gang
/gæɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A group of people, especially young people, who spend time together, often involved in crime or antisocial behavior: The most common modern usage refers to a group, typically with a shared identity, that may engage in illegal activities or territorial conflict.
- An organized group of workers assigned to a specific task: A team of people working together, often in a manual or industrial context.
- A set of tools or machines designed to work together: A mechanical assembly where multiple items operate in unison.
Verb:
- To form or act as a group, often for a specific purpose or task: To come together or operate as a coordinated unit.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The police are investigating violence between rival gangs in the city.
- A gang of workers was assigned to repair the railway line.
- The new drill press has a gang of three bits for faster production.
Verb:
- We need to gang together to move this heavy furniture.
- The smaller companies decided to gang up to compete with the large corporation.
Advanced Usage
"Gang up (on/against someone/something)": To unite as a group against someone or something.
- The older children would often gang up on the younger ones.
- Several countries ganged up against the aggressive trade policy.
"Gang mentality": The tendency for individuals in a group to act in a similar, often unthinking or aggressive, way.
- The riot was fueled by a dangerous gang mentality.
Variants and Related Words
Gangster (n): A member of a gang of violent criminals.
- The film is about gangsters in the 1920s.
Gangland (n): The world of organized crime and the gangs involved in it.
- He was a powerful figure in the city's gangland.
Gangway (n): A passage between rows of seats, or a movable bridge for boarding a ship.
Synonyms
- Noun (criminal group): Mob, crew, ring, syndicate.
- Noun (work group): Crew, team, squad, shift.
- Verb: Band together, team up, unite, collaborate.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Gang up: See "Advanced Usage" above.
- Gang together: To gather or assemble as a group, often for mutual assistance.
- The villagers ganged together to rebuild the bridge after the storm.
Related Idioms
Run with a bad crowd/gang: To associate with people who behave badly or are involved in crime.
- His parents were worried he was starting to run with a bad gang.
One's whole gang: One's entire group of friends or associates.
- She invited her whole gang to the birthday party.
Noun
- tool consisting of a combination of implements arranged to work together
- an organized group of workmen
- an informal body of friends
- he still hangs out with the same crowd
- an association of criminals
- police tried to break up the gang
- a pack of thieves
Verb
- act as an organized group