Definition of 'herd'

Word Frequency

herd

(hɜːʳd )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense herds , present participle herding , past tense, past participle herded

1. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]

A herd is a large group of animals of one kind that live together.

...large herds of elephant and buffalo. [+ of]

...dairy herds.

Synonyms: flock, crowd, collection, mass More Synonyms of herd

2. singular noun

If you say that someone has joined the herd or follows the herd, you are criticizing them because you think that they behave just like everyone else and do not think for themselves.

[disapproval]

They are individuals; they will not follow the herd.

Synonyms: mob, the masses, rabble, populace More Synonyms of herd

3. verb

If you herd people somewhere, you make them move there in a group.

He began to herd the prisoners out. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]

The group was herded into a bus. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]

Synonyms: lead, drive, force, direct More Synonyms of herd

4. verb

If you herd animals, you make them move along as a group.

Stefano used a motor cycle to herd the sheep. [VERB noun]

A boy herded half a dozen camels down towards the water trough. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]

Synonyms: drive, lead, force, guide More Synonyms of herd

More Synonyms of herd

Video: pronunciation of
herd

herd in British English 1

(hɜːd )

noun

a large group of mammals living and feeding together, esp a group of cattle, sheep, etc

2. often derogatory

a large group of people

3. derogatory

the large mass of ordinary people

verb

to collect or be collected into or as if into a herd

Word origin

Old English heord; related to Old Norse hjörth, Gothic hairda, Old High German herta, Greek kórthus troop

Word Frequency

herd in British English 2

(hɜːd )

noun

a. archaic or dialect

a person who tends livestock; herdsman

(in combination)

goatherd

swineherd

verb (transitive)

to drive forwards in a large group

to look after (livestock)

Word origin

Old English hirde; related to Old Norse hirthir, Gothic hairdeis, Old High German hirti, Old Saxon hirdi, herdi; see herd1

Word Frequency

herd in American English 1

(hɜrd )

noun

a number of cattle, sheep, or other animals feeding, living, or being driven together

any large group suggestive of this; crowd; company

the common people; masses

a contemptuous term

verb transitive, verb intransitive

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

SIMILAR WORDS: group

Word origin

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

Word Frequency

herd in American English 2

(hɜrd )

noun

a herdsman

now chiefly in combination

cowherd, shepherd

verb transitive, verb intransitive

to tend or drive as a herdsman

Idioms:

ride herd on

Derived forms

herder (ˈherder)

noun

Word origin

ME herde < OE hierde (akin to Ger hirt) < same base as herd1

Example sentences including
herd

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Firm in your belief that the sheep can be herded somewhere else instead.It was just so disorganised and the police seemed to be just trying to herd people.The group of farm workers were taken as they herded sheep, officials said.If you have a few thousand acres of land going spare, you could do worse than put a herd of deer on them. DEEP in the rolling Hampshire countryside is a farm that produces cheese from a steaming herd of buffalo.Why not herd sheep at a crossroads?He spent the day meeting tribal leaders and representatives of the people herded into camps. Sometimes they succumb to greed and the herd mentality.We journalists tend to move in herds.We have a small deer herd there.