/ kəˈlekt; NAmE / verb , adjective , adverb
■ verb
BRING TOGETHER
1.
[ vn ] collect sth (from sb/sth) to bring things together from different people or places
SYN gather :
to collect data / evidence / information
We're collecting signatures for a petition.
Samples were collected from over 200 patients.
AS HOBBY
2.
[ vn ] to buy or find things of a particular type and keep them as a hobby :
to collect stamps / postcards, etc.
—see also stamp collecting
OF PEOPLE
3.
[ v ] to come together in one place to form a larger group
SYN gather :
A crowd began to collect in front of the embassy.
INCREASE IN AMOUNT
4.
to gradually increase in amount in a place; to gradually obtain more and more of sth in a place
SYN accumulate :
[ v ]
Dirt had collected in the corners of the room.
[ vn ]
We seem to have collected an enormous number of boxes (= without intending to) .
That guitar's been sitting collecting dust (= not being used) for years now.
TAKE AWAY
5.
[ vn ] collect sb/sth (from ... ) to go somewhere in order to take sb/sth away :
What day do they collect the rubbish / garbage?
The package is waiting to be collected.
( BrE )
She's gone to collect her son from school.
MONEY
6.
collect (sth) (for sth) to ask people to give you money for a particular purpose :
[ v ]
We're collecting for local charities.
[ vn ]
We collected over £300 for the appeal.
7.
[ vn ] to obtain the money, etc. that sb owes, for example by going to their house to get it :
to collect rent / debts / tax
RECEIVE / WIN
8.
to receive sth; to win sth :
[ vn ]
She collected £25 000 in compensation.
to collect a prize / a medal
[also v ]
•
IDIOMS
- collect yourself / your thoughts
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- collect sth up
■ adjective
( NAmE ) ( of a telephone call ) paid for by the person who receives the call :
to make a collect call
—see also reverse verb (7)
► col·lect adverb :
to call sb collect
••
SYNONYMS
collect
gather ♦ accumulate ♦ run sth up ♦ amass
These words all mean to get more of sth over a period of time, or to increase in quantity over a period of time.
collect
to bring things or information together from different people or places; to gradually increase in amount in a place:
We've been collecting data from various sources.
•
Dirt had collected in the corners of the room.
NOTE
People sometimes collect things of a particular type as a hobby:
to collect stamps
.
gather
to bring things together that have been spread around; to collect information from different sources:
I waited while he gathered up his papers.
•
Detectives have spent months gathering evidence.
collect or gather?
Both collect and gather can be used in the same way to talk about bringing together data, information or evidence. When talking about things, gather is used with words like things , belongings or papers when the things are spread around within a short distance. Collect is used for getting examples of sth from different people or places that are physically separated.
accumulate
( rather formal ) to gradually get more and more of sth over a period of time; to gradually increase in number or quantity over a period of time :
I seem to have accumulated a lot of books.
•
Debts began to accumulate.
run sth up
( rather informal ) to allow a bill, debt or loss to reach a large total:
She had run up a huge phone bill
.
NOTE
Run up is nearly always used with bill , debt or loss .
amass
( rather formal ) to collect sth in large quantities, especially money, debts or information:
He amassed a fortune from silver mining.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to collect / gather / accumulate / amass data / evidence / information
to accumulate / run up / amass debts
to accumulate / run up losses
to accumulate / amass a fortune
Dirt / dust / debris collects / gathers / accumulates.
to gradually / slowly collect / gather / accumulate / amass sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French collecter or medieval Latin collectare , from Latin collect- gathered together, from the verb colligere , from col- together + legere choose or collect.