be multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary.^[19]

Multidisciplinary teams involve several professionals who independently treat various issues a patient may have, focusing on the issues in which they specialise. The problems that are being treated may or may not relate to other issues being addressed by individual team members.

The interdisciplinary team approach involves all members of the team working together towards the same goal. In an interdisciplinary team approach, members of the core team will often rôle-blend, taking on tasks usually filled by people in different roles on the team.^[19]

Self-directing or self-designing teams[edit]

These types of teams result in the highest potential for innovative work and motivation among its members. Team members determine the team’s objectives and the means to achieve them. The management’s only responsibility among self-directing teams is the creating the team’s organizational context.^[20] Self-directed teams offer the most potential for innovation, enhance goal commitment and motivation, and provide opportunity for organizational learning and change.^[20]

Team size, composition, and formation[edit]

Team size and team composition affect team processes and team outcomes. The optimal size (and composition) of teams is debated^[21] and will vary depending on the task at hand. At least one study of problem-solving in groups showed an optimal size of groups at four members. Other works estimate the optimal size between 5–12 members or a number of members that can consume two pizzas.^[21][22] The following extract is taken from Chong (2007):^[23]

The interest in teams gained momentum in the 1980s with the publication of Belbin’s (1981)^[24] work on successful teams. The research into teams and teamwork followed two lines of inquiry. Writers such as Belbin (1981, 1993),^[24][25] Woodcock (1989),^[26] Margerison and McCann (1990),^[27] Davis et al. (1992),^[28] Parker (1990),^[29] and Spencer and Pruss (1992)^[30] focused on team roles and how these affected team performance. These studies suggested that team performance was a function of the number and type of roles team members played. The number of roles for optimal performance varied from 15 (Davis et al., 1992)^[28] to four (Parker, 1990).^[29] This variation has been attributed to how roles were defined. Lindgren (1997)^[31] believed that, in a social psychological sense, ‘roles’ were behaviours one exhibited within the constraints assigned by the outside world to one’s occupational position e.g. leader, manager, supervisor, worker etc. Personality traits, on the other hand, were internally driven and relatively stable over time and across situations. These traits affected behavioural patterns in predictable ways (Pervin, 1989)^[32] and, in varying degrees, become part of the ‘role’ definition as well.

The other line of inquiry focused on measuring the ‘effectiveness’ of teams. Writers such as Deihl and Stroebe (1987),^[33] Gersik (1988),^[34] Evenden and Anderson (1992),^[35] Furnham et al. (1993),^[36] Cohen and Ledford (1994)^[37] and Katzenbach (1998)^[38] were concerned with high performing teams and the objective measurement of their effectiveness. McFadzean (2002)^[39] believed that the appearance of a number of models of team effectiveness was indicative of a variety of variables such as personality, group size, work norms, status relationships, group structure etc. that can impact on team ‘effectiveness’ and its measurement.

David Cooperrider suggests that the larger the group, the better. This is because a larger group is able to address concerns of the whole system. So while a large team may be ineffective at performing a given task, Cooperider says that the relevance of that task should be considered, because determining whether the team is effective first requires identifying what needs to be accomplished.

Regarding composition, all teams will have an element of homogeneity and heterogeneity. The more homogeneous the group, the more cohesive it will be. The more heterogeneous the group, the greater the differences in perspective and increased potential for creativity, but also the greater potential for conflict.

Team members normally have different roles, like team leader and agents. Large teams can divide into subteams according to need.

Many teams go through a life-cycle of stages, identified by Bruce Tuckman as: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning.

Team cognition[edit]

Team cognition has been defined as an «emergent state that refers to the manner in which knowledge important to team functioning is organized, represented, and distributed within team.»^[40] This emergent state can manifest in two ways. Compositional emergence occurs when individual level cognition is similar in form and function to its manifestation at team-level. Compilational emergence, on the other hand, represents a greater degree of synergy among team members and represents a new-team level construct. As such, higher degrees of compilational emergence are more closely related to team process and performance than is compositional emergence.

