herd

A group of animals of the same kind that live or move together.

• The herd crossed the field.
• She owns a herd of cattle.
• Two herds of elephants gathered beside the river.

How to use it: a herd of animals (A herd of cows stood near the gate.)

Common phrases: herd of cattle, large herd, dairy herd, herd of deer

A large group of things, described as if they were animals moving together.

• A herd of buses filled the square.
• The cars formed a noisy herd outside the stadium.
• Herds of delivery vans crowded the narrow streets.

How to use it: a herd of things (A herd of trucks rolled through the town.)

Similar words: group, mass

Common phrases: herd of buses, herd of cars, noisy herd

To look after a group of animals and control where they go.

• He herds goats for a living.
• We herded the cattle back to the farm.
• Can your dog herd sheep?

How to use it: herd animals into something (The dog herded the sheep into a pen.)

Similar words: tend, drive

Common phrases: herd cattle, herd sheep, herd into something

If animals do this, they gather, feed, or move together as a group.

• The cattle herd together at night.
• The animals herded near the water.
• These deer herd in larger groups during winter.

Similar words: gather, cluster

Opposites: scatter

Common phrases: herd together, herd in groups