/ gæŋ; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun [ C +sing./pl. v . ]
1.
an organized group of criminals :
criminal gang members and drug dealers
a gang of pickpockets
A four-man gang carried out the robbery.
2.
a group of young people who spend a lot of time together and often cause trouble or fight against other groups :
a gang of youths
a street gang
3.
( informal ) a group of friends who meet regularly :
The whole gang will be there.
4.
an organized group of workers or prisoners doing work together
—see also chain gang
■ verb
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PHRASAL VERBS
- gang together
- gang up (on / against sb)
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English , from Old Norse gangr , ganga gait, course, going, of Germanic origin; related to Scottish gang go . The original meaning was going, a journey , later in Middle English a way , also set of things or people which go together .