troop
Soldiers as a military force
Soldiers seen as one group, usually many soldiers together in an army or in a place.
to send [troops] to [a place]
- The government decided to send more troops to the border.
- International troops are helping to keep the peace in the region.
- Troops were ordered to withdraw from the area by the end of the month.
- Local residents lined the streets to welcome the returning troops.
- All foreign troops are expected to leave the country next year.
- The country sent troops to the war.
- Many troops are staying near the city.
- They want the troops to come home.
- Foreign troops are helping the small country.
- The leader plans to pull the troops out.
Group of people or animals
A group of people or animals that are together and often move together.
a troop of [animals/people]
- A noisy troop of children ran through the park.
- We watched a troop of monkeys playing in the trees.
- A troop of dancers filled the stage during the final song.
- Every afternoon a small troop of dog walkers passes my window.
- A troop of tourists followed the guide up the hill.
- A troop of monkeys sat in the tree.
- A troop of children came into the room.
- We saw a troop of dancers on the stage.
- The troop of tourists moved to the bus.
- A troop of boys played in the street.
Walk somewhere in a group
To go to or from a place by walking as a group.
[people] troop into [a place]
- After the meeting, employees trooped back to their desks.
- The fans trooped into the stadium despite the rain.
- One by one, the students trooped out of the exam hall.
- We trooped up the hill to see the view.
- Reporters trooped into the press room to hear the announcement.
- The children trooped into the classroom.
- We trooped out of the cinema after the film.
- The players trooped back to the locker room.
- People trooped to the station in the morning.
- They trooped upstairs to go to bed.
Local Scout or youth unit
A local group of scouts, like a Boy Scout or Girl Scout group, that meets and does activities together.
a [Scout] troop in [a place]
- Her son joined a local Scout troop last year.
- The troop meets every Thursday evening at the community center.
- Our troop is planning a camping trip this summer.
- Each troop must raise its own money for activities.
- He has been the leader of the troop for ten years.
- My daughter is in a Scout troop.
- The troop meets once a week.
- Our troop went camping in the forest.
- The troop leader teaches us new skills.
- There are twenty children in the troop.
Cavalry or armored military unit
In military language, a group of soldiers in cavalry or tanks, about the same size as what is called a company in other parts of the army.
a [cavalry] troop under [someone]
- The cavalry troop moved ahead to scout the area.
- He was given command of a tank troop on the front line.
- Each troop reported its position to the battalion headquarters.
- The army has one tank troop and two infantry companies.
- He joined a cavalry troop after his training.
- The troop reported to the commander at dawn.
- Base: troop
- Plural: troops
- Base: troop
- 3rd Person Singular: troops
- Present Participle: trooping
- Past: trooped
a troop of monkeys
9Group of monkeys together
A group of monkeys that stay or move together.
- We saw a troop of monkeys crossing the road.
- A troop of monkeys played in the trees near the camp.
combat troops
1Soldiers who actively fight
Soldiers whose main job is to fight in battles, not to give support or do office work.
- Most combat troops will be withdrawn by the end of the year.
- The president promised not to send combat troops into the area.
ground troops
2Soldiers fighting on land
Soldiers who fight on the ground, not in planes or on ships.
- Air strikes were followed by the arrival of ground troops.
- The general refused to commit ground troops to the conflict.
send in the troops
3Deploy soldiers to a situation
To order soldiers to go into an area to control or change a situation, often using force.
- The government threatened to send in the troops if the violence continued.
- Some protesters feared that the leader would send in the troops to clear the streets.
troop back
6Return somewhere in a group
To go back to a place by walking as a group.
- When the rain started, people trooped back inside.
- After lunch, we trooped back to the office.
troop in
4Enter a place in a group
To walk into a place as a group, often in a steady or ordered way.
- The students trooped in and took their seats.
- Guests trooped in as the doors opened for the concert.
troop out
5Leave a place in a group
To walk out of a place as a group, often in a slow or ordered way.
- After the show, the audience trooped out of the theater.
- We all trooped out of the meeting room in silence.
troop to
7Go somewhere in large numbers
To go to a place in large numbers, often as a crowd.
- Thousands of fans trooped to the stadium for the final.
- Voters trooped to the polls early in the morning.
troop to the polls
8Go in large numbers to vote
To go in large numbers to the place where people vote in an election.
- Citizens trooped to the polls despite the bad weather.
- Voters are expected to troop to the polls early tomorrow morning.