(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If people ~ somewhere or if someone ~s people somewhere, they come together in a group.
In the evenings, we ~ed around the fireplace and talked...
The man signalled for me to ~ the children together.
= assemble, collect
VERB: V prep/adv, V n with together
2.
If you ~ things, you collect them together so that you can use them.
I suggest we ~ enough firewood to last the night...
She stood up and started ~ing her things together.
= collect
VERB: V n, V n together
•
Gather up means the same as ~ .
When Sutcliffe had ~ed up his papers, he went out...
He ~ed the leaves up off the ground.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V n P
3.
If you ~ information or evidence, you collect it, especially over a period of time and after a lot of hard work.
...a private detective using a hidden tape recorder to ~ information...
= collect, amass
VERB: V n
4.
If something ~s speed, momentum, or force, it gradually becomes faster or more powerful.
Demands for his dismissal have ~ed momentum in recent weeks...
The raft ~ed speed as the current dragged it toward the falls.
= gain
VERB: V n, V n
5.
When you ~ something such as your strength, courage, or thoughts, you make an effort to prepare yourself to do something.
You must ~ your strength for the journey.
= muster
VERB: V n
•
Gather up means the same as ~ .
She was ~ing up her courage to approach him when he called to her.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P
6.
You use ~ in expressions such as ‘I ~’ and ‘as far as I can ~’ to introduce information that you have found out, especially when you have found it out in an indirect way.
I ~ his report is highly critical of the trial judge...
‘He speaks English,’ she said to Graham. ‘I ~ed that.’...
From what I could ~, he was trying to raise money by organising festivals.
VERB: V that, V n, V n
7.
to ~ dust: see dust