herd
hurd
Herd (noun) means a large group of animals of one kind that live, feed, or move together. Example: “A herd of elephants crossed the river at dawn.”
noun
1
A large group of animals of one kind that live, feed, or move together.
"A herd of elephants crossed the river at dawn."
"The farmer keeps a herd of about fifty dairy cows."
"A herd of wild horses galloped across the open plain."
verb
1
To gather, drive, or guide people or animals together as a group.
"Staff herded the tourists onto the waiting buses."
"The dogs herded the sheep back into the pen."
"The teacher herded the children into the hall before the assembly began."
How to use herd
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA group of animals moving or feeding together, or the act of directing people/animals as a group.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a herd of cattle
herd mentality
herd animals together
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Word forms
- Plural
- herds
- Third person singular
- herds
- Past tense
- herded
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A _____ of elephants crossed the river at dawn.
Etymology
From Old English heord ("herd, flock, keeping"), from a Germanic root related to German Herde and Danish hjord.
Related words
Rhymes for herd
See all rhymes for herd →Frequently asked questions
What does “herd” mean?
The word “herd” means a large group of animals of one kind that live, feed, or move together. In plain terms, a group of animals moving or feeding together, or the act of directing people/animals as a group.
How do you pronounce “herd”?
“Herd” is pronounced hurd (/hɝd/ in IPA).
How do you use “herd” in a sentence?
Here is “herd” used in a sentence: “A herd of elephants crossed the river at dawn.”
What part of speech is “herd”?
Depending on how it is used, “herd” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “herd” come from?
The word “herd” comes from Old English. From Old English heord ("herd, flock, keeping"), from a Germanic root related to German Herde and Danish hjord.
Is “herd” a common word?
“Herd” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “herd” have?
“Herd” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large group of animals of one kind that live, feed, or move together.
What is the difference between a herd, a flock, and a pack?
A herd typically refers to a large group of animals such as cattle, deer, or elephants that live, feed, or move together. Flock is usually used for birds or sheep, while pack is typically used for wolves, dogs, or other predators that hunt together.
What does it mean to herd people or animals?
To herd means to gather, drive, or guide people or animals together as a group, often moving them in a particular direction. The word is used both for literal livestock management and figuratively for organizing crowds of people.
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