herd
/hɜːd/ (bre, ipa) · /hɜːrd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhərd/ (ame, mw) · /hɝːd/ (ame, ipa)
herd — noun
- herdsingular
- herdsplural
1. a number of large animals such as cows, sheep, or elephants that stay together b
a number of large animals such as cows, sheep, or elephants that stay together because they belong to one group.
A herd of elephants crossed the dusty road in front of Christopher's jeep.
pattern: a herd of [animal]
Ada counted twenty cows in the herd grazing beside the river.
collocation: cows in the herd
The dairy farmer feeds his herd before sunrise every morning.
A small herd of deer appeared at the edge of the forest near dawn.
文法句型
a herd of [animals]
用法筆記
Used for large hoofed animals (cows, sheep, goats, deer, elephants). For birds use 'flock', for fish use 'school', for wolves or dogs use 'pack'.
常見錯誤
2. a large crowd of people, often thought of as following others without thinking f
a large crowd of people, often thought of as following others without thinking for themselves.
A herd of tourists pushed through the gates the moment the museum opened.
collocation: a herd of tourists
Yael refused to follow the herd and choose the same university as her classmates.
idiomatic: follow the herd
The teacher waited as a herd of noisy children rushed into the gymnasium.
Ife stood quietly while the herd of fans screamed at the singer.
文法句型
a herd of [people]
the herd
用法筆記
Often carries a negative tone, suggesting people lack independent thought. 'Follow the herd' is a fixed expression meaning to copy what most people do.
常見錯誤
herd — verb
- herdpresent simple I / you / we / they
- herds3rd person singular
- herding-ing form
- herdedpast simple
1. to guide a group of animals from one place to another, usually on foot, on horse
to guide a group of animals from one place to another, usually on foot, on horseback, or with dogs.
Diya watched the shepherd herd his sheep down the mountain path at sunset.
pattern: herd [animals] + direction
Two dogs helped Caio herd the cattle into the wooden pen.
collocation: herd cattle into [enclosure]
The cowboys herded the horses across the dry plain toward the ranch.
Anong used a long stick to herd the goats back to their shelter before the storm.
文法句型
herd [animals] + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Subject is typically a person, a working animal (dog), or a vehicle. Object is plural animals, usually livestock.
2. to push or direct a group of people somewhere as if they were animals, often wit
to push or direct a group of people somewhere as if they were animals, often without giving them a choice.
Hao watched the guards herd the protesters onto waiting buses.
frequent passive frame
The flight attendants herded the passengers through the narrow boarding tunnel.
pattern: herd + people + through/into
Walid was herded with hundreds of other workers into a crowded waiting room.
The teacher herded the noisy first-graders back to their seats before the bell rang.
文法句型
herd [people] + adverb/preposition
be herded into [place]
用法筆記
Usually carries a negative tone — the people being moved have little choice and the treatment feels impersonal. Frequently passive: 'we were herded into…'.
常見錯誤
3. (of animals or people) to come close together and move or stay as a single group
(of animals or people) to come close together and move or stay as a single group.
The young calves herded together for warmth during the cold night.
collocation: herd together
Gita's classmates herded around the noticeboard to read the exam results.
pattern: herd around [thing]
Amani noticed how the antelope herded close to the watering hole at dusk.
The reporters herded outside the courtroom, waiting for the lawyer to speak.
- scatter
move apart in different directions
文法句型
herd together
herd around [thing]
用法筆記
Always intransitive in this sense, in contrast to senses 1 and 2 which take an object. Typically used with 'together', 'around', or 'close'.