/ ˈgæðə(r); NAmE / verb
COME / BRING TOGETHER
1.
to come together, or bring people together, in one place to form a group :
[ v ]
A crowd soon gathered.
Can you all gather round ? I've got something to tell you.
The whole family gathered together at Ray's home.
His supporters gathered in the main square.
[ vn ]
They were all gathered round the TV.
A large crowd was gathered outside the studio.
The kids were gathered together in one room.
2.
[ vn ] gather sth (together / up) to bring things together that have been spread around :
People slowly gathered their belongings and left the hall.
I waited while he gathered up his papers.
➡ note at collect
COLLECT
3.
[ vn ] to collect information from different sources :
Detectives have spent months gathering evidence.
➡ note at collect
4.
[ vn ] to collect plants, fruit, etc. from a wide area :
to gather wild flowers
CROPS / HARVEST
5.
[ vn ] gather sth (in) to pick or cut and collect crops to be stored :
It was late August and the harvest had been safely gathered in.
BELIEVE / UNDERSTAND
6.
(not used in the progressive tenses) to believe or understand that sth is true because of information or evidence you have :
[ v ( that )]
I gather (that) you wanted to see me.
I gather from your letter that you're not enjoying your job.
[ vn ]
'There's been a delay.' 'I gathered that.'
[ v ]
'She won't be coming.' ' So I gather .'
You're self-employed, I gather.
As far as I can gather , he got involved in a fight.
From what I can gather , there's been some kind of problem.
INCREASE
7.
[ vn ] to increase in speed, force, etc. :
The truck gathered speed .
During the 1980s the green movement gathered momentum .
Thousands of these machines are gathering dust (= not being used) in stockrooms.
OF CLOUDS / DARKNESS
8.
[ v ] to gradually increase in number or amount :
The storm clouds were gathering.
the gathering gloom of a winter's afternoon
CLOTHING
9.
[ vn ] gather sth around you / sth | gather sth up to pull a piece of clothing tighter to your body :
He gathered his cloak around him.
She gathered up her skirts and ran.
10.
[ vn ] gather sth (in) to pull parts of a piece of clothing together in folds and sew them in place :
She wore a skirt gathered (in) at the waist.
HOLD SB
11.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to pull sb towards you and put your arms around them :
She gathered the child in her arms and held him close.
He gathered her to him.
PREPARE YOURSELF
12.
[ vn ] to prepare yourself to do sth that requires effort :
I sat down for a moment to gather my strength.
She was still trying to gather her thoughts together when the door opened.
Fortunately the short delay gave him time to gather himself.
•
IDIOMS
see roll verb
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English gaderian , of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch gaderen , also to together .