| herd | 1. A number of beasts assembled together; as, a herd of horses, oxen, cattle, camels, elephants, deer, or swine; a particular stock or family of cattle. "The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea." (Gray) Herd is distinguished from flock, as being chiefly applied to the larger animals. A number of cattle, when driven to market, is called a drove. 2. A crowd of low people; a rabble. "But far more numerous was the herd of such who think too little and who talk too much." (Dryden) "You can never interest the common herd in the abstract question. <botany>" (Coleridge) Herd's grass, one of several species of grass, highly esteemed for hay. See Grass. Origin: OE. Herd, heord, AS. Heord; akin to OHG. Herta,G. Herde, Icel. Hjor, Sw. Hjord, Dan. Hiord, Goth. Hairda; cf. Skr. Cardha troop, host. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| herd immunity | <immunology> Resistance of a group to a pathogen due to immunity of a large proportion of the group to that pathogen. (09 Oct 1997) |
| herd instinct | Tendency or inclination to band together with and share the customs of others of a group, and to conform to the opinions and adopt the views of the group. Synonym: social instinct. (05 Mar 2000) |
| herderite | <chemical> A rare fluophosphate of glucina, in small white crystals. Origin: Named after Baron von Herder, who discovered it. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| herdess | A shepherdess; a female herder. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| herdswoman | A woman who tends a herd. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |