herd

herd · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A large group of animals, especially hoofed mammals, that live, feed, or migrate together.

  2. 2.

    (often derogatory) A large group of people, especially when regarded as acting without individual thought.

  3. 3.

    (as verb) To gather, keep, or drive animals together.

  4. 4.

    (as verb) To move in a group or to cause people to move together.

Forms

plural: herds

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    herd mentality — the tendency to follow the crowd
  • •
    herd immunity — resistance to disease in a population when a high proportion is immune
  • •
    ride herd on — to keep watch over or control

Related words

See also: drove, flock, group, pack
Synonyms: drove, flock, group, pack

Etymology

From Old English heord ("herd, flock"), from Proto-Germanic herdō. Related to German Herde and Dutch heerde.