The Collaborative International Dictionary
Flock \Flock\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flocked; p. pr. & vb. n. Flocking.] To gather in companies or crowds.
Friends daily flock.
--Dryden.
Flocking fowl (Zo["o]l.), the greater scaup duck.
Wiktionary
n. 1 The process of adding small particles to a surface for the sake of texture. 2 A material textured in this way. vb. (present participle of flock English)
Wikipedia
Flocking behavior is the behavior exhibited when a group of birds, called a flock, are foraging or in flight. There are parallels with the shoaling behavior of fish, the swarming behavior of insects, and herd behavior of land animals.
Computer simulations and mathematical models which have been developed to emulate the flocking behaviors of birds can generally be applied also to the "flocking" behavior of other species. As a result, the term "flocking" is sometimes applied, in computer science, to species other than birds.
This article is about the modelling of flocking behavior. From the perspective of the mathematical modeller, "flocking" is the collective motion of a large number of self-propelled entities and is a collective animal behavior exhibited by many living beings such as birds, fish, bacteria, and insects. It is considered an emergent behavior arising from simple rules that are followed by individuals and does not involve any central coordination.
Flocking behavior was first simulated on a computer in 1987 by Craig Reynolds with his simulation program, Boids. This program simulates simple agents (boids) that are allowed to move according to a set of basic rules. The result is akin to a flock of birds, a school of fish, or a swarm of insects.
Flocking is the process of depositing many small fiber particles (called flock) onto a surface. It can also refer to the texture produced by the process, or to any material used primarily for its flocked surface. Flocking of an article can be performed for the purpose of increasing its value in terms of the tactile sensation, aesthetics, color and appearance. It can also be performed for functional reasons including insulation, slip-or-grip friction, and low reflectivity.
Flocking is a 2015 Swedish drama film directed by Beata Gårdeler. It won three awards at the 51st Guldbagge Awards and the main award at the 33rd Ale Kino! Festival.
Usage examples of "flocking".
They watched from the door as the first groups of crazyfolk began to appear, flocking southwest on Route 62 in the direction of Wilmington.
Around four, as the sun broke through the clouds in long, spoking rays, they began flocking back in the direction from which they had come.
Getting to be true telepaths, I mean, and not just zombies with a flocking instinct.
Once they had begun flocking and mind-melding, the violence had subsided.
Also thousands of immigrants were flocking to the new nation of the United States and taking out naturalization papers.
On reaching the spot we disturbed thousands upon thousands of vultures and a sort of brown bush eagle, which had been flocking to the feast from miles and miles away.
A steady stream of overpainted women in gowns side-slit right up to their waists was flocking into the castle, greeted by drunken shouts of enthusiasm from half-dressed armaragors.
But before the trembling friar could steady his voice or choose his words he was forgotten, for the evening bells began to chime for vespers, and as the brothers came flocking through the cloisters the great bell at the entrance gate on the Fondamenta dei Servi sent back the special deep-toned call, which took precedence of every order within the convent.
Rivers now mounted his worn and tired steed, and we rode unmolested through the streets, though the people had begun to stir, through the flocking in of fugitive Yorkists, and crossed the Severn at the Fordington Ferry.
But by the time Barnett concluded his business, jubilant townspeople were flocking around his car.
The distribution has been thrown into disorder by the people from the bombarded quarters flocking into the central ones, and wanting to be fed.
If he also missed the hoofbeats that approached through the din made by children beating clappers to scare flocking sparrows from the seed grain, Diegan obstinately faced forward as the rider arrived and fell in alongside.
Rama scanned the sky and saw hundreds, perhaps thousands of the flying creatures flocking to the carnage, calling to each other exultantly in their protohuman speech.
As soon as the animals caught sight of Heidi they all came flocking towards her, and she, as well as Clara on her couch, were soon surrounded by the goats, pushing and poking their heads one over the other, while Heidi introduced each in turn by its name to her friend Clara.
Boonville was the center to which pro-Southern Missourians were flocking.