flocking

flock ¹

 (flŏk)

n.

1. A group of animals that live, travel, or feed together.

2. A group of people under the leadership of one person, especially the members of a church.

3. A large crowd or number: a flock of visitors; a flock of questions. See Synonyms at crowd¹.

intr.v. flocked, flock·ing, flocks

To gather or travel in a flock or crowd.

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[Middle English flok, from Old English floc.]

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flock ²

 (flŏk)

n.

1. A tuft, as of fiber or hair.

2. Waste wool or cotton used for stuffing furniture and mattresses.

3. Pulverized wool or felt that is applied to paper, cloth, or metal to produce a texture or pattern.

4. See floccule.

tr.v. flocked, flock·ing, flocks

1. To stuff with waste wool or cotton.

2. To texture or pattern with pulverized wool or felt.

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[Middle English flok, from Old French floc, from Latin floccus, tuft of wool.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

flock•ing

(ˈflɒk ɪŋ)

n.

1. a velvetlike pattern produced on wallpaper or cloth decorated with flock.

2. flock ² (def. 3).

[1870–75]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.