■ noun a large number of people gathered together.
↘a large audience, especially at a sporting event.
↘ informal, often derogatory a group of people with a common interest.
■ verb
1》 [often as adjective ~ed ] (of a number of people) fill (a space) almost completely, leaving little or no room for movement.
↘move or come together as a ~.
2》 move too close to: don't ~ her, she needs air.
3》 ( ~ someone/thing out ) exclude by taking the place of someone or something.
Derivatives
~edness noun
Origin
OE crūdan 'press, hasten', of Gmc origin.