gang¹ Definition
gang (gaŋ)
noun
- a group of people associated together in some way; specif.,
- a group of workers directed by a foreman
- an organized group of criminals
- a squad of convicts at work
- a group of youths from one neighborhood banded together for social reasons; often specif., a band of juvenile delinquents
- a set of like tools, machines, components, etc., designed or arranged to work together: often used attributively gang drills
- a very large number of persons or things
Etymology: ME, a band or company, orig., a going, journey < OE < base of gangan: see gang
intransitive verb
☆ to form, or be associated in, a gang (with up)
transitive verb
- ☆ Informal to attack as a gang
- ☆ to arrange in a gang, or coordinated set
gang¹ Idioms
gang up on
☆Informal to attack or oppose as a group
gang² Definition
gang (gaŋ)
intransitive verb
Scot. to go or work
Etymology: ME gangen < OE gangan, akin to ON ganga, Goth gaggan, to go < IE base *ĝhengh- > Sans jáṁhas-, a step
gang Synonyms
gang Usage Examples
Converse of object
infiltrate: Can he infiltrate the gang 's base and fool the likes of Rabies?
Converse of subject
terrorize: There is not rough justice but rough injustice when neighborhoods are terrorized by gangs and the system is not capable of protecting them.
Adjective modifier
- rival: It was thought that he was being warned by a rival gang.
- criminal: Yet rural organized criminal gangs still persist in isolated sections of the nation.
- armed: On 23 August 1971, an armed gang raided a jeweler's shop in Blackpool.
- ruthless: Supremacy in the violent world is short lived as younger, hungrier and more ruthless gangs move in.
- teenage: Steps must now be taken by the Home Office to make child and teenage street gangs redundant before it is too late.
Modifies a noun
- warfare: The area became renowned for gambling and gang warfare.
- rape: One scene featured the song " Do you want to be in my gang, my gang, my gang rape " .
- plank: Had to use the gang plank on the roof as the bank was so high.
Noun used with modifier
- biker: People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to pick on rich women than biker gangs.
- loyalist: As a reporter in the Belfast office of the Dublin-based Sunday World he had investigated the criminal and paramilitary activities of loyalist gangs.
- smuggling: It will also help to tackle the people smuggling gangs who exploit those hoping for a better life.
Possessives
groovin: Groovy Girls - Cool Confidantes Groovy Girls are all about individual style and friendship, and this groovin ' gang has plenty of both.
Preposition: of
- thug: Gasoline bombs have been hurled through a pub window just weeks after the landlord received death threats from a gang of thugs.
- robber: Ladykillers -- 15/20 A gang of bank robbers pull off the perfect heist, only to be foiled by a little old lady.
- thief: They regard him as a member of a gang of car thieves.
- smuggler: A vicar whose concerns fell in with those of his flock, he acted as a mounted lookout for the gang of smugglers.
- skinhead: I was to tell them that I had been beaten up by a gang of skinheads.
- looter: The armed gangs of looters, the scenes of predators and prey, the tales of rape and murder.
Browse dictionary entries near gang
- ‹ ganef
- ‹ gandy dancer
- ‹ Gandhinagar
- ‹ Gandhiism
- ‹ Gandhi
- ‹ gander
- ‹ Ganda
- ‹ Gand
- ‹ ganache
- ‹ gan
- Gang, 414- ›
- gang hook ›
- gang plow ›
- gang up on ›
- gangbang ›
- gangbanger ›
- gangbusters ›
- ganger ›
- Ganges ›
- gangland ›

