Collective Nouns

of songbirds

"A flight of songbirds passed over the river in a shimmering line."

of birds

"A flock in flight crossed the valley in silence."

of birds

"A passel of birds gathered on the roof after the storm."

of birds

"A wedge of birds passed over the hill at dawn."

of starlings

"A murmuration of birds moved across the evening sky."

of birds

"A parcel of birds settled in the trees beside the road."

of birds

"A volery of birds filled the aviary with sound."

of duck

"A paddling of duck moved slowly through the canal."

of chicks

"A brood of chicks huddled under the heat lamp."

of birds

"A brood of birds waited in the nest for food."

of birds

"A confab of birds clustered on the wire before takeoff."

of birds

"A squadron of birds wheeled above the harbor."

of birds

"A float of birds skimmed over the water."

of ravens

"An unkindness of ravens gathered on the field."

of birds

"A clutch of birds hatched in the warm nest box."

of birds

"A chirp of birds greeted the first light of day."

of gulls

"A bazaar of gulls surrounded the fishing dock."

of birds

"A scattering of birds lifted from the grass as we approached."

of birds

"A skein of birds drifted south before the storm."

of birds

"A bevy of birds fluttered around the fountain."

of birds

"A drift of birds moved slowly across the marsh."

of goldfinches

"A charm of goldfinches brightened the bare winter branches."

of birds

"A dissimulation of birds hid in the reeds."

of swallows

"A building of swallows gathered under the eaves."

of birds

"A quorum of birds was enough to make the small tree sway."

of birds

"A flight of birds swept past the cliff face."

of woodpeckers

"A descent of woodpeckers tapped at the dead tree."

of birds

"A flocking of birds settled on the wires."

of wildfowl

"A lamentation of wildfowl drifted over the marsh at dusk."

of birds

"A husk of birds lifted from the trees at dusk."

of birds

"A plume of birds lifted from the trees when the dog barked."

of birds

"A kettle of birds circled high above the ridge."

of birds

"A muster of birds gathered near the pond."

of birds

"A rookery of birds made the island noisy all day."

of birds

"A sedge of birds rose from the wet grass."

of birds

"A shoal of birds skimmed low over the water."

of birds

"A skein of birds stretched across the pale sky."

of birds

"A spring of birds landed in the orchard."

of birds

"A stand of birds perched on the fence line."

of birds

"A tidbit of birds was seen pecking at the crumbs."

of birds

"A trip of birds lifted off from the beach."

of birds

"A wedge of birds cut through the clouds."

of birds

"A wing of birds crossed the meadow at dawn."

of birds

"A yoke of birds hovered above the cornfield."

of owls

"A parliament of birds sat quietly in the old oak."

of birds

"A company of birds descended into the garden."

of birds

"A shoal of birds flashed white in the afternoon sun."

of cheese

"The shop displayed a wheel of cheese behind the counter."

of fruit

"She carried a basket of fruit to the picnic."

of soup

"I found a can of beans in the pantry."

of tea

"She drank a cup of tea after lunch."

of soup

"He ate a bowl of soup before the meeting."

of tea

"He took a sip of tea and smiled."

of water

"After the run, she drank a gulp of water."

of sandwiches

"The waiter brought a tray of pastries to the table."

of eggs

"She bought a dozen eggs for breakfast."

of beer

"They ordered a dozen bottles of beer for the party."

of cookies

"They shared a plate of cheese slices after dinner."

of coffee

"He carried a flask of coffee on the hike."

of meat

"The caterer set out a platter of desserts for the guests."

of ice cream

"They bought a tub of ice cream for dessert."

of ice creams

"The shop offered a flavor of ice cream for everyone."

of coffee

"He started the morning with a mug of coffee."

of bread

"They bought a loaf of bread on the way home."

of stew

"A dish of stew warmed the whole kitchen."

of meats

"The table held a roast of meats for Sunday dinner."

of flowers for garnish

"The chef added a bunch of herbs to the soup."

of coffee

"He bought a pound of coffee beans."

of snacks

"He kept a stash of snacks in his desk drawer."

of milk

"Please buy a carton of milk on your way back."

of snacks

"She ordered a sampler of appetizers."

of courses

"It was a meal of simple, home-cooked dishes."

of groceries

"We made a supply of groceries last through the week."

