Definition

1. Noun:

   • A large group of people gathered together in a public place: "crowd" refers to a multitude of people assembled, often in a confined space.
   • A particular social group or set of friends: Informally, "crowd" can mean a group of people one associates with.

2. Verb:

   • To fill a space so that it is very full: To cause a place to be packed or occupied by a large number of people or things.
   • To gather together in large numbers in a limited space: To move into or occupy a space densely.
   • To move or press closely around someone or something: To surround or throng.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • A huge crowd gathered in the town square for the concert.
  • He prefers a quiet cafe, not one filled with a noisy crowd.
  • She's started hanging out with a different crowd since she changed schools.

• Verb:

  • Fans crowded the gates, hoping to see the band.
  • People crowded into the small room to hear the announcement.
  • Please don't crowd me; I need some space.

Advanced Usage

• "To crowd someone/something out": To force someone or something out of a place or situation because of a lack of space or intense competition.

  • The invasive weeds are crowding out the native plants in the garden.
  • Cheap imports crowded the local manufacturers out of the market.

• "To crowd the plate" (Baseball): For a batter to stand very close to home plate.

  • The batter crowds the plate, making it difficult for the pitcher to throw inside.

• "To crowd on sail" (Archaic/Nautical): To hoist as much sail as possible to increase speed.

  • The captain ordered the crew to crowd on sail to escape the pursuing ship.

Variants and Related Words

• Crowded (adj): Full of people or things, leaving little space.

  • The subway was extremely crowded during rush hour.

• Crowding (n): The condition of being crowded.

  • The crowding in the hallway made it difficult to move.

Synonyms

• Noun: Throng, multitude, mass, swarm, horde, mob.
• Verb: Throng, swarm, pack, cram, herd, press.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Crowd around: To gather closely in a circle around someone or something.

  • The children crowded around the teacher to see the picture book.

• Crowd in (on):

  • To move into a space, making it feel enclosed or oppressive.

    • Memories of the accident crowded in on her.
  • To occur in quick succession.

    • Appointments crowded in on him all afternoon.

Related Idioms

• Follow the crowd / Go with the crowd: To do what everyone else is doing; to conform.

  • He never has an original opinion; he just follows the crowd.

• Pass in a crowd: To be ordinary or unremarkable; to not stand out.

  • His face is plain enough to pass in a crowd.

• Two's company, three's a crowd: Said when two people (often a couple) would prefer to be alone without a third person.

  • I think I'll leave you two to talk. Two's company, three's a crowd.

Noun

1. an informal body of friends
   • he still hangs out with the same crowd
2. a large number of things or people considered together
   • a crowd of insects assembled around the flowers

Verb

1. approach a certain age or speed
   • She is pushing fifty
2. to gather together in large numbers
   • men in straw boaters and waxed mustaches crowded the verandah
3. fill or occupy to the point of overflowing
   • The students crowded the auditorium
4. cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
   • We herded the children into a spare classroom