Crowds

crowd ¹  (kroud)

n.

1. A large number of persons gathered together; a throng.

2. The common people; the populace.

3. A group of people united by a common characteristic, as age, interest, or vocation: the over-30 crowd.

4. A group of people attending a public function; an audience: The play drew a small but appreciative crowd.

5. A large number of things positioned or considered together.

v. crowd·ed, crowd·ing, crowds

v.intr.

1. To congregate in a restricted area; throng: The children crowded around the TV.

2. To advance by pressing or shoving: A bevy of reporters crowded toward the candidate.

v.tr.

1. 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.

2. To draw or stand near to: The batter crowded the plate.

3. To press, cram, or force tightly together: crowded the clothes into the closet.

4. To fill or occupy to overflowing: Books crowded the shelves.

5. Informal To put pressure on, as to pay a debt.

Idiom:

crowd (on) sail Nautical

To spread a large amount of sail to increase speed.

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[From Middle English crowden, to crowd, press, from Old English crdan, to hasten, press.]

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crowder n.

Synonyms: crowd¹, crush, flock¹, horde, mob, press¹, throng
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.

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Crowds

See also mob.

demomania

a mania for crowds. Also called ochlomania.

demophilia

a fondness for crowds. — demophil, demophile. n.

demophobia

an abnormal fear of crowds. Also called ochlophobia.

mobocracy

government by the mob; the mob as ruler or dominant force in society. — mobocrat, n. — mobocratic, adj.

ochlomania

demomania.

ochlophobia

demophobia.

phalanx

an ancient military formation of serried ranks surrounded by shields; hence, any crowded mass of people or group united for a common purpose.