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

Rodriguez and Oropeza both worked at Homeboy Industries, a program that helps gang members and parolees find work, go to school and remove tattoos, among other services.

From Los Angeles Times

Under an agreement expected to be signed later, UK and Chinese law enforcement will cooperate to disrupt the supply of small boat engines and equipment used by criminal gangs to help migrants cross the Channel.

From BBC

He fears that Rodríguez might struggle to control the armed forces and paramilitary gangs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile lawyer Johan Eriksson agreed that action must be taken to prevent children from being recruited by gangs, but said lowering the age of criminal responsibility would likely have the opposite effect.

From BBC

There was a threatening-looking gang of geese on the far end of the field near the swamp.

From Literature

Related Words

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