I. ˈthrȯŋ also ˈthräŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English thrang, throng, from Old English gethrang, thrang; akin to Old English thringan to press, crowd, push ahead, Old High German dringan, Old Norse thröngva, Gothic threihan to press, squeeze, Lithuanian trenkti to jolt
1.
a. : a multitude of persons congregated into a close assemblage
b. : a goodly number assembled in fact or concept : host
throngs of ants joined the picnic
a throng of confused notions cluttering her brain
2.
a. : a crowding together of many persons
b. : a pressing of activity (as in seasonal work) : pressure
this throng of business — S.R.Crockett
3. chiefly Scotland : distress , hardship
Synonyms: see crowd
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English thrangen, throngen, from thrang, throng throng
transitive verb
1.
a. obsolete : to press closely together or as if between opposing forces : compress , squeeze
b. archaic : to gather together in one place : crowd
2. : to gather about and press upon so as to crush or jostle
much people followed him, and thronged him — Mk 5:24 (Authorized Version)
3. : to fill closely by forcing or pressing into : pack , jam
shoppers thronging the streets
intransitive verb
1. : to crowd together in great numbers : move, pass, go, or advance in multitudes
commuters thronging towards the station
2. obsolete : to press one's way against difficulties (as in forcing a way through a crowd)
III. ˈthräŋ adjective
Etymology: Middle English thrang, throng; akin to Old English thringan to press, crowd
1. chiefly Scotland : closely packed : crowded
2. chiefly Scotland : filled with or fully engaged in work : busy
3. chiefly Scotland : closely associated : intimate