herd

¹

[hurd]

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.

verb (used without object)

1. to unite or go in a herd; assemble or associate as a herd.

herd

²

[hurd]

noun

1. a person in charge of a herd (usually used in combination).

   a cowherd;

   a goatherd;

   a shepherd.

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

/ hɜːd /

noun

1. 1. archaic,  a man or boy who tends livestock; herdsman

   2. ( in combination )

      goatherd

      swineherd

verb

1. to drive forwards in a large group

2. to look after (livestock)

herd

²

/ 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

verb

1. to collect or be collected into or as if into a herd

Grammar Note

See collective noun.

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of herd¹

Old English hirde; related to Old Norse hirthir, Gothic hairdeis, Old High German hirti, Old Saxon hirdi, herdi; see _herd ¹

Origin of herd²

Old English heord; related to Old Norse hjörth, Gothic hairda, Old High German herta, Greek kórthus troop

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. ride herd on, to have charge or control of; maintain discipline over.

   He rode herd on 40 students in each class.

see ride herd on.

Synonym Study

See flock ¹.

Example Sentences

She believes vaccines stand in the way of natural herd immunity.

From Los Angeles Times

A 2-year-old wild donkey stumbled alongside her herd in Riverside County — a bright blue arrow protruding from her right side.

From Los Angeles Times

Very young babies rely on antibodies acquired during gestation and herd immunity to protect them from measles, which killed roughly 400 children every year in the U.S. before the combined MMR vaccine’s introduction in 1971.

From Los Angeles Times

As so much of the culture divides itself into fomenting herds, Bargatze offers his fans the relief of a non-divisive presence.

From Los Angeles Times

California is one of just 10 states with a kindergarten measles vaccination rate that exceeds the 95% threshold experts say is needed to achieve herd immunity.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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