Research into team cognition has focused on how teams develop mental models and transactive memory systems. Mental models refer to the degree in which team members have similar cognitive understanding of the situation and performance goals which include shared representations of the task. Transactive memory systems relate to how knowledge is distributed among team members and retrieved in a coordinated fashion, the way that team member rely on knowledge that is possessed by other members and how knowledge sets are differentiated within a team. The emergence of team cognition is thought to impact team effectiveness because it can positively affect a team’s behavioural process, motivational states, and performance.

Team cognition consists of two broad types of content. Task related models are related to knowledge of the major duties and resources possessed by the team. Team-related models refer to interactions and interdependence among the team members.

Team effectiveness[edit]

When companies are in trouble, they often restructure into teams. However, putting people into teams does not solve problems; if not done thoughtfully, this may even cause more problems.^[20] The formation of teams is most appropriate for tasks that are difficult, complex and important. These types of tasks are often beyond the skills and abilities of any single individual. However, the formation of a team to complete such tasks does not guarantee success. Rather, the proper implementation of teams is positively related to both member satisfaction and increased effectiveness. Organizations who want to receive the benefits afforded by teams need to carefully consider how teams are built and implemented. Often, teams are created without providing members any training to develop the skills necessary to perform well in a team setting. This is critical, because teamwork can be cognitively and interpersonally demanding. Even when a team consists of talented individuals, these individuals must learn to coordinate their actions and develop functional interpersonal interactions.^[41] In their review of the relevant scientific literature, Kozlowski and Ilgen demonstrated that such training can greatly benefit team effectiveness.^[42] Finally, teams are more likely to be successful when they are fully supported by the organization. Take for example New United Motor Manufacturing Inc (NUMMI). Originally it was a General Motors automotive manufacturing plant that had to close due to numerous issues, causing it to be the worst performing GM plant. NUMMI was the collaborative creation of General Motors and Toyota. These two companies took most of the same work force and created one of the most productive automotive plants, producing high quality cars. They did this by implementing a new team structure, where management and the company was more supportive of the union workforce.^[43]

Not all groups are teams[edit]

Some people use the word «team» when they mean «employees». A «sales team» is a common example of this loose or perhaps euphemistic usage, though inter-dependencies exist in organisations, and a sales group can be let down by poor performance in other parts of the organisation upon which sales depend, like delivery, after-sales service, etc. However «sales staff» is a more accurate description of the typical arrangement.

Groups develop into teams in four stages:^[44]

1. dependency and inclusion
2. counter dependency and fighting
3. trust and structure
4. work

In the first stage, group development is characterized by members’ dependency on the designated leader (identical to ‘Forming’ in Tuckman’s model). In the second stage, the group seeks to free itself from its dependence on the leader and groups have conflicts about goals and procedures (identical to ‘Storming’ in Tuckman’s model). In the third stage, the group manages to work through the conflicts (identical to ‘Norming’ in Tuckman’s model). And in the last stage, groups focus on team productivity (identical to ‘Performing’ in Tuckman’s model).^{[clarification needed]}

One aspect of teams that can set them apart from other groups is their level of autonomy. Hackman developed a hierarchical model of team autonomy which consists of four levels of team self-management. It is imagined along a continuum, starting with a manager-led team in which team members complete the required tasks but someone outside the team performs the executive functions. As the person’s job it is who performs the executive functions is to define the goals and methods for the team, the team itself holds the sole responsibility of the execution of the work that needs to be performed.^[45] Next in the hierarchy are self-managing teams, followed by self-designing teams. Finally, at the top of the hierarchy, come self-governing teams. The model describes four different types of control that fully self-governing teams can possess. These include control over the execution of the task, monitoring and managing work processes, control over the design and performance of a team, and setting the overall direction of the team.^[41]

To understand how teams deliver extra performance, we need to distinguish between teams and working groups. A working group’s performance is made up of the individual results of all its individual members. A team’s performance is made up of both individual results and collective results. Teams produce work products/results though the joint contributions of team members. This is what makes the team’s collective performance greater than the sum of all individual members’ best performance. In short, a team is more than the sum of its parts.^[46]

Leadership[edit]

The “team” portion of team leadership is based on individuals and how each share the work between one another. First, individuals must see that they are a team, not simply a group. Each member takes on a portion of the group’s leadership and responsibility. Each member helps other members to see their strengths and how they complement each other.

Second, the team sets result driven goals. To achieve this, the designated leader guides the team based decision making process. The team clarifies or agrees on attainable goals. Additionally, they agree on steps to obtain them. Furthermore, the team determines if they need to take an immediate action, or if they can simply watch a situation for a period of time.

Third, if the team decides to take an action, it may be something they change internally, such as clarifying their goals, receiving training, collaborating, or building commitment as a team. If not internally, this action can be something they will act on outside of the team, such as networking with others or negotiating for support.

Lastly, the team’s leader will contribute by finding ways to improve team work. This may be done through questionnaires given to the team. These can address any problems, or seek avenues the team would like to see improved. A strength of the team is its continuous stride for improvement and openness to interventional assistance.

In Leadership – Theory and Practice 7th Edition by Peter G. Northouse, he states that, “A team is a type of organizational group that is composed of members who are interdependent, who share common goals, and who must coordinate their activities to accomplish these goals,” (Northouse, 363). Overall, the team will lead each other to bring forth their own individual ideas and strengths, which create opportunities for great success.

A common myth is that to function effectively, teams need a strong, powerful, and charismatic leader. In general, leaders who control all the details, manage alle the key relationships in the team, have all the good ideas, and use the team to execute their «vision» are usually overworked and underproductive.^[20]

Teams are in need of transformational leaders not more managers, with the important caveat that the world does not function well without managers. Transformational leaders engage in the following behaviors:^[47]

• Idealized Influence: The ability to engage other people by your actions. They like the way that you do things, they like the way the you treat people, and they like your approach to problems. Charisma is often associated with idealized influence.
• Inspirational Motivation: The ability to inspire others with your vision. Those who lead with inspirational motivation will enable their followers to achieve things they did not believe were possible.
• Intellectual Stimulation: The ability to stimulate others to be creative and challenge preconceptions they possess. This behavior enables a leader to tap into creativity as a competitive advantage.
• Individualized Consideration: The ability to truly know those that you wish to lead. This behavior enables leaders to realize and draw out the full potential of others.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

• Devine, D. J. (2002). A review and integration of classification systems relevant to teams in organizations. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 6, 291–310.
• Forsyth, D. R. (2006). Teams. In Forsyth, D. R., Group Dynamics (5th Ed.) (P. 351-377). Belmont: CA, Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Recent Examples on the Web

As the college basketball landscape has changed during Calipari’s 14 years in Lexington, UK’s longtime head coach has had to adjust his approach to building his teams.


—Ryan Black, The Courier-Journal, 6 Apr. 2023




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—Bobby Nightengale, The Enquirer, 6 Apr. 2023




Still, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups appeared to feel good about how his undermanned team performed.


—Afentres, oregonlive, 6 Apr. 2023




Lampard, a midfielder for Chelsea from 2001-14, will also be the fourth manager to lead the team this season, after Tuchel, Potter — who was fired on Sunday — and Bruno Saltor, who took charge of the 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Tuesday.


—Steve Douglas, ajc, 6 Apr. 2023




Right now, his team is preparing for a repeat NBA Finals run and a redemption story.


—Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Apr. 2023




While in high school, Boston attended Worcester Academy in Massachusetts and led her team to a 24-1 record and a second-straight New England Prep School Athletic Council Class A championship in 2018-19.


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His team lost, 109-106, but James’ play impressed many, including his dad.


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Sydney Hilley, the former UW star who helped lead the team to the 2021 national title, is part of the exhibition tour.


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This week, Southwest unveiled a three-part plan to boost operations, which includes changes in winter operations, operational investments and cross-team collaborations.


—Alexandra Skores, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023




Schools are allowed to play in the same multi-team event, as the NCAA calls nonconference tournaments in November and December, only once every four years.


—San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2023




Goodman also reported Sunday that the Miami RedHawks are scheduled to play in the Indiana Hoosiers’ multi-team event.


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There are strict guidelines for inter-team competition.


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—Quartz Creative For Baker Tilly, Quartz, 29 Nov. 2022




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This will be the fourth multi-team event (MTE) that Alabama has participated in since Oats became coach, and the Tide’s previous three trips all began with a loss.


—Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 23 Nov. 2022

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—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2023




States and companies have teamed up to create hub proposals.


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States and companies have teamed up to create hub proposals.


