Corral
/kəˈræl/
Definitions
2 meaningsAn enclosure or pen for holding livestock.
/kəˈræl/
An enclosure for animals.
The horses were put in the corral overnight.
💡 Simply: A corral is like a fenced-in playground for cows and horses! It's a safe place where they can hang out.
👶 For kids: A corral is a fenced-in area where animals like horses and cows can stay.
More Examples
The cowboys moved the sheep into the corral.
The children played pretend cowboys and corrals in their backyard.
How It's Used
"The cowboys gathered the cattle into the corral for branding."
"In the Old West, the corral was a central part of ranching operations."
To gather or collect (animals or people) and confine them in a corral or similar space.
/kəˈræl/
To gather and confine animals.
The ranch hands corralled the horses for the night.
💡 Simply: To corral is like herding a group of animals (or people!) into a special spot, like a pen or a safe zone.
👶 For kids: To corral is like putting animals in the fenced-in area.
More Examples
The police worked to corral the crowd.
We need to corral all the information before making a decision.
How It's Used
"The cowboys will corral the stray cattle before the storm arrives."
"The police tried to corral the protestors into a designated area."
Idioms & expressions
corral the troops
To gather people to a certain place or organize a group.
"The manager needed to corral the troops to announce the new project."
From Spanish *corral*, meaning 'enclosure' or 'yard', ultimately derived from Latin *currere* 'to run'.
Commonly used in the American West to describe the containment of livestock. Its usage has evolved to include the gathering or control of people and information.
Memory tip
Think of a *pen* for animals, like a fenced-in area in a farm.
Word Origin
"enclosure, yard"