herd

¹

[ hurd ]

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.

verb (used without object)

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

herd

²

[ hurd ]

noun

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

   a cowherd;

   a goatherd;

   a shepherd.

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

/ hɜːd /

noun

1. 1. a man or boy who tends livestock; herdsman
   2. ( in combination )

      swineherd

      goatherd

verb

1. to drive forwards in a large group
2. to look after (livestock)

herd

²

/ 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

verb

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

Grammar Note

See collective noun.

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of herd¹

Old English hirde; related to Old Norse hirthir, Gothic hairdeis, Old High German hirti, Old Saxon hirdi, herdi; see herd ¹

Origin of herd²

Old English heord; related to Old Norse hjörth, Gothic hairda, Old High German herta, Greek kórthus troop

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   He rode herd on 40 students in each class.

More idioms and phrases containing herd

see ride herd on .

Synonym Study

See flock ¹.

Example Sentences

While his trombone skills are decent, he certainly draws a crowd—or rather, a herd.

From The Daily Beast

Since measles is so contagious, even with herd immunity, it can find a weak link and spread.

From The Daily Beast

They will learn that I am a herd-bound mouthpiece for the scientific status quo.

From The Daily Beast

With Napolitano exiting unexpectedly, Obama must find someone else capable of riding herd over the massive, unruly agency.

From The Daily Beast

The mahouts would have steered pairs of kookies so as to separate a grown elephant from the herd, squeezing in on either side.

From The Daily Beast

Who can explain the sixth sense that warns a night-herder of a stampede a moment before the herd jumps off the bed-ground?

From Project Gutenberg

Why send her a picture of a slate-colored cow when a herd of Durhams pastures every day right under her eye?

From Project Gutenberg

As if to prove that he was a true prophet, the herd split against a rocky pinnacle, and on this we stranded.

From Project Gutenberg

The sentinels signaled at a sign of danger, and then the herd ran; and so their enemies learned to hunt by following the chase.

From Project Gutenberg

Whenever a herd reached a branching valley, a big bison led off a small herd.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• corral
• round up