arracimarse

A somewhat literary reflexive verb meaning to cluster or bunch together like grapes on a vine (racimo) — used for people crowding together, or things clustering, such as houses arracimadas on a hillside.

• Los curiosos se arracimaron frente a la tienda. — The onlookers clustered together in front of the store.
• Las casas se arraciman en la ladera de la montaña. — The houses cluster together on the mountainside.
• Los estudiantes se arracimaron alrededor del profesor para escuchar mejor. — The students bunched together around the teacher to hear better.

Using arracimarse for just any group of people or things — it specifically evokes a tight, grape-like clustering, closer together than a general grupo or multitud would imply; apiñarse is the closer everyday synonym.

Often confused with apiñarse.