1. n. & v.
--n.
1. a a number of animals of one kind, esp. birds, feeding or travelling together. b a number of domestic animals, esp. sheep, goats, or geese, kept together.
2 a large crowd of people.
3 a a Christian congregation or body of believers, esp. in relation to one minister. b a family of children, a number of pupils, etc.
--v.intr.
1. congregate; mass.
2 (usu. foll. by to, in, out, together) go together in a crowd; troop (thousands flocked to Wembley).
Etymology: OE flocc 2. n.1 a lock or tuft of wool, cotton, etc.
2 a (also in pl.; often attrib.) material for quilting and stuffing made of wool-refuse or torn-up cloth (a flock pillow). b powdered wool or cloth.
Phrases and idioms:
flock-paper (or -wallpaper) wallpaper sized and sprinkled with powdered wool to make a raised pattern.
Derivatives:
flocky adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF floc f. L floccus