herd
1[ hurd ]
/ hɜrd /
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noun
a number of animals kept, feeding, or traveling together; drove; flock: a herd of cattle;a herd of sheep;a herd of zebras.
Sometimes 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.
verb (used without object)
to unite or go in a herd; assemble or associate as a herd.
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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
1First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English heord; cognate with Gothic hairda, German Herde
synonym study for herd
1. See flock1.
grammar notes for herd
See collective noun.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH herd
heard, herdOther definitions for herd (2 of 2)
herd2
[ hurd ]
/ hɜrd /
noun
a person in charge of a herd (usually used in combination): a cowherd;a goatherd;a shepherd.
verb (used with object)
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
2First recorded before 900; Middle English herd(e), hirde, Old English hierde, hirde, hyrde; cognate with Gothic hairdeis, German Hirt(e); derivative of herd1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use herd in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for herd (1 of 2)
herd1
/ (hɜːd) /
noun
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
verb
to collect or be collected into or as if into a herd
Word Origin for herd
Old English heord; related to Old Norse hjörth, Gothic hairda, Old High German herta, Greek kórthus troop
British Dictionary definitions for herd (2 of 2)
herd2
/ (hɜːd) /
noun
- archaic, or dialect a man or boy who tends livestock; herdsman
- (in combination)goatherd; swineherd
verb (tr)
to drive forwards in a large group
to look after (livestock)
Word Origin for herd
Old English hirde; related to Old Norse hirthir, Gothic hairdeis, Old High German hirti, Old Saxon hirdi, herdi; see herd 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Other Idioms and Phrases with herd
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.