crowd

noun, verb

1 [C+sing./pl.v.] a large number of people gathered together in a public place, for example in the streets or at a sports game: He pushed his way through the crowd. * A small crowd had gathered outside the church. * Police had to break up the crowd. * Crowds of people poured into the street. * I want to get there early to avoid the crowds. * The match attracted a capacity crowd of 80000. * The crowd cheered the winning hit. * crowd control * crowd trouble * A whole crowd of us are going to the ball (= a lot of us). * He left the hotel surrounded by crowds of journalists. 2 [C+sing./pl.v.] (informal, often disapproving) a particular group of people: Bob introduced her to some of the usual crowd (= people who often meet each other). * the bright young theatrical crowd 3 (the crowd) [sing.] (sometimes disapproving) ordinary people, not special or unusual in any way: We all like to think we stand out from the crowd (= are different from and better than other people). * He prefers to be one of the crowd. * She's quite happy to follow the crowd. verb [VN] 1 to fill a place so there is little room to move: Thousands of people crowded the narrow streets. 2 to fill your mind so that you can think of nothing else: Memories crowded his mind. 3 (informal) to stand very close to sb so that they feel uncomfortable or nervous PHRASALVERBS crowd around / round