dreaming
UK: ˈdriːmɪŋ | US: ˈdriːmɪŋ
n. the act or experience of having dreams during sleep
vi. the process of imagining or fantasizing while awake
adj. resembling or characteristic of a dream
The word "dream" originates from Old English drēam, which initially meant "joy, music, or noisy merriment" before evolving to its modern sense of "mental imagery during sleep" by the 13th century. The suffix "-ing" is a productive Old English present participle marker, turning the noun/verb into an adjective or gerund. The shift from "joy" to "sleep visions" reflects a fascinating semantic narrowing, possibly influenced by Norse draumr.
She was dreaming of flying over mountains.
His dreaming state made him oblivious to the noise around him.
The painting had a surreal, dreaming quality.
Stop dreaming and start working on your goals.
Scientists study dreaming to understand brain activity during sleep.