flash crowd

noun flash crowds

1. alternative Alternative form of flashcrowd As mentioned in the Introduction, it is crucial to enhance content delivery during flash crowd events.
2. A large audience for a sporting event that is unexpected because of large numbers of game-day ticket sales rather than advance tickets. Sure, you'll get trapped once in a while with a flash crowd. Like the first time Satchel Paige pitched in Cleveland. We thought we'd get 55,000, and we ended up with 78,000.
3. A crowd that forms suddenly. The mall riot was the first successful riot in twenty years. “The police can get to a riot before it's a riot,” said McCord. “We call them flash crowds, and we watch for them.”
4. alternative Alternative form of flash mob Later flash crowds involved getting dozens of people to perch on a stone ledge in Central Park all making bird noises, a “Zombie walk” in San Francisco, and a silent dance party at London's Victoria Station.
5. obsolete The fashionable public. To see the Hurst with tents encamp'd on, Look around Lawrence's at Hampton, Join the flash crowd (the horse being led Into the yard, and clean'd and fed); Talk to Dav. Hudson and Cy. Davis.