group

group¹ W1S1 [gru:p] n

[Date: 1600-1700; : French; Origin: groupe, from Italian gruppo]

1.) [also + plural verb British English]

several people or things that are all together in the same place

group of

▪ a group of children

▪ a small group of islands

▪ Get into groups of four.

▪ He was surrounded by a group of admirers.

in groups

▪ Dolphins travel in small groups.

▪ A group of us are going to London.

2.) several people or things that are connected with each other

▪ a left-wing terrorist group

group of

▪ She is one of a group of women who have suffered severe side-effects from the drug.

age/ethnic/income etc group

(=people of the same age, race etc)

▪ Minority groups are encouraged to apply.

3.) several companies that all have the same owner

→↑chain

▪ a giant textiles group

group of

▪ He owns a group of hotels in southern England.

4.) a number of musicians or singers who perform together, playing popular music

= ↑band

→↑blood group, ↑focus group, ↑interest group, ↑playgroup, ↑pressure group, ↑working group

group ²

group² v

1.) [I and T]

to come together and form a group, or to arrange things or people together in a group

group (sth) together/round/into etc

▪ The photo shows four men grouped round a jeep.

▪ Different flowers can be grouped together to make a colourful display.

▪ small producers who group together to sell their produce

2.) [T always + adverb/preposition]

to divide people or things into groups according to a system

▪ We were grouped into six age bands.

▪ We've grouped the questions under three headings.