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Major Food Group has teamed up with two local development companies to open the Villa, a 58-story property that will feature the group’s restaurants as prime amenities.


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Repole and Viola have teamed for success before, most notably with Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso in 2019.


—Tim Reynolds, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2023




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—Peter Caranicas, Variety, 31 Mar. 2023




Gomez also teamed with Ruben Vives to profile the Indigenous interpreters who are helping those affected navigate the aftermath.


—Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2023


See More

English[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /tiːm/
• Rhymes: -iːm
• Homophone: teem

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle English tem, teem, teme, from Old English tēam (“child-bearing, offspring, brood, set of draught animals”), from Proto-West Germanic *taum, from Proto-Germanic *taumaz (“that which draws or pulls”), from Proto-Germanic *taugijaną, *tugōną, *teuhōną, *teuhaną (“to lead, bring, pull, draw”), from Proto-Indo-European *dewk- (“to pull, lead”).

Cognate with Scots team, teem (“a chain, harness”), West Frisian team (“bridle, team”), Dutch toom (“bridle, reins, flock of birds”), German Zaum (“bridle”), Norwegian tømme (“bridle, rein”), Swedish töm (“leash, rein”). More at teem, tie, tow.

Noun[edit]

team (plural teams)

1. A set of draught animals, such as two horses in front of a carriage.

   • 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 3, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:

     It happened almost every day that coaches stuck fast, until a team of cattle could be procured from some neighbouring farm to tug them out of the slough.

   • 1931, William Faulkner, Sanctuary, Vintage 1993, page 111:

     The adjacent alleys were choked with tethered wagons, the teams reversed and nuzzling gnawed corn-ears over the tail-boards.

2. Any group of people involved in the same activity, especially sports or work.

   We need more volunteers for the netball team.

   The IT manager leads a team of three software developers.

3. (obsolete) A group of animals moving together, especially young ducks.

   • 1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “(please specify |book=I to XXXVII)”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the VVorld. Commonly Called, The Natvrall Historie of C. Plinivs Secvndus. […], (please specify |tome=1 or 2), London: […] Adam Islip, published 1635, →OCLC:

     she will wonder to have a teeme of ducklings about her

   • 1697, Virgil, “Aeneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:

     a long team of snowy swans on high

4. (UK, law, obsolete) A royalty or privilege granted by royal charter to a lord of a manor, of having, keeping, and judging in his court, his bondmen, neifes, and villains, and their offspring, or suit, that is, goods and chattels, and appurtenances thereto.
   • 1871, Alexander M. Burrill, Law Dictioary & Glossary, vol II, [1]

     TEAM, Theam, Tem, Them. Sax. [from tyman, to propagate, to teem.] In old English law. Literally, an offspring, race or generation. A royalty or privilege granted by royal charter to a lord of a manor, of having, keeping and judging in his court, his bondmen, neifes and villeins, and their offspring or suit. They who had a jurisdiction of this kind, were said to have a court of Theme… constantly used in the old books in connection with toll, in the expression Toll & Team.

5. A group of people who favor one side of a binary debate that is divided and lacks a well-established clear consensus.

   • 2019 December 27, Bill Chappell, “People Can’t Even Agree On When The Decade Ends”, in NPR‎^[2]:

     As Jan. 1, 2020, approaches, it turns out there is a Team Zero and a Team 1 – those who believe the new decade will begin after midnight on the upcoming New Year’s Eve and those who believe the burgeoning celebrations of a new decade (and all the «last decade» retrospectives) are in fact a year early.

Usage notes[edit]

• In British English, team is construed as plural, emphasizing the members. In US English it is construed as singular, emphasizing the group. This conforms to the general practice in the two dialects for collective nouns.
  • British English:

    2012, Institute of Leadership & Management, Building the Team‎^[3], page 124:

    At the storming stage, the team are trying to establish relationships with one another, and to determine who will take the dominant roles.

  • American English:

    2010, William G. Dyer, W. Gibb Dyer, Jr., Jeffrey H. Dyer, Team Building: Proven Strategies for Improving Team Performance‎^[4]:

    When a subordinate wants to give feedback to a boss, this is typically only done in a roundabout way through the “grapevine” (other members of the team), usually when the team is out at night drinking.

