A horde is a huge crowd or swarm, usually moving together in a somewhat wild or overwhelming way. Picture a horde of fans rushing toward the doors when concert tickets go on sale, or a horde of shoppers flooding into a store on Black Friday. The word suggests many people or creatures moving with chaotic energy, like an unstoppable wave.

You might read about a horde of ants marching across a picnic blanket, each one following the others in a massive, unstoppable stream. In history books, you'll encounter descriptions of Mongol hordes sweeping across Asia in the 1200s: vast armies of horsemen that seemed numberless and fierce.

The word carries a feeling of being overwhelmed by sheer numbers. A few mosquitoes at a barbecue is annoying, but a horde of mosquitoes would send everyone running indoors. When your little cousin's soccer team wins and comes charging toward the snack table, you know the cookies won't last long.

Horde is sometimes confused with hoard, which means a hidden collection of treasure or supplies. Remember: a horde moves and swarms, while a hoard stays hidden away.