hə:d n. & v. --n. 1 a
large number of animals,
esp.
cattle, feeding or travelling or
kept together. 2 (prec. by the) derog. a large number of
people; a
mob (prefers
not to
follow the herd). 3 (esp. in comb.) a
keeper of herds; a
herdsman (cowherd). --v. 1 intr. & tr. go or
cause to go in a herd (herded together
for warmth; herded the cattle
into the field). 2 tr. tend (sheep, cattle, etc.) (he herds the goats). øherd-book a
book recording the pedigrees of cattle or pigs. the herd
instinct the
tendency of associating or conforming
with one's
own kind for
support etc.
ride herd on US
keep watch on. øøherder n. [OE heord, (in
sense 3) hirdi, f. Gmc]