drove

¹

[drohv]

verb

1. simple past tense of drive.

drove

²

[drohv]

noun

1. a number of oxen, sheep, or swine driven in a group; herd; flock.

2. Usually droves a large crowd of human beings, especially in motion.

   They came to Yankee Stadium in droves.

3. Also called drove chisel. Masonry.,  a chisel, from 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) broad at the edge, for dressing stones to an approximately true surface.

verb (used with or without object)

droved, droving 

1. to drive or deal in (cattle) as a drover; herd.

2. Masonry.,  to work or smooth (stone) as with a drove.

drove

¹

/ drəʊv /

noun

1. a herd of livestock being driven together

2. (often plural) a moving crowd of people

3. a narrow irrigation channel

4. Also called: drove chisel. a chisel with a broad edge used for dressing stone

verb

1. 1. (tr) to drive (a group of livestock), usually for a considerable distance

   2. (intr) to be employed as a drover

2. to work (a stone surface) with a drove

drove

²

/ drəʊv /

verb

1. the past tense of drive

Word History and Origins

Origin of drove¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English drāf “that which is driven,” i.e., “herd, flock”; akin to drive

Word History and Origins

Origin of drove¹

Old English drāf herd; related to Middle Low German drēfwech cattle pasture; see _drive , _drift

Synonym Study

See flock ¹.

Example Sentences

The unrest drove out the country's leaders in just 48 hours.

From BBC

But Mr Poland, who will give evidence at a later date, drove away from the scene and collected another fare before eventually calling the police at 12:46.

From BBC

Cox has said that Robinson’s political ideology, different from that of his conservative family, appeared to be “part of” what drove him to shoot Kirk, but that the exact motivations for the crime remained unclear.

From Los Angeles Times

But they drove off without checking on the woman, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

From Los Angeles Times

He claimed the duo pushed past the night watchman, collected the artwork and drove to a block of flats in the Isle of Dogs where Mr Love unloaded the Banksy.

From BBC