bunch1 nounbunch2 verb
bunchbunch1 /bʌntʃ/ ●●● S2 noun 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- bunches of fresh grapes
- Has anyone seen a bunch of keys?
- He handed her a huge bunch of roses.
- I bought a kilo of apples and a bunch of grapes.
- Reporters are generally a cynical bunch.
- This wine is the best of the bunch.
- Another change for the better is that the secretary-general is now equipped with a bunch of good military advisers.
- I need to apply for a bunch of these jobs.
- Joe worshipped her and piled bunches of flowers on her lap.
- Our image as a bunch of bumpkins who roll over for anything that comes down the pike?
- Tammy Bruce was censured by the feminist elite for saying she did not want to deal with a bunch of black women.
- The parents who brought their girls to the Taliaferro bus stop in the morning were a cheery bunch.
- We have a bunch of cheese.
- Years ago, I roasted eight chickens and invited a bunch of people, including Julia Child, to taste them.
THESAURUSof people
several people together in the same place: · A group of boys stood by the school gate.· Arrange yourselves in groups of three.
a large group of people who have come to a place to do something: · There were crowds of shoppers in the streets.· The crowd all cheered.
a large, noisy, and perhaps violent crowd: · An angry mob of demonstrators approached.
a large group of people all close together in one place, so that they seem like a single thing: · The square in front of the station was a solid mass of people.
informal a group of people who are all similar in some way: · They’re a nice bunch of kids.
a group of young people, especially a group that often causes trouble and fights: · He was attacked by a gang of youths.
a noisy group of people who are behaving badly: · He was met by a rabble of noisy angry youths.
a very large group of people who all go somewhere: · In summer hordes of tourists flock to the island.· There were hordes of people coming out of the subway.
a group of people who all work together, especially on a ship or plane: · the ship’s crew· The flight crew will serve drinks shortly.
a group of people who are travelling or working together: · A party of tourists stood at the entrance to the temple.
of things a group of things held or tied together, especially flowers or keys: · He handed me a bunch of daffodils.
several papers, clothes, or sticks held or tied together in an untidy pile: · Bundles of papers and files filled the shelves.
a group of things of the same kind that are close together in a place: · a cluster of stars· Our road ended at a cluster of cottages.
Longman Language Activatorthe best people or things in a group · She was the best in her class at college.· I chose a Japanese camera because I wanted to have the best.the best in his/her field (=the person who knows most about a particular subject) · When it comes to cancer research, Professor Williams is probably the best in her field.
the best player in a team, the best student in a class etc: · Sonya's the class star.star of: · They're all strong players, but Laura's undoubtedly the star of the team.star player/performer/student/pupil etc: · Woodward continues to be the Post's star reporter.
the small number of people who are the very best in a particular group, because they are the most intelligent or the most highly skilled: · The cream of India's scientists are being attracted abroad by highly paid jobs.the cream of the crop (=the best people or things in a particular group): · Universities such as Harvard accept only the cream of the crop.
: elite troops/group/college etc a group of people who are the best, and most highly trained or educated: · The palace is guarded by elite troops loyal to the president.· In 1978 he joined the CRS, France's elite corps of riot police.
also the pick of the bunch British informal the one that you think is the best among a group of people or things, especially a small group: · This last poem's my favorite -- definitely the pick of the bunch.· They've come out with several good wines this year, but in my opinion the chardonnay is the best of the bunch.
a group of things that are tied together or fastened together several things of the same type, for example papers, clothes, or sticks, that are fastened or tied together: · She keeps all his old letters, tied up in bundles.bundle of: · a bundle of twigs· He put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out a large bundle of £50 notes.
: bunch of flowers/keys/grapes etc a group of flowers, keys etc fastened, tied, or held together: · He handed her a huge bunch of roses.· Has anyone seen a bunch of keys?· I bought a kilo of apples and a bunch of grapes.
a number of sheets of paper, especially paper money, that are held or tied together: wad of: · I saw him trying to press a wad of cash into the woman's hand. She wouldn't take it.· She opened her handbag, and pulled out a wad of banknotes.
