gather

2 entries found for gather.
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gather[1,verb] gather[2,noun]

Main Entry: ¹gath·er
Pronunciation: 'ga-[th]&r also 'ge-
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): gath·ered; gath·er·ing /'ga[th]-ri[ng], 'ga-[th]&-/
Etymology: Middle English gaderen, from Old English gaderian; akin to Middle High German gadern to unite -- more at GOOD
transitive verb
1 : to bring together : COLLECT <tried to gather a crowd> <gathered firewood>
2 a : PICK, HARVEST <gather flowers> b : to pick up or amass as if by harvesting <gathering ideas for the project> c : to scoop up or take up from a resting place <gathered the child up in his arms>
3 : to serve as an attraction for : ACCUMULATE <books gathering dust>
4 : to effect the collection of <gather contributions>
5 a : to summon up <gathered 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 <gathered 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 <gathering her cloak about her> c : to bring together the parts of <gathered her hair into a ponytail> d : to assemble (the signatures of a book) in sequence for binding e : to haul in <the sailors gathered 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 gathering crisis>
- gath·er·er /-[th]&r-&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