Throng

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /θrÉ’Å‹/
• US IPA: /θrɔŋ/, /θrÉ‘Å‹/
• Rhymes: -É’Å‹

Origin

From Middle English, from Old English þrang, ġeþrang ("crowd, press, tumult"), from Proto-Germanic *þrangwą, *þrangwō ("throng"), *þrangwaz ("push, drive"), from Proto-Indo-European *trenk(w)- ("to beat, hew, press"). Cognate with Dutch drang ("urge, push, impulse"), German Drang ("urge, drive, impulse"), Danish trang ("urge"), Norwegian trong ("need"), Icelandic þröng ("narrow, tightly pressed, crowd, throng") and Swedish trång ("tight, narrow"). Probably related to Albanian drojë ("fear, fear of the crowd") and to drang ("huge rod, pole, oar"). More at thring.

Full definition of throng

Noun

1. A group of people crowded or gathered closely together; a multitude.
• DanielSo, with this bold opposer rushes on
  This many-headed monster, multitude.
• MiltonNot to know me argues yourselves unknown,
  The lowest of your throng.
• 1905, w, w:The Case of Miss Elliott Chapter 2, Miss Phyllis Morgan, as the hapless heroine dressed in the shabbiest of clothes, appears in the midst of a gay and giddy throng; she apostrophises all and sundry there, including the villain, and has a magnificent scene which always brings down the house, and nightly adds to her histrionic laurels.
2. A group of things; a host or swarm.

Verb

1. (transitive) To crowd into a place, especially to fill it.
2. (intransitive) To congregate.
• ShakespeareI have seen the dumb men throng to see him.
3. (transitive) To crowd or press, as persons; to oppress or annoy with a crowd of living beings.
• Bible, Mark v. 24Much people followed him, and thronged him.

Related terms

• thring

Adjective

1. (Scotland, Northern England, dialect) Filled with persons or objects; crowded.
• 1882, Gerard Manley Hopkins, :EARTH, sweet Earth, sweet landscape, with leavés throngAnd louchéd low grass, heaven that dost appealTo, with no tongue to plead, no heart to feel;That canst but only be, but dost that long—