flock1 nounflock2 verb
flockflock1 /flɒk $ flɑːk/ ●●○ noun 
Word OriginWORD ORIGINflock1
ExamplesOrigin:
1-3 Old English flocc ‘crowd’4-5 1200-1300 Old French floc ‘piece of wool’, from Latin floccusEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- a flock of geese
- As a hermit living in a cave, he refused the flock of naked women sent to tempt him.
- But there were rabbits by the dozens, and flocks of chestnut-colored bantams.
- It's easy to spot flocks of geese as they migrate.
- Naturally the shepherds who had brought their flocks across must know the safest route.
- The clergy did not only minister word and sacraments; they also performed social roles for their flock.
- This was odd as it indicated that the winter flock had already scattered as separate pairs at this very early date.
- To complicate matters further, many of these shepherds were in agreement with their flocks.
THESAURUSof animals► herd
Collocations a group of cows, deer, or elephants: · A herd of cows was blocking the road.
► team a group of animals that work together: · The carriage was pulled by a team of horses.
► flock a group of sheep or birds: · a flock of seagulls· The farmer has over 100 sheep in his flock.
► pack a group of dogs or wolves: · Some dogs are bred to work in packs.
► litter a group of kittens or puppies born at one time to a particular mother: · He was one of a litter of seven puppies.
► school/shoal a group of fish or dolphins: · Piranha fish live in shoals in the wild.
► crowd a large number of people together in one place: · The exhibition is expected to attract large crowds of visitors.
► mob a crowd of noisy and violent people who are difficult to control: · The mob set fire to cars and buildings.
► mass a very large crowd which is not moving and which is very difficult to move through: · the mass of people in the station
► horde a large crowd of people, especially people who are behaving in a way that you disapprove of or that annoys you: · the hordes of tourists on the island
► droves [plural] a crowd of people – used especially when you are talking about a crowd of people who move from one place to another: · The public came in droves to see the event.
► throng literary a very large crowd: · A great throng had gathered to listen to his speech.
► flock a large group of people of the same type, especially when they have a leader: · A flock of children were being shown through the museum.
► pack a group of people of the same type, especially a group you do not approve of: · A pack of reporters shouted questions.
► swarm a large crowd of people who are moving quickly in many directions in a very uncontrolled way: · a swarm of children in the playground
► crush a crowd of people who are pressed close together: · There was such a crush on the Metro this morning.
► multitude formal literary a very large number of people, especially ordinary people: · The Emperor came out to speak to the multitude.
→ group1WORD SETS► Christianityabbess, nounabbey, nounabbot, nounabsolution, nounAdvent, nounalleluia, interjectionaltar boy, nounAnglican, nounAnglo-Catholic, nounapocalyptic, adjectiveapostle, nounapostolic, adjectivearchbishop, nounarchbishopric, nounarchdeacon, nounarchdiocese, nounArk of the Covenant, nounAsh Wednesday, nounAuthorized Version, banns, nounbaptism, nounBaptist, nounbaptize, verbbasilica, nounbeadle, nounbeatify, verbBenedictine, nounbenediction, nounbenefice, nounbiblical, adjectivebiretta, nounbishop, nounbishopric, nounblaspheme, verbblasphemy, nounbrother, nounbull, nounCalvinism, nounCalvinist, adjectivecanon, nouncanonical, adjectivecanonize, verbcanon law, nouncantor, nouncardinal, nouncardinal sin, nouncarol, nouncatechism, nouncathedral, nounCatholic, adjectivechantry, nounchapel, nounchaplain, nounchaplaincy, nounchapter, nounchapterhouse, nouncherub, nounChrist, nounchristen, verbChristendom, nounchristening, nounChristian, nounChristian, adjectivechurch, nounchurchgoer, nounchurchman, nounChurch