gregarious
adj. C1 Advanced US //ɡɹəˈɡɛɹiəs// UK //ɡɹɛɡˈeəɹɪəs// gre·gar·i·ous
adj. describing a plant or animal that grows or lives in groups. It can also describe a person who enjoys being around other people.
adj. relating to or characteristic of a species that lives or grows in groups. In a botanical context, it describes plants that grow in clusters or colonies.
The gregarious plants grow in thick clusters along the riverbank.
The botanist noted that the gregarious species thrived in the moist, shaded environment of the forest floor.
While some species prefer solitary habitats, gregarious organisms often benefit from collective defense mechanisms and shared resources, which can significantly increase their survival rates in competitive ecosystems.
First attested in 1688; borrowed from Latin gregārius, see -ious.