: sheaf of papers/notes etc a lot of pieces of paper held or fastened together in a flat pile: · He had a sheaf of papers under his arm.· I saw her put a sheaf of notes into her briefcase.
a group of people who do things together · The tickets are expensive, but there is a discount for school groups.group of · A group of us went out for a drink to celebrate Sonia's birthday.in groups · Robberies were common on the lonely roads, so people usually travelled in groups.in groups of three/four etc · We were warned not to walk in the mountains except in groups of three or more.
a group of people that someone has organized in order to go somewhere or do something: · A party of Japanese businessmen will be visiting the factory next week.party of: · John was taking a party of tourists around the museum.a search/rescue party (=a group of people trying to find and help someone who is in danger): · The climbers did not return, and a search party was sent out to look for them.
especially spoken, informal a group of people who do things together or spend time together: · The people on my French course are a really friendly bunch.bunch/crowd of: · There was the usual crowd of students standing at the bar.· Willy's band is playing tonight, and I invited a bunch of people to come along
a group of young people who spend time together, especially a group that causes trouble, fights with other groups etc: · Inner-city kids often join gangs for protection, and for the chance to make money by selling drugs.gang of youths/kids: · There are always gangs of kids hanging around the shopping mall.gang member/leader: · It is not just gang members who get into trouble - it's middle-class and upper-class kids as well.rival gang (=a gang that fights with another gang): · Fighting broke out between two rival gangs.
a group of people representing a particular country, organization, belief etc: · Not surprisingly, there was a large student contingent at the demonstration.· There was a large American contingent, including the Olympic bronze medallist, Thomas Jefferson. contingent of: · A small contingent of English fans had made the trip to Sydney to support their team.
a large number of things or people · I was surprised so few people were at the concert - I thought there'd be a lot there.a lot of · A lot of tourists visit Venice in the summer.· John has lived in a lot of different places.a lot more/fewer/less · I'm sure she has a lot more problems than I have.quite a lot · There were quite a lot of words that I couldn't understand.a whole lot/an awful lot · An awful lot of his customers are unhappy with his work.
informal a lot of people or things: · "Have you gotten any responses to your ad?" "Yeah - lots."lots of: · I've invited lots of people.· She asked lots of questions during the interview.lots and lots of: · They've planted lots and lots of flowers in the back yard.lots more/fewer/less: · We get lots more people in the bar on Fridays.
use this especially in questions and negative sentences. Many is also used in positive sentences in written English and in formal spoken English.: many questions/people/cars/thoughts etc: · Did you get many Christmas cards this year?· I don't know many people here, do you?not many: · Not many people survived the crash.so many: · There were so many people at the party, I never even saw Will.too many: · They've got too many rules for me to remember them all.many of (=many among a large number of people or things): · Many of the paintings burned, but the most valuable ones were saved.for many years: · She worked as a reporter with CBS news for many years.in many ways/places/cases etc: · There will be rain in many parts of the country tonight.many more/fewer/less: · We've had many fewer complaints since Doug took over the department.the many: · The report hardly mentions the many patients who have benefited from the treatment.a good many: · A good many scientists were opposed to the use of the bomb.many a person/place/thing: · I've spent many a happy morning fishing from this spot.
a lot of a particular type of person or thing - used especially in newspapers and official reports: · Police seized a large number of weapons.· Large numbers of demonstrators were arrested during today's protest march.
also loads especially British, /masses British informal a lot of people or things: · "How many strawberries did you pick?" "Masses!"tons of: · You can borrow one of my books if you want - I have tons of them.· The beach was really crowded - there were loads of people from all over Europe.loads and loads/tons and tons etc: · There were loads and loads of empty seats at the game - I was kind of surprised.
American informal a lot of people or things: · "Do you have any markers I could borrow?" "I've got a bunch - what colors do you need?"a bunch of: · Rita finally showed up with a bunch of her friends.· I went to a bunch of different stores but I couldn't find a coat I liked.a whole bunch: · A whole bunch of us are going to the beach - you want to come along?
a large number of people, things etc but not usually more than a hundred: · At least five people died and dozens more were injured in a gas explosion just outside Paris.dozens of: · Since we put the advertisement in the paper we've had dozens of phone calls.· Baldwin was the author of six novels, four plays and dozens of essays and poems.dozens and dozens: · The women see dozens and dozens of movies a year.
formal many: · The same problem has occurred before on numerous occasions.· Numerous books and movies have dealt with the issue of wife abuse.too numerous to list/mention/name etc (=so many that you cannot say all of them): · I want to thank all the people, too numerous to mention, who've helped me win this election.