of wine

"They opened a bottle of wine with dinner."

of courses

"The restaurant offered a menu of courses for the banquet."

of beer bottles

"The store delivered a case of soda cans to the event."

of wines

"They attended a tasting of wines at the vineyard."

of bottles

"A crate of oranges was sitting by the door."

of beer

"The brewery still keeps a cask of cider in the cellar."

of beer

"A keg of beer was tapped at the party."

of wine

"The cellar held a barrel of wine."

of biscuits

"She found a tin of biscuits in the cupboard."

of jam

"He opened a jar of pickles for the burgers."

of chips

"I bought a packet of chips for the trip."

of tea bags

"She packed a pouch of snacks for the hike."

of candy

"They brought a box of donuts to the office."

of flour

"A sack of flour was tucked beside the pantry door."

of coffee beans

"He carried a bag of coffee beans home from the roaster."

of water

"There was a jug of lemonade on the porch."

of iced tea

"She poured a pitcher of iced tea for everyone."

of soup

"The server brought a tureen of soup to the table."

of coffee

"A pot of coffee was ready when we arrived."

of nuts

"The trail mix contained a good mix of nuts and seeds."

of cheeses

"The shop offered a selection of cheeses from local farms."

of fries

"One serving of rice came with the curry."

of mashed potatoes

"She took a helping of salad from the bowl."

of dishes

"We enjoyed a feast of local dishes after the ceremony."

of insects

"A clouding of insects followed the cattle field."

of insects

"A cloud of insects drifted over the meadow."

of insects

"A horde of insects invaded the kitchen after the rain."

of insects

"A nestful of insects was discovered beneath the stones."

of insects

"A hive of insects buzzed near the flowers."

of insects

"A hoard of insects was found in the attic beams."

of insects

"A plague cloud of insects rolled over the fields."

of flies

"A swarm of flies settled on the picnic table."

of insects

"A host of insects gathered around the lamp."

of gnats

"A cloud of gnats followed us down the trail."

of insects

"A sluice of insects poured from the hedge."

of insects

"A cloudlet of insects hovered above the stream."

of insects

"A mass of insects covered the windowsill."

of insects

"A smother of insects made the screen door useless."

of ants

"A colony of ants built a trail across the patio."

of insects

"A plague of insects damaged the crops."

of insects

"A spill of insects came out from under the stones."

of bees

"A nest of bees was found in the hollow tree."

of bees

"A hive of bees hummed softly in the orchard."

of insects

"A stampede of insects rushed toward the light."

of insects

"A shower of insects fell into the porch light."

of insects

"A haze of insects shimmered in the evening sun."

of bees

"A swarm of bees landed on the fence post."

of insects

"A stream of insects flowed through the open window."

of insects

"A tide of insects rose over the lawn."

of beetles

"A skitter of beetles flashed under the porch light."

of insects

"A cloudbank of insects rose from the marsh."

of insects

"A veil of insects settled over the reeds."

of insects

"An army of insects invaded the pantry."

of butterflies

"A flutter of butterflies crossed the field."

of insects

"A veillet of insects flickered above the water."

of fleas

"A leap of fleas made the dog restless all night."

of insects

"An invasion of insects forced us indoors."

of insects

"A swarmlet of insects gathered by the door."

of insects

"A whirl of insects spun around the lantern."

of mosquitoes

"A cloud of mosquitoes rose from the swamp."

of locusts

"A plague of locusts swept through the valley."

of insects

"A rabble of insects milled around the trash bin."

of moths

"A drift of moths gathered around the porch lamp."

of insects

"A broodlet of insects emerged from the leaf litter."

of wasps

"A swarm of wasps built a nest under the roof."

of insects

"A bed of insects hid beneath the bark."

of insects

"A legion of insects invaded the kitchen."

of insects

"A throng of insects filled the greenhouse."

of insects

"A press of insects gathered on the warm stone."

of insects

"A flutter of insects moved through the grasses."

of insects

"A clusterlet of insects rested on the stem."

of insects

"A swarm of insects swirled around the picnic table."

of insects

"A mass of insects covered the campsite lights."

of insects

"A host of insects appeared after the storm."

of insects

"A plague of insects forced the farmers indoors."

of insects

"A cloud of bugs rose from the grass as we walked past."

