Throng (?), n. [OE. þrong, þrang, AS. geþrang, fr. þringan to crowd, to press; akin to OS. thringan, D. & G. dringen, OHG. dringan, Icel. þryngva, þröngva, Goth. þriehan, D. & G. drang a throng, press, Icel. þröng a throng, Lith. trenkti to jolt, tranksmas a tumult. Cf. Thring.] 1. A multitude of persons or of living beings pressing or pressed into a close body or assemblage; a crowd.
2. A great multitude; as, the heavenly throng.
Syn. — Throng, Multitude, Crowd. Any great number of persons form a multitude; a throng is a large number of persons who are gathered or are moving together in a collective body; a crowd is composed of a large or small number of persons who press together so as to bring their bodies into immediate or inconvenient contact. A dispersed multitude; the throngs in the streets of a city; the crowd at a fair or a street fight. But these distinctions are not carefully observed.
So, with this bold opposer rushes on
This many-headed monster, multitude. Daniel.
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,
The lowest of your throng. Milton.
I come from empty noise, and tasteless pomp,
From crowds that hide a monarch from himself. Johnson.