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flock

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flock

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++
Related topics: Christianity, Household
flock1 /flɒk $ flɑːk/ ●●○ noun  1 [countable]HBGROUP OF THINGS a group of sheep, goats, or birds 〔羊或鸟〕群flock of a flock of small birds 一群小鸟see thesaurus at group2 [countable usually singular]GROUP OF PEOPLE a large group of people 〔人的〕一大群 SYN crowdflock of a flock of children 一大群孩子3. [countable usually singular]RRCGROUP OF PEOPLE a priest’s flock is the group of people who regularly attend his or her church 〔经常到某位牧师所属教堂礼拜的〕全体教徒[会众]4. [uncountable]DH small pieces of wool or cotton that are used for filling cushions 〔填充垫子的〕絮屑,毛棉填料5. (also flocking /ˈflɒkɪŋ $ ˈflaː-/ American English) [uncountable]DH a soft substance that is used to make patterns on the surface of wallpaper, curtains etc 〔用于在墙纸、窗帘等表面制作图案的〕植绒材料,柔软贴料
Examples from the Corpus
flocka flock of geeseBut there were rabbits by the dozens, and flocks of chestnut-colored bantams.It's easy to spot flocks of geese as they migrate.As a hermit living in a cave, he refused the flock of naked women sent to tempt him.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.To complicate matters further, many of these shepherds were in agreement with their flocks.This was odd as it indicated that the winter flock had already scattered as separate pairs at this very early date.flock ofA flock of celebrities was expected at the movie's premiere.
flock2 verb [intransitive always +adv/preposition]  GOif people flock to a place, they go there in large numbers because something interesting or exciting is happening there 成群结队地去,蜂拥而至flock to/into/down etc People have been flocking to the exhibition. 看展览的人络绎不绝。flock to do something Tourists flock to see the town’s medieval churches and buildings. 游客蜂拥而至,参观该镇的中世纪教堂和建筑。→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
flockIf the economy is such a mess, why are investors flocking in?When the algorithmic bats were run, they flocked like real bats.Jackdaws flocked noisily at the back of the wood; only occasionally did their silhouettes show black against the sky.They began to sell their land and, in a final bid to avoid starvation, started to flock to Calcutta.But tourists are not the only foreigners flocking to Penang.Schoolchildren flock to the malls and fast-food joints, looking for jobs as shop assistants and chefs.At Black Mountain, both teachers and students flocked to the most exciting classes.flock to do somethingPeople flocked to him in County Cavan and he became famous in Ireland with saturation media coverage.Peasant folk flocked to his hut for comfort and confession.A crowd of more than 35,000 flocked to Leeds Road on the Wednesday afternoon and several workshops had to close down.Hundreds of thousands of punters flock to the Cheltenham course.A steady stream of Gentile merchants, bankers, prospectors, and mining companies flocked to the Intermountain West.Schoolchildren flock to the malls and fast-food joints, looking for jobs as shop assistants and chefs.This summer, campers will be flocking to them like never before.An increasing number of people flocked to visit Opo, with 1500 visitors sometimes crowding the beach.
Origin flock1 1. Old English flocc crowd2. (1200-1300) Old French floc piece of wool, from Latin floccus
a or Corpus of birds group sheep, goats,


flock
I
flock1 /flɒk $ flɑːk/ noun
 Sense 1-3
 Language: Old English
 Origin: flocc 'crowd'
 Sense 4-5
 Date: 1200-1300
 Language: Old French
 Origin: floc 'piece of wool', from Latin floccus
1. [countable] a group of sheep, goats, or birds
    flock of
    a flock of small birds
2. [countable usually singular] a large group of people
   SYN  crowd
    flock of
    a flock of children
3. [countable usually singular] a priest’s flock is the group of people who regularly attend his or her church
4. [uncountable] small pieces of wool or cotton that are used for filling cushions
5. (also flocking /ˈflɒkɪŋ $ ˈflaː-/ American English) [uncountable] a soft substance that is used to make patterns on the surface of wallpaper, curtains etc

II
flock2 verb [intransitive always +adverb/preposition]
if people flock to a place, they go there in large numbers because something interesting or exciting is happening there
    flock to/into/down etc
    People have been flocking to the exhibition.
    flock to do something
    Tourists flock to see the town’s medieval churches and buildings.


flockBrE /flɒk/ 🔊NAmE /flɑːk/ 🔊 noun [countable + singular or plural verb] ~ (of sth) a group of sheep, goats or birds of the same type (羊或鸟)群   compare herd noun (1) [countable + singular or plural verb] ~ (of sb) a large group of people, especially of the same type (尤指同类人的)一大群a flock of children/reporters一大群儿童/记者They came in flocks to see the procession. 他们成群结队来看游行队伍。🔊🔊 [countable + singular or plural verb] (literary) the group of people who regularly attend the church of a particular priest, etc. (常跟随某圣职人员等做礼拜的)信众;追随者 [uncountable] small pieces of soft material used for filling cushions, chairs, etc. (填充垫子、椅子等的)小块软填料 [uncountable] small pieces of soft material on the surface of paper or cloth that produce a raised pattern (植绒用的)短绒,绒屑flock wallpaper植绒墙纸
flockBrE /flɒk/ 🔊NAmE /flɑːk/ 🔊 verbpresent simple - I / you / we / they flock BrE /flɒk/ 🔊 NAmE /flɑːk/ 🔊present simple - he / she / it flocks BrE /flɒks/ 🔊 NAmE /flɑːks/ 🔊past simple flocked BrE /flɒkt/ 🔊 NAmE /flɑːkt/ 🔊past participle flocked BrE /flɒkt/ 🔊 NAmE /flɑːkt/ 🔊 -ing form flocking BrE /ˈflɒkɪŋ/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈflɑːkɪŋ/ 🔊 [intransitive] to go or gather together somewhere in large numbers 群集;聚集;蜂拥+ adv./prep. Thousands of people flocked to the beach this weekend. 这个周末有好几千人蜂拥到了海滩。🔊🔊Huge numbers of birds had flocked together by the lake. 大群的鸟聚集在湖边。🔊🔊~ to do sth People flocked to hear him speak. 人们成群结队地去听他演讲。🔊🔊birds of a ˈfeather (flock toˈgether)(saying) people of the same sort (are found together) 同类的人(聚在一起);物以类聚