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Goose vs Flock - What's the difference?

goose | flock |

As nouns the difference between goose and flock

is that goose is any of various grazing waterfowl of the family anatidae, bigger than a duck while flock is a large number of birds, especially those gathered together for the purpose of migration or flock can be coarse tufts of wool or cotton used in bedding.

As verbs the difference between goose and flock

is that goose is (slang) to sharply poke or pinch someone's buttocks derived from a goose's inclination to bite at a retreating intruder's hindquarters while flock is to congregate in or head towards a place in large numbers or flock can be to coat a surface with dense fibers or particles.

goose

English

Noun

(geese)
  • Any of various grazing waterfowl of the family Anatidae, bigger than a duck
  • There is a flock of geese on the pond.
  • The flesh of the goose used as food.
  • *
  • (slang) A silly person
  • * {{quote-book, 1906, Langdon Mitchell, chapter=The New York Idea, Best Plays of the Early American Theatre, 1787-1911, page=430 citation
  • , passage=I'm sorry for you, but you're such a goose .}}
  • (archaic) A tailor's iron, heated in live coals or embers, used to press fabrics.
  • * Scene 3:
  • Come in, tailor. Here you may roast your goose .
  • (South Africa, slang, dated) A young woman or girlfriend.
  • Usage notes

    * A male goose is called a gander. A young goose is a gosling. * A group of geese can be called a gaggle when they are on the ground or in the water, and a skein or a wedge when they are in flight.

    Synonyms

    * (sense, tailor's iron) goose iron

    Derived terms

    * game of the goose * goose egg * goose game * goose pimple * gooseneck * goose-step * Mother Goose * what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander * one's goose is cooked

    See also

    * duck * eider * gander * swan * waterfowl

    Verb

    (goos)
  • (slang) To sharply poke or pinch someone's buttocks. Derived from a goose's inclination to bite at a retreating intruder's hindquarters.
  • To stimulate, to spur.
  • (slang) To gently accelerate an automobile or machine, or give repeated small taps on the accelerator.
  • (UK slang) Of private-hire taxi drivers, to pick up a passenger who has not pre-booked a cab. This is unauthorised under UK licensing conditions.
  • English nouns with irregular plurals

    flock

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) . More at (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A large number of birds, especially those gathered together for the purpose of migration.
  • A large number of animals, especially sheep or goats kept together.
  • Those served by a particular pastor or shepherd.
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1995 , author=Green Key Books , title=God's Word to the Nations (John 10:16) citation , passage=I also have other sheep that are not from this pen. I must lead them. They, too, will respond to my voice. So they will be one flock with one shepherd. }}
  • * Tennyson
  • As half amazed, half frighted all his flock .
  • A large number of people.
  • * Bible, 2 Macc. xiv. 14
  • The heathen came to Nicanor by flocks .
    Synonyms
    * congregation, bunch, gaggle, horde, host, legion, litter, nest, rabble, swarm, throng, wake

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To congregate in or head towards a place in large numbers.
  • People flocked to the cinema to see the new film.
  • * Dryden
  • Friends daily flock .
  • (obsolete) To flock to; to crowd.
  • * 1609 , Taylor
  • Good fellows, trooping, flocked me so.
  • To treat a pool with chemicals to remove suspended particles.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Coarse tufts of wool or cotton used in bedding
  • A lock of wool or hair.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:I prythee, Tom, beat Cut's saddle, put a few flocks in the point [pommel].
  • Very fine sifted woollen refuse, especially that from shearing the nap of cloths, formerly used as a coating for wallpaper to give it a velvety or clothlike appearance; also, the dust of vegetable fibre used for a similar purpose.
  • *
  • *:There was a neat hat-and-umbrella stand, and the stranger's weary feet fell soft on a good, serviceable dark-red drugget, which matched in colour the flock -paper on the walls.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To coat a surface with dense fibers or particles.