troops
troops Lexical Profile
troops Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Soldiers or armed forces collectively, especially when organized for service or deployment.
"Peacekeeping troops were stationed along the border to help maintain stability in the region."
Plural form of troop: organized local units of scouts, cavalry subdivisions, or social groups of animals such as monkeys, baboons, or kangaroos.
"Several Scout troops from neighboring towns gathered at the state park for the annual camping jamboree."
• verb
To walk, march, or move together as a crowd, group, or body (third-person singular simple present of troop).
"Every afternoon, the entire elementary school class troops into the library for story time."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'troops' with the homophone 'troupes'; 'troops' refers to soldiers, scouting units, or groups of animals, whereas 'troupes' refers specifically to companies of theatrical performers, dancers, or entertainers.
• Rhymes for troops
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-16th century from French 'troupe' ('company, herd, flock'), which likely derives from Frankish or another Germanic source related to Old English 'thorp' ('village, hamlet, assembly').