huddle

n.

1. A densely packed group or crowd, as of people or animals.
2. [Football] A brief gathering of a team's players behind the line of scrimmage to receive instructions for the next play.
3. A small private conference or meeting.

v.intr.

1. To crowd together, as from cold or fear.
2. To draw or curl one's limbs close to one's body; crouch.
3. Football To gather in a huddle.
4. [Informal] To gather together for conference or consultation: During the crisis the President's national security advisers huddled.

v.tr.

1. To cause to crowd together.
2. To draw (oneself) together in a crouch.
3. [Chiefly British] To arrange, do, or make hastily or carelessly.

... The American Heritage, http://www.thefreedictionary.com/huddle

• She huddled inside the porch as she rang the bell.
• Myrtle sat huddled on the side of the bed, weeping. (= hunch)
• Tired and lost, we huddled together.
• The survivors spent the night huddled around bonfires.
• Off to one side, Sticht, Macomber, Jordan, and Kreps huddled to discuss something.
• The president has been huddling with his most senior aides.
• Mrs Clinton was huddled with advisers at her headquarters.
• We lay there: a huddle of bodies, gasping for air.

... cobuild