First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1herd
noun \ˈhərd\
: a group of animals that live or are kept together
: a large group of people
the herd : common people : people as a group
Full Definition of HERD
1
a : a number of animals of one kind kept together under human control b : a congregation of gregarious wild animals
2
a (1) : a group of people usually having a common bond <a herd of tourists> (2) : a large assemblage of like things b : the undistinguished masses : crowd <isolate the individual prophets from the herd — Norman Cousins>
— herd·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective
See herd defined for English-language learners
See herd defined for kids
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Origin of HERD
Middle English, from Old English heord; akin to Old High German herta herd, Middle Welsh cordd troop, Lithuanian kerdžius shepherd
Related to HERD
2herd
verb
: to gather and move (a group of animals)
: to move (people) in a group
: to form a group or move as a group
Full Definition of HERD
transitive verb
1
a : to gather, lead, or drive as if in a herd <herded the children into the car> b : to keep or move (animals) together
2
: to place in a group
intransitive verb
1
: to assemble or move in a herd
2
: to place oneself in a group : associate
See herd defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of HERD
13th century
HERD Defined for Kids
1herd
noun \ˈhərd\
Definition of HERD for Kids
: a number of animals of one kind kept or living together <a herd of cows>
2herd
verb
herd·edherd·ing
Definition of HERD for Kids
: to gather and move as a group <herd cattle>
— herd·er \ˈhərd-ər\ noun
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