n.
Pronunciation: ' ga- th ə r also ' ge-
Function: verb
Inflected Form: gath · ered ; gath · er · ing \ ' ga th -ri ŋ , ' ga- th ə - \
Etymology: Middle English gaderen, from Old English gaderian; akin to Middle High German gadern to unite ― more at GOOD
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to bring together : COLLECT <tried to gather a crowd> < gather ed firewood>
2 a : PICK , HARVEST < gather flowers> b : to pick up or amass as if by harvesting < gather ing ideas for the project> c : to scoop up or take up from a resting place < gather ed the child up in his arms>
3 : to serve as an attraction for : ACCUMULATE <books gather ing dust>
4 : to effect the collection of < gather contributions>
5 a : to summon up < gather ed his courage> b : to gain by gradual increase < gather speed> c : to prepare (as oneself) by mustering strength d : to gain or regain control of < gather ed his wits>
6 : to reach a conclusion often intuitively from hints or through inferences <I gather that you want to leave>
7 a : to pull (fabric) along a line of stitching so as to draw into puckers b : to draw about or close to something < gather ing her cloak about her> c : to bring together the parts of < gather ed her hair into a ponytail> d : to assemble (the signatures of a book) in sequence for binding e : to haul in <the sailors gather ed the sails>
intransitive verb
1 a : to come together in a body b : to cluster around a focus of attraction
2 a : to swell and fill with pus b : GROW , INCREASE <the gather ing crisis>
– gath · er · er \ - th ə r- ə r \ noun
synonyms GATHER , COLLECT , ASSEMBLE , CONGREGATE mean to come or bring together into a group, mass, or unit. GATHER is the most general term for bringing or coming together from a spread-out or scattered state <a crowd quickly gathered >. COLLECT often implies careful selection or orderly arrangement < collected books on gardening>. ASSEMBLE implies an ordered union or organization of persons or things often for a definite purpose <experts assembled for a conference>. CONGREGATE implies a spontaneous flocking together into a crowd or huddle < congregating under a shelter>. synonym see in addition INFER