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

He didn’t really believe they were going to be herded onto an airplane.

From Literature

Nim flew down the hill as Selkie led the whole herd into the water, splashing and barking at the strange shape drifting in through the reef.

From Literature

Cattle herds are shrinking, prices are soaring, and there’s little relief in sight.

From Barron's

Cattle herds are shrinking, prices are soaring, and there’s little relief in sight.

From Barron's

Costs will likely stay elevated as consumer demand remains robust, while it takes years to rebuild American herds depleted by drought and import restrictions over a parasite.

From Barron's

Related Words

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