What is the meaning of stampede?

noun

• A headlong rush of people on a common impulse.
  • usage: "when he shouted `fire' there was a stampede to the exits"
• A wild headlong rush of frightened animals (horses or cattle. )

verb

• Cause to run in panic.
  • usage: "Thunderbolts can stampede animals"
• Cause a group or mass of people to act on an impulse or hurriedly and impulsively.
  • usage: "The tavern owners stampeded us into overeating"
• Act, usually en masse, hurriedly or on an impulse.
  • usage: "Companies will now stampede to release their latest software"
• Run away in a stampede. .