ENGLISH
REFERENCE

crew

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈkɹu// UK //kɹˈuː// crew Archaic Dialect General-service Informal Slang Vulgar

n. a group of people who work together on a ship, plane, or movie set. In casual talk, it can also mean your close group of friends.

n. a group of people associated together in a common activity or organization, especially those operating a vehicle or working on a production. In informal registers, it refers to a social clique or a group of friends.


SIMPLE

The ship's crew prepared for the long journey.

CONTEXTUAL

The film crew arrived at dawn to set up the lighting and cameras for the first scene.

COMPLEX

While the captain is responsible for navigation, the efficiency of the entire voyage depends on the seamless coordination of the deck crew during heavy storms.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English crue, from Old French creue (“an increase, recruit, military reinforcement”), the feminine past participle of creistre (“grow”), from Latin crescere (“to arise, grow”).

Etymology 2

Probably of Brythonic origin. Compare Middle Welsh creu (“pigsty, hovel, stockade”).

Usage

Often functions as a collective noun; can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group is seen as one unit or many individuals.

Idioms1 entry

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