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

Example Sentences

Mr Buchanan said it is still very early, but he hopes this can be kept under control and herds can be protected.

From BBC

"There is another farm two kilometres away. They had pox cases, but hid it," she says, alluding to how she believes her herd contracted the disease.

From BBC

Beef costs, the subject of a Justice Department investigation, have also risen rapidly this year—although thinner herds and strong demand have helped fuel that surge.

From The Wall Street Journal

The stag, who was eight years old, was one of two in the herd.

From BBC

He recalled that he and his friends had been herding cattle near the Mauritanian border, and had stopped by a well to get fresh water when they saw a cloud of dust in the distance.

From BBC

Related Words

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