herd
1herd
noun \ˈhərd\Definition of HERD
1
a : a number of animals of one kind kept together under human control b : a congregation of gregarious wild animals
2
a (1) : a group of people usually having a common bond <a herd of tourists> (2) : a large assemblage of like things b : the undistinguished masses : crowd <isolate the individual prophets from the herd — Norman Cousins>
— herd·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective
Examples of HERD
- The herd grazed peacefully in the pasture.
- A herd of shoppers waited anxiously for the store to open.
Origin of HERD
Middle English, from Old English heord; akin to Old High German herta herd, Middle Welsh cordd troop, Lithuanian kerdžius shepherd
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to HERD
2herd
verbDefinition of HERD
transitive verb
1
a : to gather, lead, or drive as if in a herd <herded the children into the car> b : to keep or move (animals) together
2
: to place in a group
intransitive verb
1
: to assemble or move in a herd
2
: to place oneself in a group : associate
Examples of HERD
- The horses were herded into the corral.
- We left the hotel and were herded onto a bus.
- They herded the students into the auditorium.
- The commuters herded onto the train.
First Known Use of HERD
13th century
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