of insects

"A swarm of bugs surrounded the porch light."

of insects

"A colony of bugs lived in the rotting stump."

of insects

"A host of bugs appeared on the kitchen screen."

of insects

"A mass of bugs gathered near the warm pipes."

of pigs

"A sounder of pigs rooted in the mud."

of lions

"A pride of lions rested in the shade."

of crows

"A murder of crows circled over the field."

of wolves

"A pack of wolves moved through the forest at dusk."

of beavers

"A lodge of beavers worked along the stream."

of hippos

"A bloat of hippos lounged in the river."

of deer

"A herd of deer crossed the meadow."

of foxes

"A skulk of foxes moved quietly through the grass."

of zebras

"A dazzle of zebras moved in a tight group."

of crows

"A clutter of crows gathered in the cornfield."

of cheetahs

"A coalition of cheetahs guarded the waterhole."

of goose

"A gaggle of geese honked near the pond."

of mice

"A mischief of mice rustled in the pantry."

of sheep

"A flock of sheep grazed on the hillside."

of snakes

"A den of snakes warmed itself in the sun."

of monkeys

"A troop of monkeys leaped between the trees."

of trout lilies

"A hover of trout lilies brightened the woodland floor."

of squirrels

"A scurry of squirrels dashed up the oak tree."

of dolphins

"A pod of dolphins followed the boat."

of beavers

"A richness of beavers dammed the stream."

of fish

"A school of fish shimmered in the clear water."

of bees

"A swarm of bees gathered around the hive."

of ants

"A colony of ants built a tunnel under the rock."

of puppies

"A litter of puppies slept in a pile."

of oxen

"A team of oxen pulled the cart uphill."

of rhinoceroses

"A crash of rhinoceroses charged across the plain."

of giraffes

"A tower of giraffes browsed the treetops."

of elephants

"A parade of elephants walked slowly to the river."

of apes

"A shrewdness of apes watched us from the cliff."

of lemurs

"A surfeit of lemurs gathered in the branches."

of ferrets

"A business of ferrets darted under the fence."

of badgers

"A cete of badgers emerged at twilight."

of turtles

"A bale of turtles basked on the warm sand."

of bears

"A bask of bears fed near the stream."

of cattle

"A drove of cattle moved along the dusty road."

of cats

"A clowder of cats slept on the porch."

of kittens

"A kindle of kittens tumbled over one another."

of quail

"A covey of quail burst from the grass."

of gorillas

"A band of gorillas foraged in the jungle."

of salamanders

"A congress of salamanders hid beneath the logs."

of woodcock

"A fall of woodcock rose suddenly from the marsh."

of toads

"A knot of toads sat beneath the damp leaves."

of leopards

"A leap of leopards lounged on the rocks."

of kangaroos

"A mob of kangaroos bounded across the field."

of rabbits

"A nest of rabbits lived under the hedge."

of ponies

"A string of ponies waited by the fence."

of goats

"A tribe of goats climbed the steep path."

of pheasants

"A brace of pheasants darted into the brush."

of hawks

"A cast of hawks circled above the field."

of performers

"The jazz ensemble played late into the evening."

of pieces

"A program of pieces highlighted both old favorites and new works."

of artists

"The artists who attended formed a gallery of stars at the gala."

of paintings

"A wall of paintings greeted us at the entrance."

of performers

"The lineup of performers included painters, poets, and musicians."

of singers

"A chorus of voices rose from the theater stage."

of artists

"A fellowship of artists worked together on the mural project."

of artworks

"He brought a portfolio of drawings to the interview."

of performers

"The theater kept a stable of performers ready for the season."

of artworks

"The exhibition drew visitors from across the city."

of artists

"A workshop of artists spent the weekend experimenting with color."

of artists

"The artists followed a school of thought rooted in simplicity."

of paintings

"The museum unveiled a suite of paintings in the new wing."

of songs

"The singer added a new ballad to her repertoire."

of stars

"A constellation of stars shimmered above the open-air concert."

of singers

"The singers created a concert of voices that carried through the church."

of songs

"The pianist ended the show with a lively medley."

of albums

"A shelf of albums lined the studio wall."

of movements

"The symphony unfolded in four dramatic movements."

of musicians

"A quartet of strings opened the recital."

