What does flocking mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈflɒkiŋ/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Verb, noun

Definition

Verb: To move in large groups, especially birds, as if in flight.
Noun: A flock of birds in flight, or a large group of people or animals moving together in a similar manner.

Examples

• The geese were flocking to the nearby pond for water.
• The concert drew a large crowd that was flocking to the stage.

Synonyms

• Gather
• Collect
• Mass

Antonyms

• Disperse
• Separate
• Scatter

Etymology

The word ‘flocking’ has its origins in Old English ‘floc’ meaning ‘flock’ or ‘group of birds’. Over time, the verb form developed to describe the act of birds or other animals moving together in a group.

Usage Notes

Flocking can be used in both literal and figurative senses. In a literal sense, it describes birds or animals moving together in a large group. In a figurative sense, it can describe people coming together in large numbers for a common purpose, such as a concert or a protest.

When using ‘flocking’ in writing, note that the verb form is often used in the present participle (flocking) or past tense (flocked) to describe an action or state.

Cultural References

Flocking has appeared in various forms of media, including literature and film. In the novel ‘The Birds’ by Daphne du Maurier, a terrifying situation is described where seagulls start flocking to attack humans. In the 2016 film ‘The Girl on the Train’, the protagonist describes a scene where people are flocking to the scene of a crime.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

The phrase ‘bird of a feather’ can be related to the concept of flocking, suggesting that birds of the same species tend to flock together. Another phrase, ‘same flock’, is used to describe group of people or objects that are identical or similar in characteristics.

Related Words or Phrases

Other words related to flocking include herding, gazing, congregate, crowd, mob.

Collocations

Flocking is often used in the following collocations:

• the flocking season
• flocking to the scene
• a flocking bird

Frequency of Use

Flocking is a relatively common verb in modern English usage. It is used in both formal and informal writing and speech, with the verb form being more frequently used than the noun form.

Common Misspellings

Common misspellings of flocking include:

• flucking
• flackening
• flaking