/ ˈpiːpl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ pl. ] persons; men, women and children :
At least ten people were killed in the crash.
There were a lot of people at the party.
Many young people are out of work.
2.
[ pl. ] persons in general or everyone :
He doesn't care what people think of him.
She tends to annoy people.
HELP NOTE : Use everyone or everybody instead of 'all people'.
3.
[ C ] all the persons who live in a particular place or belong to a particular country, race, etc. :
the French people
the native peoples of Siberia
—see also townspeople
4.
the people [ pl. ] the ordinary men and women of a country rather than those who govern or have a special position in society :
the life of the common people
It was felt that the government was no longer in touch with the people.
—see also little people
5.
[ pl. ] men and women who work in a particular type of job or are involved in a particular area of activity :
a meeting with business people and bankers
These garments are intended for professional sports people.
6.
[ pl. ] ( literary ) the men, women and children that a person leads :
The king urged his people to prepare for war.
7.
[ pl. ] the men and women who work for you or support you :
I've had my people watching the house for a few days.
8.
[ pl. ] ( BrE , informal ) guests or friends :
I'm having people to dinner this evening.
9.
[ pl. ] ( old-fashioned ) the men, women and children that you are closely related to, especially your parents, grandparents, etc. :
She's spending the holidays with her people.
—see also boat people , street people , tradespeople
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IDIOMS
- of all people
- people (who live) in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
—more at man noun , thing
■ verb
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] people sth (with sth) to live in a place or fill it with people :
The town was peopled largely by workers from the car factory and their families.
The ballroom was peopled with guests.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Anglo-Norman French poeple , from Latin populus populace.