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Herd
A herd is a social grouping of certain animals of the same species, either wild or domestic. The form of collective animal behavior associated with this is referred to as herding.
The term herd is generally applied to mammals, and most particularly to the grazing ungulates that classically display this behaviour. Different terms are used for similar groupings in other species; in the case of birds, for example, the word is flocking, but flock may also be used, in certain instances, for mammals, particularly sheep or goats. A group of quail is often referred to as a covey. Large groups of carnivores are usually called packs, and in nature a herd is classically subject to predation from pack hunters.
Special collective nouns may be used for particular taxa (for example a flock of geese, if not in flight, is sometimes called a gaggle) but for theoretical discussions of behavioural ecology, the generic term herd can be used for all such kinds of assemblage.
The word herd, as a noun, can also refer to one who controls, possesses and has care for such groups of animals when they are domesticated. Examples of herds in this sense include shepherds (who tend to sheep), goatherds (who tend to goats), cowherds (who tend cattle), and others.
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Herd (noun)
A number of domestic animals assembled together under the watch or ownership of a keeper. from 11th c.
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Herd (noun)
Any collection of animals gathered or travelling in a company. from 13th c.
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Herd (noun)
A crowd, a mass of people; now usually pejorative: a rabble. from 15th c.
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Herd (noun)
Someone who keeps a group of domestic animals; a herdsman.
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Herd (verb)
To unite or associate in a herd; to feed or run together, or in company.
“Sheep herd on many hills.”
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Herd (verb)
To unite or associate in a herd
“He is employed to herd the goats.”
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Herd (verb)
To associate; to ally oneself with, or place oneself among, a group or company.
“rfdate| I’ll herd among his friends, and seem
One of the number. Addison.” -
Herd (verb)
To act as a herdsman or a shepherd.
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Herd (verb)
To form or put into a herd.
“I heard the herd of cattle being herded home from a long way away.”
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Flock (noun)
A large number of birds, especially those gathered together for the purpose of migration.
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Flock (noun)
A large number of animals, especially sheep or goats kept together.
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Flock (noun)
Those served by a particular pastor or shepherd.
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Flock (noun)
A large number of people.
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Flock (noun)
Coarse tufts of wool or cotton used in bedding
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Flock (noun)
A lock of wool or hair.
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Flock (noun)
Very fine sifted woollen refuse, especially that from shearing the nap of cloths, formerly used as a coating for wallpaper to give it a velvety or clothlike appearance; also, the dust of vegetable fibre used for a similar purpose.
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Flock (verb)
To congregate in or head towards a place in large numbers.
“People flocked to the cinema to see the new film.”
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Flock (verb)
To flock to; to crowd.
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Flock (verb)
To treat a pool with chemicals to remove suspended particles.
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Flock (verb)
To coat a surface with dense fibers or particles.