NOUN (2)

1. a headlong rush of people on a common impulse;
- Example: "when he shouted `fire' there was a stampede to the exits";

2. a wild headlong rush of frightened animals (horses or cattle);


VERB (4)

1. cause to run in panic;
- Example: "Thunderbolts can stampede animals"

2. cause a group or mass of people to act on an impulse or hurriedly and impulsively;
- Example: "The tavern owners stampeded us into overeating"

3. act, usually en masse, hurriedly or on an impulse;
- Example: "Companies will now stampede to release their latest software"

4. run away in a stampede;

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Stampede \Stam*pede"\ (st[a^]m*p[=e]d"), v. i.
   To run away in a panic; -- said of droves of cattle, horses,
   etc., also of armies.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Stampede \Stam*pede"\, v. t.
   To disperse by causing sudden fright, as a herd or drove of
   animals.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Stampede \Stam*pede"\ (st[a^]m*p[=e]d"), n. [Sp. estampida (in
   America) a stampede, estampido a crackling, akin to estampar
   to stamp, of German origin. See Stamp, v. t.]
   1. A wild, headlong scamper, or running away, of a number of
      animals; usually caused by fright; hence, any sudden
      flight or dispersion, as of a crowd or an army in
      consequence of a panic.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Any sudden unconcerted moving or acting together of a
      number of persons, as from some common impulse; as, a
      stampede to the gold regions; a stampede in a convention;
      a stampede toward U. S. bonds in the credit markets.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

            She and her husband would join in the general
            stampede.                             --W. Black.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

stampede
    n 1: a headlong rush of people on a common impulse; "when he
         shouted `fire' there was a stampede to the exits"
    2: a wild headlong rush of frightened animals (horses or cattle)
    v 1: cause to run in panic; "Thunderbolts can stampede animals"
    2: cause a group or mass of people to act on an impulse or
       hurriedly and impulsively; "The tavern owners stampeded us
       into overeating"
    3: act, usually en masse, hurriedly or on an impulse; "Companies
       will now stampede to release their latest software"
    4: run away in a stampede