troops

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

troop /trup/   n. [countable]

1. a group of persons or things;
   a band of people.
2. Military a cavalry unit corresponding to a company of infantry.
3. Military troops:
   • [plural] a body of soldiers, police, etc.:
     The troops never had a chance to leave their barracks.
4. a unit of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts usually having a maximum of 32 members under an adult leader.

v. [no object]

5. to pass together, esp. in great numbers;
   throng:
   People were trooping into the stadium.
6. to walk, as if in a march;
   go:
   The kids came trooping down to breakfast.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

troop (tro̅o̅p),  n. 

1. an assemblage of persons or things;
   company;
   band.
2. a great number or multitude:
   A whole troop of children swarmed through the museum.
3. British Terms, Military [Mil.] an armored cavalry or cavalry unit consisting of two or more platoons and a headquarters group.
4. troops, a body of soldiers, police, etc.:
   Mounted troops quelled the riot.
5. a unit of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts usually having a maximum of 32 members under the guidance of an adult leader.
6. a herd, flock, or swarm.
7. [Archaic.] a band or troupe of actors.

v.i. 

8. to gather in a company;
   flock together.
9. to come, go, or pass in great numbers;
   throng.
10. to walk, as if in a march;
    go:
    to troop down to breakfast.
11. to walk, march, or pass in rank or order:
    The students trooped into the auditorium.
12. to associate or consort (usually fol. by with).

v.t. 

13. Military [Brit. Mil.] to carry (the flag or colors) in a ceremonial way before troops.
14. [Obs.] to assemble or form into a troop or troops.

• Gmc; see thorp) + -el Latin -ellus diminutive suffix
• French troupe, Old French trope, probably back formation from tropel herd, flock (French troupeau), equivalent. to trop- (
• 1535–45

Synonyms

• 1. body, group, crowd. See company. 
• 2. crowd, herd, flock, swarm, throng.
• 7. Troop, troupe both mean a band, company, or group.
  Troop has various meanings as indicated in the definitions above. With the spelling troupe the word has the specialized meaning of a company of actors, singers, acrobats, or other performers.
• 8. collect.
• 9. swarm.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

troop / truːp/ noun

1. a large group or assembly; flock
2. a subdivision of a cavalry squadron or artillery battery of about platoon size
3. (plural) armed forces; soldiers
4. a large group of Scouts comprising several patrols
5. an archaic spelling of troupe

verb

1. (intransitive) to gather, move, or march in or as if in a crowd
2. (transitive) to parade (the colour or flag) ceremonially
3. (intransitive)
   an archaic word for consort1

Etymology: 16th Century: from French troupe, from troupeau flock, of Germanic origin