gang

CEFRB1

/ˈɡeɪ̯ŋ/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A group of people who work or spend time together.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A group of laborers under one foreman; a squad or workgang.

Examples

  • A gang of three robbed the bank in broad daylight.

  • The gangsters let him in on their plan to knock off a rival gang leader.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings
  1. A number going in company; a number of friends or persons associated for a particular purpose.

  2. A criminal group with a common cultural background and identifying features, often associated with a particular section of a city.

verb

Extra meaning
  1. To go; walk; proceed.

More examples

In context
  • You must steer clear of that gang.

  • a gang of sailors; a railroad gang; a labor gang or pool.

  • The gang from our office is going out for drinks Friday night.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank of thieves broke into the bank last night.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English gangen, from Old English gangan (“to go, walk, turn out”), from Proto-West Germanic *gangan, from Proto-Germanic *ganganą (“to go, walk”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰengʰ- (“to step, walk”). Cognate with Scots gang (“to go on foot, walk”), Swedish gånga (“to walk, go”), Faroese ganga (“to walk”), Icelandic ganga (“to walk, go”), Norwegian Nynorsk ganga (“to walk, go”), Vedic Sanskrit जंहस् (jáṃhas). Ultimately related to etymology 2, which see below.