of musicians

"The brass quintet performed at the museum gala."

of performers

"Their duet brought the audience to its feet."

of musicians

"The string section gave the score a warm, rich sound."

of musicians

"The brass section blazed through the final fanfare."

of musicians

"The percussion section drove the rhythm forward."

of musicians

"The rhythm section kept the song moving steadily."

of drums

"The drummer laid down a tight backbeat all night."

of dancers

"The chorus line moved in perfect unison."

of artworks

"Her body of work spans paintings, murals, and installations."

of artists

"The movement changed the way people thought about sculpture."

of songs

"Hip-hop became the genre that shaped his early career."

of songs

"She made a playlist for the opening night party."

of musical notes

"The flute finished with a bright string of notes."

of notes

"A cascade of notes spilled from the piano."

of applause

"A chorus of applause filled the hall after the performance."

of colors

"The mural added a burst of color to the blank wall."

of brushes

"The studio table held a collection of brushes and paints."

of paints

"She packed a set of paints for the weekend workshop."

of melodies

"The album contains a body of melodies that stay with you."

of apples

"They brought back a boxful of apples from the orchard."

of sticks

"She tied the old newspapers into a bundle for recycling."

of paper

"They used a roll of paper for the poster."

of coins

"She spilled a handful of coins onto the desk."

of books

"A stack of books sat on the corner of the desk."

of clothes

"He threw his coat onto a pile of clothes by the door."

of paper

"He faced a mountain of paperwork on Monday morning."

of tools

"I bought a new set of tools for the workshop."

of hay

"The truck delivered a wagonload of logs to the mill."

of gravel

"We bought a truckload of gravel for the driveway."

of cookies

"She baked a fresh batch of cookies for the meeting."

of grapes

"A cluster of lights glowed above the stage."

of passengers

"They arrived with a carload of luggage after the trip."

of keys

"He left a bunch of keys on the kitchen table."

of cargo

"The harbor received a shipload of grain this morning."

of clothes

"There was a heap of sand beside the driveway."

of apples

"We collected a crateful of apples from the farm."

of papers

"The lawyer carried a sheaf of papers into the room."

of coins

"She kept a jarful of cookies on the counter."

of chairs

"A row of chairs lined the back wall."

of water

"He filled the car with a tankful of gas."

of coffee

"A carafe of coffee was waiting on the sideboard."

of people

"A line of cars moved slowly through the tunnel."

of flowers

"A bouquet of flowers stood by the window."

of links

"The storm triggered a chain of events that surprised everyone."

of stamps

"His collection of stamps filled two albums."

of cards

"He shuffled a deck of cards before the game."

of papers

"A stack of papers slipped off the desk."

of objects

"A group of tools hung neatly on the pegboard."

of buttons

"A row of bottles stood neatly on the shelf."

of shoes

"She bought a pair of shoes for the wedding."

of furniture

"The hotel offered a suite of connected rooms."

of shoes

"She bought a pair of gloves for winter."

of rubble

"A heap of leaves blew across the path."

of books

"The teacher scheduled a series of short tests."

of products

"The store carries a wide range of products."

of items

"They bought a lot of items at the yard sale."

of laundry

"He carried a load of bricks across the yard."

of carriages

"A train of thoughts interrupted her speech."

of ships

"A fleet of trucks arrived before dawn."

of vehicles

"The convoy of vehicles moved slowly through the pass."

of cars

"There was a pileup of papers on the kitchen counter."

of items

"She opened a box containing an assortment of gadgets."

of lights

"The store displayed an array of bright lights in the window."

of images

"The website has a gallery of photos from the event."

of products

"The festival announced a strong line-up of performers."

of supplies

"They discovered a cache of old documents in the wall."

of treasures

"The archive contains a trove of rare records."

of stones

"He found a pile of stones near the riverbank."

of sticks

"The package arrived with a bundle of wires inside."

of dust

"A cloud of dust rose behind the truck."

of sparks

"A shower of sparks flew from the firework."

of flowers

"The night sky looked like a field of stars."

of books

"The room held a wall of books from floor to ceiling."

of lights

"From the stage, she saw a sea of faces in the audience."

of workers

"A gang of builders repaired the road all week."

of people

"A crowd gathered outside the theater to watch the premiere."

of soldiers

"The squad moved carefully through the training course."

