mob

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mob / mäb/ • n. a large crowd of people, esp. one that is disorderly and intent on causing trouble or violence: a mob of protesters. ∎  (usu. the Mob) the Mafia or a similar criminal organization. ∎  (the mob) the ordinary people: the age-old fear that the mob may organize to destroy the last vestiges of civilized life.• v. (mobbed, mob·bing) [tr.] (often be mobbed) crowd around (someone) in an unruly and excitable way in order to admire or attack them: he was mobbed by autograph hunters. ∎  (of a group of birds or mammals) surround and attack (a predator or other source of threat) in order to drive it off. ∎  crowd into (a building or place): an unruly crowd mobbed the White House during an inaugural reception.DERIVATIVES: mob·ber n.

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