herd

¹ American  

[hurd] / hɜrd /

noun

1. a number of animals kept, feeding, or traveling together; drove; flock.

   a herd of cattle;

   a herd of sheep;

   a herd of zebras.

2. Sometimes Disparaging. a large group of people.

   The star was mobbed by a herd of autograph seekers.

   Synonyms:

   mob, crowd

3. any large quantity.

   a herd of bicycles.

4. the herd, the common people; the masses; the rabble.

   He had no opinions of his own, but simply followed the herd.

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verb (used without object)

1. to unite or go in a herd; assemble or associate as a herd.

idioms

1. ride herd on, to have charge or control of; maintain discipline over.

   He rode herd on 40 students in each class.

herd ² American  

[hurd] / hɜrd /

noun

1. a person in charge of a herd (usually used in combination).

   a cowherd;

   a goatherd;

   a shepherd.

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verb (used with object)

1. to tend, drive, or lead (cattle, sheep, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   watch, protect, guard

2. to conduct or drive (a group of people) to a destination.

   The teacher herded the children into the classroom.

herd ¹ British  

/ hɜːd /

noun

1. 1. archaic a man or boy who tends livestock; herdsman

   2. ( in combination )

      goatherd

      swineherd

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verb

1. to drive forwards in a large group

2. to look after (livestock)

herd ² British  

/ hɜːd /

noun

1. a large group of mammals living and feeding together, esp a group of cattle, sheep, etc

2. derogatory a large group of people

3. derogatory the large mass of ordinary people

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verb

1. to collect or be collected into or as if into a herd

herd More Idioms  

1. see ride herd on.

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Grammar

See collective noun.

Related Words

See flock ¹.

Etymology

Origin of herd¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English heord; cognate with Gothic hairda, German Herde

Origin of herd²

First recorded before 900; Middle English herd(e), hirde, Old English hierde, hirde, hyrde; cognate with Gothic hairdeis, German Hirt(e); derivative of herd ¹

Related Words

• brood
• flock
• horde
• mob
• swarm
• throng