Bask
collective noun /bɑːsk/ — A group of crocodiles — named for what they do most visibly.
Definition
The collective noun for a group of crocodiles on land, derived from their characteristic behaviour of lying motionless in the sun.
Beyond the definition
Crocodiles basking look almost peaceful — until they don't. The word bask usually suggests warmth and relaxation. Applied to crocodiles, it holds that tension: the appearance of rest masking the possibility of violence. Patience as a predator strategy.
Origin & history
From Old Norse baðask — to bathe oneself. Applied to crocodiles because their most visible group behaviour is lying in the sun, apparently doing nothing. The calm is, of course, deceptive.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
A bask of crocodiles occupied the riverbank, utterly still and utterly watchful.
She gave the bask a wide berth — they were doing nothing, which was the worrying part.
Bask is the polite word for what crocodiles do while they wait.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Bask” when the meaning fits your context: The collective noun for a group of crocodiles on land, derived from their characteristic behaviour of lying motionless in the sun.
Synonyms
float, congregation, group
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Word in focus
A bask of crocodiles
Crocodiles basking together beside a reservoir.
Here, “bask” names the whole gathering. Notice the animals together rather than looking for one individual with that name. The photograph illustrates the group; it is not evidence that this particular scene inspired the expression.
Image credit: Kandukuru Nagarjun from Bangalore, India · CC BY 2.0 (license)
Resized and converted to WebP; displayed with a fitted crop.
Questions about this word
What does "Bask" mean?
Bask is collective noun meaning: A group of crocodiles — named for what they do most visibly.. The collective noun for a group of crocodiles on land, derived from their characteristic behaviour of lying motionless in the sun.
Where does the word "Bask" come from?
From Old Norse baðask — to bathe oneself. Applied to crocodiles because their most visible group behaviour is lying in the sun, apparently doing nothing. The calm is, of course, deceptive.