herd Hear it!

herd1 definition

herd (hʉrd)

noun

  1. a number of cattle, sheep, or other animals feeding, living, or being driven together
    1. any large group suggestive of this; crowd; company
    2. the common people; masses: a contemptuous term

Etymology: ME < OE heord, akin to Ger herde < IE base *kerdho-, a row, group > Sans árdha, a herd, troop

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to gather together or move as a herd, group, crowd, etc.
herd2 definition

herd (hʉrd)

noun

a herdsman: now chiefly in combination cowherd, shepherd

Etymology: ME herde < OE hierde (akin to Ger hirt) < same base as herd

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to tend or drive as a herdsman

Related Forms:

herd Idioms

ride herd on

☆
  1. to control a moving herd of (cattle) from horseback
  2. to keep a close or oppressive watch or control over

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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