shepherd

/ˈʃɛpərd/

/ˈʃɛpəd/

Other forms: shepherds; shepherded; shepherding

A shepherd is a person who herds flocks or groups of animals. If you traveled to Tibet, you might see a yak shepherd.

Shepherd comes from the Old English sceaphierde: sheepherder. Such a person protects sheep from animals that would attack them, keeps them from wandering, and otherwise takes care of the flock. The word is also a verb that describes care of a group — sheep, other animals, even people. You might shepherd your herd of goats, or shepherd your younger siblings through the transition from elementary to middle school.

Definitions of shepherd

1. noun

   a herder of sheep (on an open range); someone who keeps the sheep together in a flock
   synonyms: sheepherder, sheepman

   types:

   shepherdess

   a woman shepherd

   type of:

   drover, herder, herdsman

   someone who drives a herd
2. noun

   a clergyman who watches over a group of people
   type of:

   clergyman, man of the cloth, reverend

   a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of a Christian church
3. verb

   tend as a shepherd, as of sheep or goats
   type of:

   tend

   have care of or look after
4. verb

   watch over like a shepherd, as a teacher of her pupils
   type of:

   guard, ward

   watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect