crowd
crowd / kroud/ • n. a large number of people gathered together, typically in a disorganized or unruly way. ∎ an audience. ∎ inf., often derog. a group of people who are linked by a common interest or activity: I've broken away from that whole junkie crowd. ∎ (the crowd) the mass or multitude of people, esp. those considered to be drearily ordinary or anonymous. ∎ a large number of things regarded collectively: the crowd of tall buildings.• v. [tr.] (often be crowded) (of a number of people) fill (a space) almost completely, leaving little or no room for movement. ∎ [intr.] (crowd into) (of a number of people) move into (a space, esp. one that seems too small). ∎ [intr.] (crowd around) (of a group of people) form a tightly packed mass around (someone or something). ∎ move too close to (someone), either aggressively or in a way that causes discomfort or harm. ∎ (crowd someone/something out) exclude someone or something by taking their place: grass invading the canyon has crowded out native plants. ∎ Baseball (of a batter) stand very close to (the plate) when batting.DERIVATIVES: crowd·ed·ness n.ORIGIN: Old English crūdan ‘press, hasten,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruien ‘push in a wheelbarrow.’ In Middle English the senses ‘move by pushing’ and ‘push one's way’ arose, leading to the sense ‘congregate,’ and hence (mid 16th cent.) to the noun.