of soldiers

"A battalion was stationed near the border."

of employees

"The staff met in the break room before the store opened."

of workers

"The union announced a new round of negotiations."

of people

"The gathering turned into a lively discussion."

of spectators

"The audience listened in complete silence."

of workers

"The crew worked through the night to repair the bridge."

of ministers

"The cabinet held an emergency meeting."

of readers

"The magazine has a loyal readership across the country."

of actors

"A troupe of actors arrived in town for the festival."

of singers

"The choir sang beautifully during the ceremony."

of clients

"The clinic has built a large clientele over the years."

of officials

"The ministry announced new guidelines for schools."

of musicians

"An orchestra filled the hall with music."

of attendants

"The ambassador arrived with a small retinue."

of priests

"The ministry of priests welcomed the visitors."

of clergy

"The clergy gathered for the memorial service."

of officials

"The bureau issued a statement after the inquiry."

of students

"The class listened carefully to the guest speaker."

of teachers

"The faculty voted on the new curriculum."

of doctors

"A cast of doctors discussed the rare case."

of companies

"A consortium funded the hospital expansion."

of rulers

"The dynasty ruled the region for centuries."

of experts

"A panel of experts reviewed the new policy."

of directors

"The board approved the proposal after a long discussion."

of contacts

"Her network of professionals helped her find the right specialist."

of friends

"His circle of advisers met privately after the speech."

of members

"The committee met to plan the annual fundraiser."

of doctors

"The staff of doctors handled the emergency with calm precision."

of advisers

"The council met to discuss the town's future."

of jurors

"The jury returned a unanimous verdict."

of technicians

"A crew of technicians arrived to fix the equipment."

of worshippers

"The congregation stood for the final hymn."

of journalists

"A group of journalists waited outside the courthouse."

of workers

"A crowd of workers gathered near the factory gate."

of doctors

"A congregation of doctors gathered for the medical conference."

of soldiers

"A corps of soldiers was sent to the border."

of soldiers

"A regiment marched through the square at dawn."

of soldiers

"A platoon of soldiers moved carefully through the field."

of firefighters

"A brigade of firefighters rushed to the scene."

of guards

"The watch kept careful guard over the entrance."

of deputies

"A posse of deputies searched the area after dark."

of representatives

"A delegation of representatives met with the minister."

of scholars

"A symposium of scholars shared new research findings."

of judges

"The bench issued its ruling after deliberation."

of doctors

"A clinic of doctors volunteered at the community center."

of artisans

"A guild of artisans preserved the old craft techniques."

of dancers

"A troupe of dancers performed in the park."

of shepherds

"A herd of shepherds crossed the valley at sunrise."

of reporters

"A cluster of reporters waited outside the courthouse."

of cooks

"A line of cooks prepared meals for the shelter."

of nurses

"A flock of nurses hurried from ward to ward."

of clerks

"A pack of clerks sorted the files before closing."

of designers

"A nest of designers worked late on the new campaign."

of engineers

"A swarm of engineers gathered around the damaged machine."

of paramedics

"A battalion of paramedics was ready to respond."

of merchants

"A caravan of merchants traveled along the old trade route."

of lichen

"A covering of lichen softened the rough bark."

of trees

"We walked through a grove of old oak trees."

of trees

"They built the cabin beside a wood of birch trees."

of mushrooms

"A ring of mushrooms appeared after the rain."

of trees

"A forest of pines covered the hillside."

of fruit trees

"An orchard of apple trees stretched behind the farmhouse."

of vines

"A curtain of vines hid the garden gate."

of trees

"There was a copse of birches beside the stream."

of flowers

"A garland of leaves and flowers decorated the hall."

of vines

"A tress of creepers hung from the ruined arch."

of shrubs

"A thicket of shrubs blocked the narrow path."

of grass

"A matting of grass covered the wet ground."

of bushes

"A hedge of bushes lined the garden wall."

of trees

"A fringe of trees lined the edge of the meadow."

of flowers

"A flush of flowers appeared after the first warm rain."

of trees

"The plantation of tea bushes stretched across the hill."

of leaves

"A crown of leaves sat on the child's head."

of plants

"A border of lavender ran along the walkway."

of plants

"A thrum of plants filled the greenhouse with life."

