flock

views updated May 11 2018

flock1 / fläk/ • n. a number of birds of one kind feeding, resting, or traveling together: a flock of gulls. ∎  a number of domestic animals, esp. sheep, goats, or geese, that are kept together: a flock of sheep. ∎  (flocks) large crowds of people: flocks of young people hung around at twilight. ∎  a group of children or students in someone's charge. ∎  a Christian congregation or body of believers, esp. one under the charge of a particular minister: Thomas addressed his flock.• v. [intr.] congregate or mass in a flock or large group: students flocked to spring break sites.flock2 (also flock·ing) • n. [often as adj.] a soft material for stuffing cushions, quilts, and other soft furnishings, made of wool refuse or torn-up cloth: flock mattresses. ∎  powdered wool or cloth, sprinkled on wallpaper, cloth, or metal to make a raised pattern.DERIVATIVES: flock·y adj.

Flock

views updated Jun 27 2018

Flock

a company of people, birds, or animals; a group of Christians who worship together. See also bevy, drove.

Examples: flock of acquaintances; of affections, 1601; of auks [at sea]; of bats; of birds; of bitterns; of bustards; of camels, 1839; of Christians; of coots; of cotton, 1756; of cranes; of ducks [flying in a line]; of elephants, 1614; of fish, 1480; of friends; of geese [on the ground], 1596; of goats; of hens, 1690; of interpreters, 1581; of lice; of pamphlets, 1642; of parrots; of prophets; of seals; of sheep, 1340; of ships [book title by B. Callison]; of swifts; of wool, 1440.

flock

views updated Jun 08 2018

flock1 band or company, esp. of (domestic) animals. OE. flocc = MLG. vlocke, ON. flokkr (in OE. and ON. used only of persons); of unkn. orig.
Hence vb. †trans. and intr. XIII.

flock

views updated May 09 2018

flock2 tuft of wool, etc. XIII. — (O)F. floc :- L. floccus.