crowd

¹

[ kroud ]

noun

1. a large number of persons gathered closely together; throng:

   a crowd of angry people.

2. any large number of persons.
3. any group or set of persons with something in common:

   The restaurant attracts a theater crowd.

4. audience; attendance:

   Opening night drew a good crowd.

5. the common people; the masses:

   He feels superior to the crowd.

   Synonyms: populace, plebeians, proletariat

6. a large number of things gathered or considered together.
7. Sociology. a temporary gathering of people responding to common stimuli and engaged in any of various forms of collective behavior.

verb (used without object)

1. to gather in large numbers; throng; swarm.

   Synonyms: thrust, drive, herd, assemble

2. to press forward; advance by pushing.

verb (used with object)

1. to press closely together; force into a confined space; cram:

   to crowd clothes into a suitcase.

2. to push; shove.
3. to fill to excess; fill by pressing or thronging into.
4. to place under pressure or stress by constant solicitation:

   to crowd a debtor for payment; to crowd someone with embarrassing questions.

crowd

²

[ kroud ]

noun

, Music.

1. an ancient Celtic musical instrument with the strings stretched over a rectangular frame, played with a bow.

crowd

¹

/ kraʊd /

noun

1. a large number of things or people gathered or considered together
2. a particular group of people, esp considered as a social or business set

   the crowd from the office

3. 1. the common people; the masses
   2. ( as modifier )

      crowd ideas

4. follow the crowd
   to conform with the majority

verb

1. intr to gather together in large numbers; throng
2. tr to press together into a confined space
3. tr to fill to excess; fill by pushing into
4. informal.
   tr to urge or harass by urging
5. crowd on sail
   nautical to hoist as much sail as possible

crowd

²

/ kraʊd /

noun

1. music an ancient bowed stringed instrument; crwth

Grammar Note

See collective noun.

Derived Forms

• ˈcrowdedly, adverb
• ˈcrowded, adjective
• ˈcrowdedness, noun
• ˈcrowder, noun

Other Words From

• crowder noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of crowd¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English verb crouden, cruden, croden, Old English crūdan, crēodan “to press, hurry”; cognate with Middle Dutch crūden “to push,” Middle Low German krūden to annoy”

Origin of crowd²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English croud, crouth, from Welsh crwth; crwth

Word History and Origins

Origin of crowd¹

Old English crūdan; related to Middle Low German krūden to molest, Middle Dutch crūden to push, Norwegian kryda to swarm

Origin of crowd²

C13: from Welsh crwth

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. crowd on sail, Nautical. to carry a press of sail.

More idioms and phrases containing crowd

see follow the crowd ; three's a crowd .

Synonym Study

Crowd, multitude, swarm, throng refer to large numbers of people. Crowd suggests a jostling, uncomfortable, and possibly disorderly company: A crowd gathered to listen to the speech. Multitude emphasizes the great number of persons or things but suggests that there is space enough for all: a multitude of people at the market on Saturdays. Swarm as used of people is usually contemptuous, suggesting a moving, restless, often noisy, crowd: A swarm of dirty children played in the street. Throng suggests a company that presses together or forward, often with some common aim: The throng pushed forward to see the cause of the excitement.

Example Sentences

He created his own crowd-funding platform for genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which has yet to be launched.

From The Daily Beast

As he tried to make his way through a crowd of mourners late last month, he looked preoccupied and even disoriented.

From The Daily Beast

But when I look out over the crowd now, I also see that they are trapped—trapped by their cowardice.

From The Daily Beast

And so we compiled this list through conversations with colleagues and social media crowd-sourcing.

From The Daily Beast

The Stormfront crowd offers its own helpful political advice, not only for Scalise but also for the entire GOP.

From The Daily Beast

The crowd shuffled off in all directions, and then engaged in a confused struggle for the chairs.

From Project Gutenberg

The little crowd and the boats on the beach were right under them and no one paid any attention or seemed to be in a hurry.

From Project Gutenberg

Our social life is aimless without it, we are a crowd without a common understanding.

From Project Gutenberg

Soon after they parted, with a sarcastic laugh from the Spaniard, and Ma'amselle mingled with the crowd.

From Project Gutenberg

His Indian repute had not preceded him to such degree as to make the way easy for him through the London crowd.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• circle
• congregation
• crew
• group
• horde
• lot
• mass
• mob
• pack
• party
• people
• press
• sellout
• throng