of England, nounchurchwarden, nounchurchwoman, nounchurchyard, nounclergyman, nounclergywoman, nouncleric, nounclerical, adjectiveclerk, nouncloister, nouncollect, nouncommandment, nouncommunicant, nouncompline, nounconfess, verbconfession, nounconfessional, nounconfessor, nounconfirmation, nouncongregation, nounCongregationalism, nounconsecrate, verbcope, nouncreationist, nouncreche, nouncrib, nouncrosier, nouncrozier, nouncrucifix, nouncrucifixion, nouncrusade, nouncrusade, verbcrypt, nouncuracy, nouncurate, noundeacon, noundeaconess, noundean, noundeanery, noundiocese, noundisciple, noundisestablish, verbdispensation, noundog collar, nounDominican, nounEaster, nounecclesiastic, nounecclesiastical, adjectiveecumenical, adjectiveEden, nounelder, nounencyclical, nounEpiphany, nounepiscopal, adjectiveEpistle, nounevangelical, adjectiveevangelist, nounevangelize, verbevensong, nounexcommunicate, verbexegesis, nounfellowship, nounflagellant, nounflagellate, verbflock, nounfont, nounFr, friar, nounfrock, nounfundamentalist, noungargoyle, noungenuflect, verbgodfather, nounGod-fearing, adjectivegodless, adjectivegodly, adjectivegodmother, noungodparent, noungodson, nounGood Friday, noungrace, noungracious, adjectiveHail Mary, nounharvest festival, nounHigh Church, nounHigh Mass, nounHoly Communion, nounHoly Father, nounHoly Spirit, nounHoly Week, nounHoly Writ, nounhomily, nounhymn book, nounimprimatur, nounincarnation, nouninduct, verbindulgence, nouninquisitor, nouninterdenominational, adjectiveinterdict, nounJehovah, Jesuit, nounJesus, judgment day, nounlay, adjectivelay reader, nounlectern, nounlesson, nounlitany, nounLow Church, nounlychgate, nounMadonna, nounmanna, nounmanse, nounmatins, nounmeeting-house, nounmessianic, adjectiveMethodist, nounminister, nounministerial, adjectiveministry, nounminster, nounmiracle, nounmissal, nounmissionary, nounmitre, nounmoderator, nounMonsignor, nounMorning Prayer, nounmortal sin, nounMother of God, nounMother Superior, nounname day, nounNativity, nounNativity play, nounnave, nounNegro spiritual, nounNoah's ark, nounNonconformist, adjectivenuncio, nounoffertory, nounoratory, nounordination, nounoriginal sin, nounOur Father, nounOur Lady, Our Lord, padre, nounPalm Sunday, nounpapacy, nounpapal, adjectivepapist, nounparable, nounparish, nounparish church, nounparish clerk, nounparishioner, nounparochial, adjectiveparochial school, nounparson, nounparsonage, nounpassion play, nounpastor, nounpatriarch, nounpatron saint, nounpenance, nounpenitent, nounPentecost, nounPentecostal, adjectiveperdition, nounPlymouth Brethren, nounpontiff, nounpontifical, adjectivepontificate, nounPope, nounprayer book, nounpredestination, nounprelate, nounPresbyterian, nounpresbytery, nounpriest, nounPrimate, nounprior, nounprioress, nounpriory, nounPromised Land, the, Protestant, nounpsalm, nounpsalmist, nounpsalter, nounpulpit, nounQuaker, nounRC, rector, nounrectory, nounredeem, verbredemption, nounrequiem, nounRev, Revd, Reverend, nounReverend Mother, nounrevival, nounrevival meeting, nounRoman Catholic, adjectiverood screen, nounrosary, nounsacrament, nounsacristan, nounsacristy, nounsaint, nounsainted, adjectivesainthood, nounsaint's day, nounsalvation, nounsanctuary, nounSatan, nounsave, verbschism, nounscriptural, adjectivesecular, adjectivesee, nounseminary, nounseraph, nounsermon, nounsexton, nounShrove Tuesday, nounsister, nounsisterhood, nounSJ, special licence, nounsteeple, nounstigmata, nounstoup, nounSunday school, nounsurplice, nounsynod, nountabernacle, nountestify, verbtransubstantiation, nounTrappist, noununfrock, verbUnitarian, nounvenial, adjectivevespers, nounvestment, nounvestry, nounvicar, nounvicarage, nounvotive, adjectivevow, nounVulgate, the, nounWhitsun, nounwimple, nounXmas, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a flock of birds
Phrases (=a large number of birds together)· Suddenly a flock of birds flew up into the sky.