a large number of things or people, especially when this is impressive or surprising: · AIDS can indirectly result in a host of other illnesses.· Since he was elected, the president has been faced with a host of difficult problems.a whole host of: · Their newest compact model has a whole host of exciting new features.
a fairly large number of people, things etc: · He's been working at the company for quite a few years.· There have been quite a few accidents on this stretch of road.· "How many people are coming to the party?" "Oh, quite a few."quite a few of: · She knows quite a few of the people who work at the hospital.
especially American a large number of ideas, opinions, suggestions etc: · The President has a raft of new proposals for dealing with inner city decay.a whole raft of: · By the end of the meeting we had a whole raft of new ideas for expansion.
: multi-coloured/multi-national/multi-storey/multi-racial/multi-purpose/multi-million dollar etc having or involving many colours, countries etc: · My new office is in a multi-storey building.· The company is a multi-national corporation, which has branches all over the world.· Russia has moved from a one-party dictatorship to a multi-party system of government.
: multiple injuries/wounds/burns/fractures in many parts of the body: · She suffered multiple injuries after jumping out of a fifth floor window.· Lauda was pulled from his blazing car with multiple burns.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYphrases
a bunch of grapes There were fifteen candidates for the job, and he was the pick of the bunch (=the best one).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· I picked a bunch of flowers from the garden.
· A bunch of keys dangled from his belt.
· She served the cheese with a bunch of black grapes.
· Bunches of bananas hung in the trees.
· You might like to add a bunch of fresh herbs to the stock.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· He gave me a lovely bunch of flowers.
a bunch of grapes (=a group of keys kept together)· He took out a huge bunch of keys and unlocked the door.
There were fifteen candidates for the job, and he was the pick of the bunch (=the best one).· This means that a few get top marks, a big bunch get middling marks, and a few come near the bottom.· She smiled radiantly, and placed a big bunch of flowers next to him.· On a fruit stall she spied some big bunches of asparagus.
· But me third was the best of the bunch.· Woolwich is the best of the bunch, trading at a multiple to future earnings of 10.3.· He may be the best of the bunch.· It's also the best of the bunch for multi-processing, he says.· Nevertheless as an introduction it is the best of the bunch.· Either they are one of the best of the bunch at home, or they make their name abroad.· Even these modest broadcasts show only the best of the bunch.
· He ran, and I was left there on the step with this huge bunch of flowers.· Then a young man in a blue shirt rushed up to his arriving girlfriend with a huge bunch of hyacinths and daffodils.
· Her hand came down on top of a large bunch of them and she felt a sudden stinging pain.· We also like to use large bunches of basil and other fresh herbs, which impart a unique flavor of their own.· The specials look like prisons - high walls, barbed wire, electronic doors and large bunches of keys.· His final purchase was a large bunch of flowers.
· Shopping around Hang stems in small bunches in dark airy dry conditions.· The only embellishment was a small bunch of fresh flowers placed in a vase at her feet.· She carried a small bunch of flowers.· A small bunch of fruit falls towards the cloth.
· Behind him on the wall there's this whole bunch of oils.· There was a whole bunch of yelling on the radios.· He gave me a whole bunch of flowers for nothing.· Hank Greenwald said farewell to the Giants Sunday, and a whole bunch of people had that look.· Since the word got out on Prehistoric I've seen a whole bunch of scripts.· But he was so strong he might have taken the whole bunch of us.· The whole bunch were looking more and more like liabilities.· They know that a whole bunch of famous models would rather go naked than wear fur.
VERB· Never mind, he'd buy her a nice bunch of flowers from that stall outside the infirmary on his way home.· Coriander looks like flat leaf parsley, but when bought in bunches usually has some of the root attached.
· I sold shares and got a bunch of different people to invest in it.
· Apart from fastening the cuttings together, the lead strip acts as a weight to hold the bunch down.
· And skinny. just a bunch of bones.
· How can you look at a bunch of stars, so far away, and so incomprehensible, without using your imagination?· I pick flowers so that they look pretty in a bunch and just jam them into a vase.· They know it makes the state look like a bunch of Neanderthals, with such a barbaric method.
· She picked a bunch of flowers for Alan once.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► bunches
1- But me third was the best of the bunch.
- Either they are one of the best of the bunch at home, or they make their name abroad.
- Even these modest broadcasts show only the best of the bunch.