Derived terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

team (third-person singular simple present teams, present participle teaming, simple past and past participle teamed)

1. (intransitive) To form a group, as for sports or work.

   They teamed to complete the project.

2. (intransitive, by extension) To go together well; to harmonize.
   • 2005, Jill Dupleix, Good Cooking: The New Basics (page 32)

     Rich, creamy avocado is cut back by the citrus sharpness of grapefruit in this Israeli-inspired salad. It’s brilliant for a brunchy breakfast, and teams well with grilled salmon, tuna, or mackerel for dinner.

3. (transitive) To convey or haul with a team.

   to team lumber

   • 1857, Henry David Thoreau journal entry for Feb. 4 1857

     the farmer has been all winter teaming wood along the river

4. (transitive) To form together into a team.

   to team oxen

5. (transitive) To give work to a gang under a subcontractor.

Derived terms[edit]

• double-team

Etymology 2[edit]

Verb[edit]

team

1. Misspelling of teem.

Anagrams[edit]

• AEMT, ATEM, Atem, META, Meta, Tame, Tema, mate, maté, meat, meta, meta-, tame

Chinese[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English team.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

team

1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) a group of people working in cooperation and involved in the same activity (Classifier: 條／条 c)

Classifier[edit]

team

1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) Classifier for teams of people.

Dutch[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from English team, from Middle English teme, from Old English tēam (“child-bearing, offspring, brood, set of draught animals”), from Proto-West Germanic *taum, from Proto-Germanic *taumaz (“that which draws or pulls”), from Proto-Germanic *taugijaną, *tugōną, *teuhōną, *teuhaną (“to lead, bring, pull, draw”), from Proto-Indo-European *dewk- (“to pull, lead”).

Doublet with native Dutch toom.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /tiːm/

Noun[edit]

team n (plural teams, diminutive teampje n)

1. team (group of people)

   Synonym: ploeg

Derived terms[edit]

• fabrieksteam
• onderzoeksteam
• teamgeest
• teambuilding

Italian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Unadapted borrowing from English team.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ˈtim/
• Rhymes: -im

Noun[edit]

team m (invariable)

1. team (group of people)

   Synonyms: squadra, gruppo

Anagrams[edit]

• Meta, mate, matè, meta, meta-, metà, tema

Middle English[edit]

Noun[edit]

team

1. (Early Middle English) Alternative form of tem (“group”)

Norwegian Bokmål[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English team.

Noun[edit]

team n (definite singular teamet, indefinite plural team, definite plural teama or teamene)

1. a team

Synonyms[edit]

• lag

Derived terms[edit]

• teamarbeid

References[edit]

• “team” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English team.

Noun[edit]

team n (definite singular teamet, indefinite plural team, definite plural teama)

1. a team

Synonyms[edit]

• lag

Derived terms[edit]

• teamarbeid

References[edit]

• “team” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Old English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-West Germanic *taum, from Proto-Germanic *taumaz (“pull, draw”).

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /tæ͜ɑːm/

Noun[edit]

tēam m (nominative plural tēamas)

1. childbirth
2. family, offspring
3. a team of draught animals
4. an Anglo-Saxon legal procedure in a stolen goods suit

Declension[edit]

[edit]

• tīeman

Descendants[edit]

• Middle English: tem, teem, teeme, teme, teome, them, theam; tæm, team
  • English: team (see there for further descendants)
  • Scots: team

Polish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from English team, from Middle English teme, from Old English tēam, from Proto-West Germanic *taum, from Proto-Germanic *taumaz, from Proto-Germanic *taugijaną, *tugōną, *teuhōną, *teuhaną, from Proto-Indo-European *dewk-.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /tim/
• Rhymes: -im
• Syllabification: team

Noun[edit]

team m inan

1. team (well-coordinated group of people working together)
2. (sports) team

   Synonym: drużyna

Declension[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• team in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• team in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Romanian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Unadapted borrowing from English team.

Noun[edit]

team n (uncountable)

1. team (sports)

Declension[edit]

Swedish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English team.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /tiːm/
• Rhymes: -iːm

Noun[edit]

team n

1. a team of people

Declension[edit]

Declension of team
	Singular	Plural
Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Nominative	team	teamet	team	teamen
Genitive	teams	teamets	teams	teamens

Synonyms[edit]

• lag

Anagrams[edit]

• meta, tame, tema

West Frisian[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Old Frisian tām, from Proto-West Germanic *taum, from Proto-Germanic *taumaz.

