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gang1

Pronunciation: /gaŋ/

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Definition of gang

noun

1an organized group of criminals: a gang of bank robbers [as modifier]:gang warfare
a group of young people involved in petty crime or violence: three men were attacked by a gang of youths a street gang
informal a group of people, especially young people, who regularly associate together.
an organized group of people doing manual work:a government road gang

2a set of switches, sockets, or other electrical or mechanical devices grouped together: the machine had a gang of cutter chains on a swivelling head [as modifier, in combination]:a three-gang switch

verb

1 [no object] (gang together) (of a number of people) form a group or gang:three banks ganged together to form a ‘virtual bank’
(gang up) join together in order to intimidate or oppose someone:they ganged up on me and nicked my pocket money

2 [with object] arrange (electrical devices or machines) together to work in coordination: adjacent faders can be ganged for common manipulation

Origin:

Old English, from Old Norse gangr, ganga 'gait, course, going', of Germanic origin; related to gang². The original meaning was 'going, a journey', later in Middle English 'a way', also 'set of things or people which go together'

gang in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of gang in the US English dictionary

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