- He may be the best of the bunch.
- It's also the best of the bunch for multi-processing, he says.
- Nevertheless as an introduction it is the best of the bunch.
- Woolwich is the best of the bunch, trading at a multiple to future earnings of 10.3.
group of things [countable] a group of things that are fastened, held, or growing togetherbunch of I’ll send her a bunch of flowers. He had a bunch of keys on his belt. a bunch of grapes► see thesaurus at group2group of people [singular] informal a group of people: The ancient Egyptians were a clever bunch.bunch of a friendly bunch of people3the best/pick of the bunch the best among a group of people or things4large amount [singular] American English informal a large number of people or things, or a large amount of somethingbunch of There’s a whole bunch of places I want to visit.5bunches [plural] British English if a girl wears her hair in bunches, she ties it together at each side of her head → thanks a bunch at thanks1COLLOCATIONSphrasesa bunch of flowers/roses/daffodils etc· I picked a bunch of flowers from the garden.a bunch of keys· A bunch of keys dangled from his belt.a bunch of grapes· She served the cheese with a bunch of black grapes.a bunch of bananas· Bunches of bananas hung in the trees.a bunch of herbs/parsley/thyme etc· You might like to add a bunch of fresh herbs to the stock.bunch1 nounbunch2 verb
bunchbunch2 (also bunch together, bunch up) verb VERB TABLE
bunch
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | bunch |
| he, she, it | bunches | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | bunched |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have bunched |
| he, she, it | has bunched | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had bunched |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will bunch |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have bunched |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am bunching |
| he, she, it | is bunching | |
| you, we, they | are bunching | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was bunching |
| you, we, they | were bunching | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been bunching |
| he, she, it | has been bunching | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been bunching |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be bunching |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been bunching |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The animals were bunched up along the river.
- The shorts were bunched at the waist.
- The soldiers bunched the prisoners together.
- But bunched and shared, they prove valuable to all.
- He bunched it and pulled at it, finally he pleated it between his knuckles, before letting it fall back.
- Her white sweatshirt is bunched up and tucked in at the small of her back, so her rear is exposed.
- She bunched up the guilty hand that had slapped Becky and put it under her pillow.
- Some rivers contained masses of broken bridges, black knots of steel bunched grotesquely at the level of the water.
- The nuclear membrane has broken down and the condensed chromosomes lie bunched together in the cytoplasm.
- You, with your midair dread, blindly bunched into that swinging house you call a home.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a bunch of grapes There were fifteen candidates for the job, and he was the pick of the bunch (=the best one).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
1[intransitive, transitive] to stay close together in a group, or to make people do this: · He gave me a lovely bunch of flowers.
a bunch of grapes (=a group of keys kept together)· He took out a huge bunch of keys and unlocked the door.
There were fifteen candidates for the job, and he was the pick of the bunch (=the best one).· The nuclear membrane has broken down and the condensed chromosomes lie bunched together in the cytoplasm.· Men, women and babies are detached in small groups or bunched together in fantastic clusters, gesticulating madly.· Several stems should be bunched together and planted for effect.· The extra place at the table caused the women to bunch together, bumping elbows.· The lenses pulled the streets across the river toward him, cut-out terraces bunched together closely as layers of wallpaper.· Frequently, however, these battles came bunched together.· The isolation or bunching together of such pupils only provides them with poor role models and intensive interaction with other disturbed children.· While lower on the slope a group of sheep, seeming to sense his presence, bunched together and moved off.
· She bunched up the guilty hand that had slapped Becky and put it under her pillow.· Her support stockings bunched up around her knees.· Her white sweatshirt is bunched up and tucked in at the small of her back, so her rear is exposed.· It bunched up, then slid underwater in the opposite direction.· The sheep were tearing across the field all bunched up together.· Forester was staring at the cottages and the cars, his fists bunched up hard, trembling with rage.· I pushed the door to slowly, silently, crept back down the steps, into the corner and bunched up small.· Bears, we joke, will get any stragglers, so we bunch up more tightly into swaying, giggling file.
The children bunched together in small groups. John stopped, forcing the rest of the group to bunch up behind him.2[intransitive, transitive] to make part of your body tight, or to become tight like this: Sean bunched his fists.3[intransitive, transitive] to pull material together tightly in folds: She bunched the cloth up and threw it away.4[transitive] to hold or tie things together in a bunch