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Definition of mob noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

mob

noun
 
/mɒb/
 
/mɑːb/
Idioms
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  1. [countable, singular + singular or plural verb] a large crowd of people, especially one that may become violent or cause trouble
    • an angry/unruly mob
    • The mob was/were preparing to storm the building.
    • an excited mob of fans
    • mob rule (= a situation in which a mob has control, rather than people in authority)
    see also lynch mob
    Extra Examples
    • the lawless days of mob rule and anarchy
    • An angry mob of demonstrators came charging around the corner.
    • He was greeted by a mob of well-wishers eager to shake his hand.
    • Let's get out of here before the mob gets out of control.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • angry
    • hostile
    • unruly
    verb + mob
    • form
    • join
    • lead
    mob + verb
    • attack somebody/​something
    • chase somebody
    • descend on somebody/​something
    mob + noun
    • mentality
    • justice
    • rule
    See full entry
  2. [countable, usually singular] (informal) a group of people who are similar in some way synonym gang
    • All the usual mob were there.
  3. the Mob
    [singular] (informal) the people involved in organized crime; the Mafia
  4. [countable] (Australian English, New Zealand English) a group of animals synonym flock, herd
    • a mob of cattle
    Topics Animalsc2
  5. Word Originlate 17th cent.: abbreviation of archaic mobile, short for Latin mobile vulgus ‘excitable crowd’.
Idioms
the heavy mob/brigade
  1. (British English, informal) a group of strong, often violent people employed to do something such as protect somebody
See mob in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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