gang

¹

[gang]

noun

1. a group or band.

   A gang of boys gathered around the winning pitcher.

   Synonyms: coterie, clique, circle, set, party, band, crew, crowd, company

2. a group of youngsters or adolescents who associate closely, often exclusively, for social reasons, especially such a group engaging in delinquent behavior.

3. a group of people with compatible tastes or mutual interests who gather together for social reasons.

   I'm throwing a party for the gang I bowl with.

4. a group of persons working together; squad; shift.

   a gang of laborers.

   Synonyms: team

5. a group of persons associated for some criminal or other antisocial purpose.

   a gang of thieves.

6. a set of tools, electronic components or circuits, oars, etc., arranged to work together or simultaneously.

7. a group of identical or related items.

verb (used with object)

1. to arrange in groups or sets; form into a gang.

   to gang illustrations for more economical printing on one sheet.

2. to attack in a gang.

verb (used without object)

1. to form or act as a gang.

   Cutthroats who gang together hang together.

verb phrase

1. gang up on,  (of a number of persons) to unite in opposition to (a person); combine against.

   The bigger boys ganged up on the smaller ones in the schoolyard.

gang

²

[gang]

verb (used without object)

Chiefly Scot. and North England.

1. to walk or go.

gang

¹

/ ɡæŋ /

noun

1. a group of people who associate together or act as an organized body, esp for criminal or illegal purposes

2. an organized group of workmen

3. a herd of buffaloes or elks or a pack of wild dogs

4. a group of shearers who travel to different shearing sheds, shearing, classing, and baling wool

5. 1. a series of similar tools arranged to work simultaneously in parallel

   2. ( as modifier )

      a gang saw

verb

1. to form into, become part of, or act as a gang

2. (tr) electronics to mount (two or more components, such as variable capacitors) on the same shaft, permitting adjustment by a single control

gang

²

/ ɡæŋ /

verb

1. to go

gang

³

/ ɡæŋ /

noun

1. a variant spelling of gangue

Other Word Forms

• ganged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gang¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gang, gong, Old English gang, gong “manner of going, way, passage”; cognate with Old High German gang, Old Norse gangr, Gothic gagg; gang ²

Origin of gang²

First recorded before 900; Middle English gangen, Old English gangan, gongan; cognate with Old High German gangan, Old Norse ganga, Gothic gaggan; gang ¹ (noun derivative from same root)

Word History and Origins

Origin of gang¹

Old English gang journey; related to Old Norse gangr, Old High German gang, Sanskrit jangha foot

Origin of gang²

Old English gangan to _go ¹

Idioms and Phrases

• like gangbusters

Example Sentences

She began working in the fields after arriving from Honduras six years ago, fleeing crime and gangs there.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The gangs are largely composed of ethnic Fulani people, who are traditionally nomadic herders.

Read more on BBC

In the 2011 comedy “Horrible Bosses,” three friends gang up against their bosses—all different versions of horrible.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He has even received tips from local gang members who are tired of their internet going out.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• band 
• bunch 
• clan 
• clique 
• company 
• crew 
• organization 
• party 
• ring 
• squad 
• syndicate 
• team 
• tribe 
• troop