herd
1Sometimes Disparaging. a large group of people: The star was mobbed by a herd of autograph seekers.
any large quantity: a herd of bicycles.
the herd, the common people; the masses; the rabble: He had no opinions of his own, but simply followed the herd.
to unite or go in a herd; assemble or associate as a herd.
Idioms about herd
ride herd on, to have charge or control of; maintain discipline over: He rode herd on 40 students in each class.
Origin of herd
1synonym study For herd
Grammar notes for herd
Other words for herd
Words that may be confused with herd
- heard, herd
Other definitions for herd (2 of 2)
a person in charge of a herd (usually used in combination): a cowherd;a goatherd;a shepherd.
to tend, drive, or lead (cattle, sheep, etc.).
to conduct or drive (a group of people) to a destination: The teacher herded the children into the classroom.
Origin of herd
2Other words for herd
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use herd in a sentence
Also, herd immunity alone did not successfully control or eradicate the disease.
The idea of herd immunity to manage the coronavirus should ring alarm bells | Rebecca Kaplan | October 30, 2020 | Washington PostWhile herd immunity might put the end of the pandemic in sight, experts estimate that around 40 to 60 percent of a population would need to be infected to reach it.
We still don’t know what COVID-19 immunity means or how long it lasts | Erin Garcia de Jesus | October 19, 2020 | Science NewsTo put it simply, herd immunity is the scientific theory that if enough of a population builds antibodies or gains immunity against a pathogen, they can protect those who are more vulnerable to infection.
The concept of “herd immunity” appears to be making a comeback as cases rise and governments struggle to control the virus while often resisting full-scale lockdowns of the type seen in the spring.
WHO director calls herd immunity ‘scientifically and ethically problematic’ | kdunn6 | October 14, 2020 | FortuneThere are lessons we can learn from these previous infectious diseases but this goes beyond poorly understood concepts of herd immunity, elimination or learning to live with a virus.
Can We Actually Learn To Live With Coronavirus? Not Until We Have A Vaccine | LGBTQ-Editor | October 14, 2020 | No Straight News
There are little kids darting up and down the bleachers, being herded by moms and dads, grandmothers and grandfathers.
Native American Basketball Team in Wyoming Have Hoop Dreams Of Their Own | Robert Silverman | August 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOne man claimed all the villagers were herded into a school.
How the U.S.-favored Kurds Abandoned the Yazidis when ISIS Attacked | Christine van den Toorn | August 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen foreign sailors called at Odessa they were all herded to one specific bar called Inter Club.
We were herded into a chilly waiting room waiting for the Britannia to be refueled.
But a far worse fate awaited the women and children, who were herded into a nearby church and locked inside.
There Should Be No Statute of Limitations on Prosecuting War Crimes | Michael Moynihan | January 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSeven o'clock in the morning is too early for any rational human being to be herded into a factory at the call of a steam whistle.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockHe tilled his fields, herded his flocks, attended him in war, and assisted him in special emergencies with money.
The Private Life of the Romans | Harold Whetstone JohnstonHe did not intend to be herded into the gloomy company of a lot of beaten and sulking Welsh nationalists!
Mushroom Town | Oliver OnionsIn half a minute the dry slab stuff that the bunks were built of was ablaze and the boss herded us to the door.
The Wreckers | Francis Lynde"A nasty crew," Carver remarked to Peter Gross as the pirates were herded on the beach under the rifles of his company.
The Argus Pheasant | John Charles Beecham
British Dictionary definitions for herd (1 of 2)
/ (hɜːd) /
a large group of mammals living and feeding together, esp a group of cattle, sheep, etc
often derogatory a large group of people
derogatory the large mass of ordinary people
to collect or be collected into or as if into a herd
Origin of herd
1British Dictionary definitions for herd (2 of 2)
/ (hɜːd) /
archaic, or dialect a man or boy who tends livestock; herdsman
(in combination): goatherd; swineherd
to drive forwards in a large group
to look after (livestock)
Origin of herd
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with herd
see ride herd on.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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