Noun[edit]

team c (plural teammen, diminutive teamke)

1. bridle

Further reading[edit]

• “team (I)”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011

Etymology 2[edit]

Borrowed from English team.

Noun[edit]

team n (plural teams, diminutive teamke)

1. team

   Sirkulaasjefollybal is in fariant op it gewoane follybal, mei 4 spilers yn elts team.

   Mini-volleyball is a variation of normal volleyball, with 4 players on each team.

   Synonym: ploech

Derived terms[edit]

• teamwurk

«I’ve said to Ryan, we’ll do a tag team thing,» Deeley said deviously. ❋ Unknown (2011)

Like a tag team in a pro-wrestling match, Rep. Darrell Issa R-Calif. took over Chaffetz’s line of pointed questions and assertions after a break for a vote on the House floor. ❋ Unknown (2011)

If you are into the YA genre check out the Casts, and if you are an adult who likes racy check out J.R. Ward (not that the entire admin team is plotting to attend a J.R. Ward signing or anything like that.) ❋ Unknown (2009)

According to Claudio Luti, President of Kartell, “The Kartell-Tokujin team is founded on the creativity of both partners, on the brandʼs expertise and on the designerʼs poetry which goes far beyond technical brilliance.” ❋ Unknown (2010)

Successful producers who have remixed tunes for artists including John Legend, 50 Cent, and Kid Cudi, the tag team are busy these days on their own material. ❋ Jon Chattman (2011)

So I was arranging a tag team of three back-up sitters—not a simple logistical dance. ❋ Katherine Rosman (2011)

«Especially in these early weeks, the public will bet the name team over the small team,» said Jeff Stoneback, the Mirage’s sports-book manager. ❋ Unknown (2011)

On the night after WrestleMania, HBK turned on his partner, tossing him out of the ring during a tag team battle royal, thus ending their run with the titles. ❋ Kevin Sullivan (2010)

During a tag team encounter with the Twin Towers, a fed-up Savage slapped Hulk Hogan across the face before ultimately walking out of the match, effectively ending their nearly year-long union. ❋ Kevin Sullivan (2010)

With Rocky III costar Mr. T as his tag team partner, Hogan was able to send the sellout MSG crowd home happy by defeating “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. ❋ Kevin Sullivan (2010)

Six days before their scheduled showdown, emotions reached a boiling point when HBK inexplicably flattened his partner with Sweet Chin Music during a tag team match. ❋ Kevin Sullivan (2010)

Their tag team approach was evident and formidable to many in the room. ❋ Bob Woodward (2010)

The McCain team is looking at the same numbers that we all are looking at. ❋ Unknown (2008)

In fact, one of the negative associations with the word team comes from agricultural farming. ❋ Adrian Gostick (2010)

The tag team of fat and protein keeps you from feeling deprived. ❋ Dr. Eric C. Westman (2010)

Here’s an example [email] text:
«[Team],
[I need you] to do x.» ❋ Burned_by_team (2009)

[im rollin] deep to the club [wit] [my team] ❋ A Cizzle (2005)

there is no «I» in team, but there is an «I» in «[pie]», and there is an «I» in «[meat pie]» so techniqly there is an «I» ❋ Shaun Gardner (2006)

❋ C-Lo (2003)

she’s [part] of [the team]. ❋ Daznconfused (2004)

Guy in bar: [Hey bitch] [yo’] team is looking fine tonight.
Girl in Bar: You fuckin [pig]. ❋ Alex, Dana, Aaron, Laura (2004)

I’m [rooting] for [the Golden State] [Warriors] basketball team to win! ❋ Queen/Cupcakes/Sister (2017)

«Wait here for a second, here comes [Jesse] and Jake» «Hey, Team [Thomson], [over here].» ❋ Greenvilles Own Donkey (2006)

[Look at that] team. they [work] [together] well! ❋ Llggl (2009)

[the team] will [fuck you up]. and they’ll be [drunk]. ❋ Tannerrrr (2005)

team

two or more who work together or play on the same side as in a game: She’s on my team.

