collect
♦♦ col|lect /kəl'ekt/ (collects collecting collected)
1 [VERB] V n, V n
If you collect a number of things, you bring them together from several places or from several people.
Two young girls were collecting firewood...
1.5 million signatures have been collected.
= gather
2 [VERB] V n
If you collect things, such as stamps or books, as a hobby, you get a large number of them over a period of time because they interest you.
One of Tony's hobbies was collecting rare birds.
● collecting [N-UNCOUNT] with supp, oft n N
...hobbies like stamp collecting and fishing.
3 [VERB] V n from n, V n
When you collect someone or something, you go and get them from the place where they are waiting for you or have been left for you. (BRIT; in AM, usually use pick up)
David always collects Alistair from school on Wednesdays...
After collecting the cash, the kidnapper made his escape down the disused railway line.
= pick up
4 [VERB] V prep/adv, V n, also V
If a substance collects somewhere, or if something collects it, it keeps arriving over a period of time and is held in that place or thing.
Methane gas does collect in the mines around here.
...water tanks which collect rainwater from the house roof.
5 [VERB] V n
If something collects light, energy, or heat, it attracts it.
Like a telescope it has a curved mirror to collect the sunlight.
6 [VERB] V for n, V n for n, also V n
If you collect for a charity or for a present for someone, you ask people to give you money for it.
Are you collecting for charity?...
They collected donations for a fund to help military families.
7 [VERB] V pron-refl, V n
If you collect yourself or collect your thoughts, you make an effort to calm yourself or prepare yourself mentally.
She paused for a moment to collect herself...
He was grateful for a chance to relax and collect his thoughts.
= compose
8 [ADJ] ADJ n
A collect call is a telephone call that is paid for by the person receiving it, not the person making it. (AM)
She received a collect phone call from Alaska.
[PHRASE] V inflects
If you call collect when you make a telephone call, the person who you are phoning pays the cost of the call and not you.
Should you lose your ticket call collect on STA's helpline.
1 [VERB] V n, V n
If you collect a number of things, you bring them together from several places or from several people.
Two young girls were collecting firewood...
1.5 million signatures have been collected.
= gather
2 [VERB] V n
If you collect things, such as stamps or books, as a hobby, you get a large number of them over a period of time because they interest you.
One of Tony's hobbies was collecting rare birds.
● collecting [N-UNCOUNT] with supp, oft n N
...hobbies like stamp collecting and fishing.
3 [VERB] V n from n, V n
When you collect someone or something, you go and get them from the place where they are waiting for you or have been left for you. (BRIT; in AM, usually use pick up)
David always collects Alistair from school on Wednesdays...
After collecting the cash, the kidnapper made his escape down the disused railway line.
= pick up
4 [VERB] V prep/adv, V n, also V
If a substance collects somewhere, or if something collects it, it keeps arriving over a period of time and is held in that place or thing.
Methane gas does collect in the mines around here.
...water tanks which collect rainwater from the house roof.
5 [VERB] V n
If something collects light, energy, or heat, it attracts it.
Like a telescope it has a curved mirror to collect the sunlight.
6 [VERB] V for n, V n for n, also V n
If you collect for a charity or for a present for someone, you ask people to give you money for it.
Are you collecting for charity?...
They collected donations for a fund to help military families.
7 [VERB] V pron-refl, V n
If you collect yourself or collect your thoughts, you make an effort to calm yourself or prepare yourself mentally.
She paused for a moment to collect herself...
He was grateful for a chance to relax and collect his thoughts.
= compose
8 [ADJ] ADJ n
A collect call is a telephone call that is paid for by the person receiving it, not the person making it. (AM)
She received a collect phone call from Alaska.
[PHRASE] V inflects
If you call collect when you make a telephone call, the person who you are phoning pays the cost of the call and not you.
Should you lose your ticket call collect on STA's helpline.