la granja
A1Neutral, common in everyday, business (agriculture), and technical (agricultural science) contexts.
Definition
Meaning
an area of land and its buildings used for growing crops and rearing animals, especially as a business.
Also: a place or establishment for breeding or raising a particular type of animal (e.g., fish farm, mink farm). Informally: a fixed strategy in video games, especially RPGs, where players repeatedly perform a task to gain resources.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core meaning is universally understood, though specific types (dairy farm, sheep farm) denote specialization. The extended 'gaming' meaning is informal and primarily used within specific communities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'farm' identically for its core meaning. UK may use 'farm' more in compound names for rural shops (farm shop). US English uses 'farm' more frequently in political contexts (farm vote, farm states).
Connotations
UK: Strong associations with the countryside, often romanticized or linked to traditional life. US: Connotes both family-owned operations and large-scale agribusiness; politically significant.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to farm [land/area]to farm [crop/animals]to farm [something] out (phrasal verb: delegate)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bet the farm (risk everything)”
- “Buy the farm (die, slang, US)”
- “Farm something out (contract out work)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the agricultural enterprise, its assets, and financial performance. E.g., 'The farm reported a 10% increase in profits.'
Academic
Used in agricultural science, economics, and geography. E.g., 'The study compared soil health across three organic farms.'
Everyday
Common in discussions about food, countryside visits, or family background. E.g., 'We're going to a pick-your-own fruit farm this weekend.'
Technical
Specific in agronomy (e.g., 'intensive farm', 'arable farm'), aquaculture ('fish farm'), or IT ('server farm').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They farm several hundred acres in Norfolk.
- He farms sheep and a few crops.
American English
- They farm corn and soybeans in Iowa.
- The work was farmed out to a local contractor.
adjective
British English
- It's a farm vehicle, not for road use.
- We bought some farm-fresh eggs.
American English
- He comes from a farm family in Nebraska.
- The farm bill is up for renewal.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My uncle has a farm.
- We saw cows on the farm.
- The children visited a farm.
- They decided to buy a small farm in the countryside.
- The farm produces organic vegetables for the local market.
- Life on a farm involves a lot of hard work.
- Despite the economic challenges, the family farm has remained profitable for generations.
- The government introduced new subsidies for farms adopting sustainable practices.
- He farms the land using traditional methods.
- The corporatization of agriculture has put immense pressure on the traditional family farm model.
- They have successfully diversified their farm income by converting part of the property into a glamping site.
- The policy aims to protect prime farmland from urban encroachment.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'farm' as a place where you use your ARM to work the land (f-ARM).
Conceptual Metaphor
A FARM IS A FACTORY (producing food); A FARM IS A SOURCE (of sustenance, tradition).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'ranch' (ранчо) for a typical mixed farm; 'ranch' is specific to large livestock farms, especially in the US. Do not translate 'дача' (dacha) as 'farm'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect article: 'He lives on the farm' (not 'in the farm' for the property). Confusing 'farm' (noun) with 'firm' (business company).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is an INFORMAL, extended meaning of 'farm'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A farm can be exclusively for crops (arable farm) or animals (livestock farm), or a mixture of both.
A 'ranch' is a type of farm, specifically a large one in North or South America dedicated to raising grazing animals like cattle or sheep. A 'farm' is the more general term.
Yes. It means to use land for growing crops and/or raising animals (e.g., 'He farms 500 acres'). It also has a phrasal verb form: 'farm something out' meaning to send work to be done elsewhere.
Yes. In computing, a 'server farm' is a group of networked servers housed in one location, used for large-scale processing or hosting. This is a metaphorical extension of the core meaning.