► flock of sheep (=a group of sheep)
► tourists flock to a place (=visit it in large numbers)· Tourists have flocked to the area ever since the TV series was filmed there.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► great· They stretched in great flocks wider than the whole of the Zoo.· They had great flocks of sheep and goats as well, and they lived at their ease.· They were like a great flock of gulls swooping to tear and gobble at their prey.· Straight away a great flock of wild crows came flying towards her, enough to darken the sky.
► large· Sometimes in large flocks in autumn.· A large flock of shearwaters was wheeling excitedly over a spot about half way between the whales and Hsu Fu.· The larger the flock, the less time individual doves spend peeking and the more time sleeping.· The second smallest duck of the region, slenderer than Teal and rarely occurring in such large flocks.· In very cold weather much larger flocks appear.· The problem, as they see it, is that the large flocks are having a serious impact on crops.· Back at Folly Bridge the males are left in large all-male flocks.· Gregarious; large flocks make remarkable roaring sound on surface of water when disturbed by birds of prey.
► small· Then a small flock of them.· She said she has a small enough flock of sheep to be able to remember their names and personalities.· In the foreground another smaller flock was taking off from the little lake on the south side.· Perhaps her dang had had to split into smaller flocks, so that now there were not enough shepherds to go around.· Tufted ducks bobbed, still in the small compact flocks of winter.· A small flock of evening grosbeaks flew over, and at first light I heard chickadees and goldfinches.· Often flies fast in small flocks.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► birds of a feather (flock together)
1[countable] a group of sheep, goats, or birdsflock of- He figured I had a hustle of my own going and that made us birds of a feather.
a flock of small birds► see thesaurus at group2[countable usually singular] a large group of people SYN crowdflock of a flock of children3[countable usually singular] a priest’s flock is the group of people who regularly attend his or her church4[uncountable] small pieces of wool or cotton that are used for filling cushions5 (also flocking /ˈflɒkɪŋ $ ˈflaː-/ American English) [uncountable] a soft substance that is used to make patterns on the surface of wallpaper, curtains etcflock1 nounflock2 verb
flockflock2 verb [intransitive always +adverb/preposition] Verb TableVERB TABLE
flock
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | flock |
| he, she, it | flocks | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | flocked |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have flocked |
| he, she, it | has flocked | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had flocked |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will flock |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have flocked |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am flocking |
| he, she, it | is flocking | |
| you, we, they | are flocking | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was flocking |
| you, we, they | were flocking | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been flocking |
| he, she, it | has been flocking | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been flocking |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be flocking |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been flocking |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Collocations- At Black Mountain, both teachers and students flocked to the most exciting classes.
- But tourists are not the only foreigners flocking to Penang.
- If the economy is such a mess, why are investors flocking in?
- Jackdaws flocked noisily at the back of the wood; only occasionally did their silhouettes show black against the sky.
- Schoolchildren flock to the malls and fast-food joints, looking for jobs as shop assistants and chefs.
- They began to sell their land and, in a final bid to avoid starvation, started to flock to Calcutta.
- When the algorithmic bats were run, they flocked like real bats.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a flock of birds
Phrases (=a large number of birds together)· Suddenly a flock of birds flew up into the sky.
► flock of sheep (=a group of sheep)
► tourists flock to a place (=visit it in large numbers)· Tourists have flocked to the area ever since the TV series was filmed there.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► tourist· The series became a huge success and tourists have flocked to the area ever since.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► birds of a feather (flock together)
if people flock to a place, they go there in large numbers because something interesting or exciting is happening thereflock to/into/down etc- He figured I had a hustle of my own going and that made us birds of a feather.
People have been flocking to the exhibition.flock to do something Tourists flock to see the town’s medieval churches and buildings.