Flock
/flɑːk/
nounverbB1
Definition
As a noun, "flock" means a group of birds, sheep, or other animals that live or move together. As a verb, it means to gather or move in a group, often quickly or in large numbers.
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See It in Action
A group of birds or animals
- •A flock of birds flew over the lake.
- •The shepherd watched his flock of sheep in the field.
- •Several flocks of geese gathered near the river.
To come or go together in a group (verb)
- •Tourists flock to the beach in summer.
- •People flocked to the new store on opening day.
- •Fans flock to concerts to see their favorite singers.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "flock" like "group," but usually for animals like birds or sheep, not people
- ✓Picture many birds flying close together in the sky or sheep standing close in a field
- ✓It's the feeling of being with friends or family, all moving or staying together
- ✓Sounds like "clock" → imagine many clocks ticking together, all moving as one group
- ✓Think of stories where birds fly in a flock to stay safe and find food, like ducks flying south in autumn
- ✓NOT like "crowd" (usually people), "flock" is animals moving or staying together
- ✓NOT like "herd" (usually larger land animals like cows or elephants), "flock" is more for birds or sheep
- ✓As a verb, NOT like "walk" alone, "flock" means many come together quickly or naturally
Try Other Words
- •Herd: a group of animals, especially large ones like cows or elephants (Use when talking about bigger animals rather than birds or sheep)
- •Crowd: a large number of people gathered together (Use when talking about people, not animals)
- •Gather: to come together or bring things together (Use when focusing on the action of coming together, not specifically animals)
- •Swarm: a large group of small insects moving together (Use when talking about insects like bees or ants)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "flock" is a simple root word with no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Old English "flocc," meaning a group or crowd, especially of people or animals
- •Historical development: Originally used for groups of people or animals; now mostly used for animals like birds or sheep
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe groups of birds, sheep, or people gathering quickly in one place
- •Key insight: The word suggests togetherness and movement in groups, especially natural or instinctive groupings
Reflect & Connect
•Why do animals like birds and sheep form flocks? How does this help them survive?
•Can people "flock" somewhere in the same way animals do? What situations make people gather like a flock?
Fill in the blanks
1.Birds often flock together to ___ from danger and find food more easily.
2.Tourists flock to famous landmarks because they want to ___ the experience.
3.A flock of sheep stayed close because they felt ___ in numbers.
4.Unlike a small group, a flock usually means many animals moving or staying ___.
5.When people flock to a concert, it means they come ___ in large numbers.
6.The farmer watched his flock ___ quietly in the green field.
7.Unlike a herd of cows, a flock is usually made up of ___ or smaller animals.