1. [n]  a fantastic but vain hope (from fantasies induced by the opium pipe); "I have this pipe dream about being emperor of the universe"
2. [n]  a state of mind characterized by abstraction and release from reality; "he went about his work as if in a dream"
3. [n]  a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep; "I had a dream about you last night"
4. [n]  imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake; "he lives in a dream that has nothing to do with reality"
5. [n]  a cherished desire; "his ambition is to own his own business"
6. [n]  someone of something wonderful; "this dessert is a dream"
7. [v]  have a daydream; indulge in a fantasy
8. [v]  experience while sleeping; "She claims to never dream"; "He dreamt a strange scene"

1. \Dream\ (dr[=e]m), n. [Akin to OS. dr[=o]m, D. droom, G.
   traum, Icel. draumr, Dan. & Sw. dr["o]m; cf. G. tr["u]gen to
   deceive, Skr. druh to harm, hurt, try to hurt. AS. dre['a]m
   joy, gladness, and OS. dr[=o]m joy are, perh., different
   words; cf. Gr. qry^los noise.]
   1. The thoughts, or series of thoughts, or imaginary
      transactions, which occupy the mind during sleep; a
      sleeping vision.
            Dreams are but interludes which fancy makes.
                                                  --Dryden.
            I had a dream which was not all a dream. --Byron.
   2. A visionary scheme; a wild conceit; an idle fancy; a
      vagary; a revery; -- in this sense, applied to an
      imaginary or anticipated state of happiness; as, a dream
      of bliss; the dream of his youth.
            There sober thought pursued the amusing theme, Till
            Fancy colored it and formed a dream.  --Pope.
            It is not them a mere dream, but a very real aim
            which they propose.                   --J. C.
                                                  Shairp.
   

2. \Dream\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Dreamed}or {Dreamt} (?); p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Dreaming}.] [Cf. AS. dr?man, dr?man, to
   rejoice. See {Dream}, n.]
   1. To have ideas or images in the mind while in the state of
      sleep; to experience sleeping visions; -- often with of;
      as, to dream of a battle, or of an absent friend.
   2. To let the mind run on in idle revery or vagary; to
      anticipate vaguely as a coming and happy reality; to have
      a visionary notion or idea; to imagine.
            Here may we sit and dream Over the heavenly theme.
                                                  --Keble.
            They dream on in a constant course of reading, but
            not digesting.                        --Locke.
   

3. \Dream\, v. t.
   To have a dream of; to see, or have a vision of, in sleep, or
   in idle fancy; -- often followed by an objective clause.
         Your old men shall dream dreams.         --Acts ii. 17.
         At length in sleep their bodies they compose, And
         dreamt the future fight.                 --Dryden.
         And still they dream that they shall still succeed.
                                                  --Cowper.
   {To dream} {away, out, through}, etc., to pass in revery or
      inaction; to spend in idle vagaries; as, to dream away an
      hour; to dream through life. `` Why does Antony dream out
      his hours?'' --Dryden.
   

God has frequently made use of dreams in communicating his will to men. The most remarkable instances of this are recorded in the history of Jacob (Gen. 28:12; 31:10), Laban (31:24), Joseph (37:9-11), Gideon (Judg. 7), and Solomon (1 Kings 3:5). Other significant dreams are also recorded, such as those of Abimelech (Gen. 20:3-7), Pharaoh's chief butler and baker (40:5), Pharaoh (41:1-8), the Midianites (Judg. 7:13), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2:1; 4:10, 18), the wise men from the east (Matt. 2:12), and Pilate's wife (27:19).

To Joseph "the Lord appeared in a dream," and gave him instructions regarding the infant Jesus (Matt. 1:20; 2:12, 13, 19). In a vision of the night a "man of Macedonia" stood before Paul and said, "Come over into Macedonia and help us" (Acts 16:9; see also 18:9; 27:23).