Not to be confused with:

teem – to be full of; swarm; abound: The area teems with bees.

Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

team

 (tēm)

n.

1. Sports & Games

a. A group on the same side, as in a game.

b. The members of a team who are actively playing at a given time: After a stellar performance in last week’s game, the shooting guard was promoted to the starting team.

2. A group organized for work or activity: a team of engineers.

3.

a. Two or more draft animals used to pull a vehicle or farm implement.

b. A vehicle along with the animal or animals harnessed to it.

4. A group of animals exhibited or performing together, as horses at an equestrian show.

5. A brood or flock.

v. teamed, team·ing, teams

v.tr.

1. To harness or join together so as to form a team.

2. To transport or haul with a draft team.

v.intr.

1. To form a team or an association. Often used with up.

2. To drive a team or truck.

---

[Middle English tem, team of draft animals, from Old English tēam; see deuk- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

team

(tiːm)

n (sometimes functioning as plural)

1. a group of people organized to work together

2. (General Sporting Terms) a group of players forming one of the sides in a sporting contest

3. two or more animals working together to pull a vehicle or agricultural implement

4. such animals and the vehicle: the coachman riding his team.

5. dialect a flock, herd, or brood

6. obsolete ancestry

vb

7. (when: intr, often foll by up) to make or cause to make a team: he teamed George with Robert.

8. (tr) US and Canadian to drag or transport in or by a team

9. (intr) US and Canadian to drive a team

[Old English team offspring; related to Old Frisian tām bridle, Old Norse taumr chain yoking animals together, Old High German zoum bridle]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

team

(tim)

n.

1. a number of persons forming one of the sides in a game or contest: a basketball team; a debating team.

2. a number of persons associated in some joint action: a team of experts.

3.

a. two or more horses, oxen, or other animals harnessed together to draw a vehicle, plow, or the like.

b. one or more draft animals together with the harness and vehicle drawn.

4. a brood or litter of young, esp. of ducklings or piglets.

v.t.

5. to join together in a team.

v.i.

6. to drive a team.

7. to gather or join in a team (usu. fol. by up, together, etc.).

adj.

8. pertaining to or performed by a team: a team effort.

[before 900; Middle English teme (n.), Old English tēam childbearing, brood, set of draft animals]

Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Team

 family or brood of young animals; a group of animals moving together; people joined in some sporting or other competitive event.

Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

team

A team is a group of people who play against another group in a game.

He got into the New Zealand rugby team in 1978.

After team you can use either a singular or plural form of a verb.

The team has qualified again for Italy next summer.

Redknapp’s team have lost their last five away games.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

team

Past participle: teamed
Gerund: teaming

Imperative
team
team

Present
I team
you team
he/she/it teams
we team
you team
they team

Preterite
I teamed
you teamed
he/she/it teamed
we teamed
you teamed
they teamed

Present Continuous
I am teaming
you are teaming
he/she/it is teaming
we are teaming
you are teaming
they are teaming

Present Perfect
I have teamed
you have teamed
he/she/it has teamed
we have teamed
you have teamed
they have teamed

Past Continuous
I was teaming
you were teaming
he/she/it was teaming
we were teaming
you were teaming
they were teaming

Past Perfect
I had teamed
you had teamed
he/she/it had teamed
we had teamed
you had teamed
they had teamed

Future
I will team
you will team
he/she/it will team
we will team
you will team
they will team

Future Perfect
I will have teamed
you will have teamed
he/she/it will have teamed
we will have teamed
you will have teamed
they will have teamed

Future Continuous
I will be teaming
you will be teaming
he/she/it will be teaming
we will be teaming
you will be teaming
they will be teaming

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been teaming
you have been teaming
he/she/it has been teaming
we have been teaming
you have been teaming
they have been teaming

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been teaming
you will have been teaming
he/she/it will have been teaming
we will have been teaming
you will have been teaming
they will have been teaming

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been teaming
you had been teaming
he/she/it had been teaming
we had been teaming
you had been teaming
they had been teaming

Conditional
I would team
you would team
he/she/it would team
we would team
you would team
they would team

Past Conditional
I would have teamed
you would have teamed
he/she/it would have teamed
we would have teamed
you would have teamed
they would have teamed

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

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