Gerund is a noun that refers to a verb that functions as a noun. 

Our word of the day has its origin in 16th century Latin and is derived from the word ‘gerere’ (jer AIR ay) which means ‘do.’ Gerunds typically end in I-N-G. Here’s an example:

The hardest part about teaching my friend Tanja about English was helping her understand how to use a gerund. She struggled with understanding how ‘swim’ was a verb, but ‘swimming’ could be a noun.