crowd
1 (kroud)
[From Middle English crowden, to crowd, press, from Old English crūdan, to hasten, press.]
noun
- A large number of persons gathered together; a throng.
- The common people; the populace.
- A group of people united by a common characteristic, as age, interest, or vocation: the over-30 crowd.
- A group of people attending a public function; an audience: The play drew a small but appreciative crowd.
- A large number of things positioned or considered together.
verb: crowd·ed, crowd·ing, crowds.
intransitive verb
- To congregate in a restricted area; throng: The children crowded around the TV.
- To advance by pressing or shoving: A bevy of reporters crowded toward the candidate.
transitive verb
- To force by or as if by pressing or shoving: Police crowded the spectators back to the viewing stand. Urban sprawl crowded the farmers out of the valley.
- To draw or stand near to: The batter crowded the plate.
- To press, cram, or force tightly together: crowded the clothes into the closet.
- To fill or occupy to overflowing: Books crowded the shelves.
- Informal To put pressure on, as to pay a debt.
idioms
- crowd (on) sail
- To spread a large amount of sail to increase speed.
derivatives
- crowd́er
- noun
synonyms:
crowd1crush, flock1horde, mob, press1throng These nouns denote a large group of people gathered close to one another: a crowd of well-wishers; a crush of autograph seekers; a flock of schoolchildren; a horde of demonstrators; a mob of hard-rock enthusiasts; a press of shoppers; throngs of tourists.
crowd
2 (kroud, krōōd)
[Middle English croud, from Middle Welsh crwth.]
noun
- An ancient Celtic stringed instrument that was bowed or plucked. Also called crwth
- Chiefly British A fiddle.
