gang

¹ American  

[gang] / gæŋ /

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.

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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 American  

[gang] / gæŋ /

verb (used without object)

Chiefly Scot. and North England.

1. to walk or go.

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gang ¹ British  

/ 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

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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 British  

/ ɡæŋ /

verb

1. to go

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gang ³ British  

/ ɡæŋ /

noun

1. a variant spelling of gangue

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gang Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing gang

• like gangbusters

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Other Word Forms

• ganged adjective

Etymology

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)

Example Sentences

It’s no secret that police routinely monitor funerals and repass gatherings where they suspect gang members could be present, partly in an effort to ward off violence.

From Los Angeles Times

The government's review of taxi licensing in England follows Baroness Casey's report on grooming gangs, which identified taxis being used by offenders across the country and recommended tougher rules.

From BBC

Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, is riddled with poverty and gang violence against a backdrop of political instability and extremely weak government.

From Barron's

Sir Mark said the fall in homicide was a result of targeted police action against organised criminal gangs and greater use of technology including live facial recognition.

From BBC

After conquering South America, which involved dodging gangs in the jungles of the Darien Gap, which bridges Panama and Colombia, his route took him through Mexico.

From BBC

Related Words

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