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Mob

10 dictionary results for: Mob

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

mob

[mob] Pronunciation Key noun, adjective, verb, mobbed, mob·bing.

–noun

1.	a disorderly or riotous crowd of people.

2.	a crowd bent on or engaged in lawless violence.

3.	any group or collection of persons or things.

4.	the common people; the masses; populace or multitude.

5.	a criminal gang, esp. one involved in drug trafficking, extortion, etc.

6.	the Mob, Mafia (def. 1).

7.	Sociology. a group of persons stimulating one another to excitement and losing ordinary rational control over their activity.

8.	a flock, herd, or drove of animals: a mob of sheep.

–adjective

9.	of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a lawless, irrational, disorderly, or riotous crowd: mob rule; mob instincts.

10.	directed at or reflecting the lowest intellectual level of the common people: mob appeal; the mob mentality.

–verb (used with object)

11.	to crowd around noisily, as from curiosity or hostility: Spectators mobbed the courtroom.

12.	to attack in a riotous mob: The crowd mobbed the consulate.

13.	Fox Hunting. to chop (a fox).

[Origin: 1680–90; short for L mōbile vulgus the movable (i.e., changeable, inconstant) common people

]

—Related forms

mobber, mobbist, noun

mobbish, adjective

mob·bish·ly, adverb

mob·bish·ness, noun

mobbism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

mob (mŏb) Pronunciation Key
n.

A large disorderly crowd or throng. See Synonyms at crowd¹.
The mass of common people; the populace.
Informal
1. An organized gang of criminals; a crime syndicate.
2. often Mob Organized crime. Often used with the: a murder suspect with links to the Mob.
An indiscriminate or loosely associated group of persons or things: a mob of boats in the harbor.
Australian A flock or herd of animals.

tr.v. mobbed, mob·bing, mobs

To crowd around and jostle or annoy, especially in anger or excessive enthusiasm: Eager fans mobbed the popular singer.
To crowd into: Visitors mobbed the fairgrounds.
To attack in large numbers; overwhelm: The quarterback was mobbed by the defensive line.

[Short for mobile, from Latin mōbile (vulgus), fickle (crowd), neuter of mōbilis; see mobile.]

mob'bish adj., mob'bish·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
mob

1688, "disorderly part of the population, rabble," slang shortening of mobile, mobility "common people, populace, rabble" (1676), from L. mobile vulgus "fickle common people" (1600), from mobile, neut. of mobilis "fickle, movable, mobile," from movere "to move" (see move). In Australia and N.Z., used without disparagement for "a crowd." Meaning "gang of criminals working together" is from 1839, originally of thieves or pick-pockets; Amer.Eng. sense of "organized crime in general" is from 1927. The verb meaning "to attack in a mob" is attested from 1709. Mobster is first attested 1917. Mob scene "crowded place" first recorded 1922. Mobocracy "mob rule" is attested from 1754.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

mob
noun
1.	a disorderly crowd of people
2.	a loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities [syn: syndicate]
3.	an association of criminals; "police tried to break up the gang"; "a pack of thieves" [syn: gang]
verb
1.	press tightly together or cram; "The crowd packed the auditorium" [syn: throng]