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

Each Friday, friends drove to Munger’s home for a potluck lunch, carrying chicken sandwiches with butter on soft white bread, the crusts sometimes removed.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Ms Vilaplana's bank card details reviewed by the magistrate have since shown she drove out of the underground car park at 19:47.

Read more on BBC

Jefferies analyst Vanessa Thomson says ongoing clinical changes, new products and business efficiencies drove the upgrade.

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Within a few years, according to a 1957 story in the local newspaper, the hospital was already grappling with the problem of nurses leaving in droves for higher-paying positions elsewhere.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They are voting in droves and embracing their newly discovered political empowerment.

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