of wildflowers

"A patch of wildflowers grew beside the fence."

of ferns

"A clump of ferns filled the damp corner."

of clover

"A clover patch covered the field after the rain."

of plants

"A crop of wheat ripened in the summer sun."

of flowers

"A field of sunflowers stretched to the horizon."

of plants

"A garden of herbs grew near the kitchen door."

of trees

"A canopy of branches cooled the path below."

of blossoms

"A spray of blossoms perfumed the air."

of moss

"A carpet of moss softened the stones."

of grass

"A mat of grass spread across the bank."

of flowers

"A sprinkling of violets appeared along the path."

of flowers

"A wreath of flowers hung on the door."

of shrubs

"A hedge row of shrubs divided the two fields."

of trees

"A belt of trees sheltered the farm from the wind."

of shrubs

"A screen of shrubs hid the old shed."

of plants

"A flourish of greenery filled the courtyard."

of grass

"A swath of grass ran beside the canal."

of vines

"A trail of vines wound up the wall."

of plants

"A jungle of houseplants filled the sunroom."

of harbor seals

"A harem of harbor seals rested on the quiet beach."

of otters

"A raft of otters drifted together in the kelp beds."

of crabs

"The fisherman brought in a haul of crabs at dawn."

of clamorous fish

"A bedlam of fish flashed and turned in the current."

of anchovies

"A purse of anchovies shimmered in the green water."

of otters

"A romp of otters rolled and played in the surf."

of rays

"A haunt of rays rested on the sandy seabed."

of corals

"A reef of corals sheltered many tiny creatures."

of seaweed

"A lump of seaweed washed up after the storm."

of octopuses

"A sneak of octopuses slipped into the crevice."

of silverfish

"A glint of silverfish flickered below the pier."

of jellyfish

"A smack of jellyfish drifted close to the shore."

of salmon

"A run of salmon fought upstream after the rain."

of barracudas

"A frenzy of barracudas scattered the bait fish."

of cuttlefish

"A quiver of cuttlefish changed color as it moved."

of mackerel

"A league of mackerel cut through the waves."

of seaweed

"A tangle of seaweed wrapped around the anchor chain."

of sardines

"A glitter of sardines flashed under the afternoon sun."

of bubbles

"A draft of bubbles rose from the diving diver."

of sharks

"A shiver of sharks circled beneath the boat."

of shellfish

"A bounty of shellfish covered the low tide flats."

of porpoises

"A wake of porpoises followed the ship home."

of rays

"A flare of rays moved like shadows over the sand."

of hammerhead sharks

"A nursery of hammerhead sharks sheltered in the bay."

of jellyfish

"A galaxy of jellyfish lit the dark water with pale color."

of brittle stars

"A bouquet of brittle stars decorated the coral ledge."

of cars

"The president's motorcade passed through the downtown streets."

of wagons

"A caravan of wagons headed west across the plains."

of boats

"A flotilla of fishing boats returned before sunset."

of cars

"A jam of cars blocked the bridge for nearly an hour."

of ships

"An armada of cargo ships anchored offshore."

of ships

"A convoy of ships crossed the channel under escort."

of trucks

"A ton of trucks lined up at the warehouse."

of vehicles

"A queue of vehicles stretched back to the highway."

of horses

"A hitch of horses pulled the carriage to the gate."

of vehicles

"A course of cars moved carefully along the narrow road."

of motorcycles

"A procession of motorcycles echoed through the tunnel."

of cars

"At dusk, a string of pearls of headlights traced the avenue."

of police cars

"A patrol of police cars arrived within minutes."

of cars

"A garage of vintage cars filled the museum wing."

of emergency vehicles

"A convoy of ambulances sped toward the hospital."

of trains

"A yard of trains stood idle beside the platform."

of rickshaws

"A huddle of rickshaws waited under the awning."

of trucks

"A string of trucks rolled past the factory gate."

of elevators

"A bank of elevators served all twenty floors."

of trucks

"A cargo of trucks arrived at the port for loading."

of snowmobiles

"A bank of snowmobiles stood beside the lodge."

of buses

"A column of buses moved through the city in a long line."

of cars

"A gaggle of cars followed the parade route."

of buses

"A body of buses waited in the parking lot."

of boats

"A spread of boats dotted the harbor in every direction."