Words / B2

HURD/hɜːd/

A herd is a group of animals of one kind, or people acting as a crowd: a herd of cattle; herd immunity; herd behaviour. Flock is for birds/sheep in many uses. Do not follow the herd on the case study. Heard is the past of hear — a spelling trap. Do not call two cats a herd.

Meaning

A group of animals of one kind; also people acting as a crowd (herd behaviour).

Examples

• “Do not follow the herd on the case study; the question has a twist.”
• “A herd of cattle blocked the B-road, which is the livestock sense.”

Good to know

a herd of; herd behaviour / immunity. Birds: flock. Trap: heard. Biology, farming, and essays on conformity. Crowd metaphor is often critical.

New