cluster

1 of 2

noun

clus·​ter ˈklə-stər How to pronounce cluster (audio)
: a number of similar things that occur together: such as
a
: two or more consecutive consonants or vowels in a segment of speech
b
: a group of buildings and especially houses built close together on a sizable tract in order to preserve open spaces larger than the individual yard for common recreation
c
: an aggregation of stars or galaxies that appear close together in the sky and are gravitationally associated
the Perseus cluster of galaxies
d
: a larger than expected number of cases of disease (such as leukemia) occurring in a particular locality, group of people, or period of time
e
: a number of computers networked together in order to function as a single computing system
Consisting of groups of inexpensive machines cobbled together, clusters in many ways have supplanted traditional supercomputers.Elizabeth K. Wilson
clustery adjective

cluster

2 of 2

verb

clustered; clustering ˈklə-st(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce cluster (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to collect into a cluster
cluster the tents together
2
: to furnish with clusters
the bridge was clustered with men and officersHerman Wouk

intransitive verb

: to grow, assemble, or occur in a cluster
they clustered around the fire

Examples of cluster in a Sentence

Noun a cluster of cottages along the shore A small cluster of people had gathered at the scene of the accident. Verb The children clustered around the storyteller. the mice clustered together into a small burrow
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Here, beneath the shade of the paradise trees amid a cluster of rickety buildings — where chickens cross the road but the cars don’t — time slows down. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 20 Apr. 2024 Their calling cards are undeniably their flower clusters, which appear in late spring or early summer, last for weeks, and come in varying hues of blue, purple, white, pink, and red. Zoe Gowen, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2024 Nearly half of all people with PCOS also have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health markers—including high blood pressure, blood sugar, and a type of fat in the blood called triglycerides—that can absolutely mess with your health, Dr. Vash-Margita says. Julia Sullivan, SELF, 18 Apr. 2024 The idea was to land the ships, allow clusters of troops to unload tanks and vehicles, then proceed into the town. Rachel Lance, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2024 This position is one of five Regional Managers that provides a highly visible leadership presence for 36 library locations and is responsible for developing the professional skills of personnel located in their cluster/flagship, creative problem solving, and developing partnership activities. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024 While the comfortable signature silhouettes remain the same, Simone Rocha’s DNA is infused throughout each style with clusters of pearls, crystals, and beads strategically crafted into the shape of flowers. Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024 Two reporters for The New York Times captured a snapshot of the violence in March, speaking with more than 70 people during a four-day period who said they had been robbed by clusters of armed men in the jungle. Julie Turkewitz Federico Rios, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024 The simulation can track the star's mass, the density of a star cluster, the speed of stars' orbits, the pull gravity has on the stars, and the distance each star is from the supermassive black hole. Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
Leaves cluster at the ends of stems that stand 6 to 12 inches tall. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2024 Men clustering around a ditch suggested the worst, as did women running at full speed through the dirt. Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Its ruins include a densely populated area with houses clustered together that could be accessed from the roof. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 In biology, a singularity might happen when an explosion of species stems from a series of changes clustered so tightly together as to appear instantaneous and inseparable on the order of evolutionary time. Popular Science, 22 Feb. 2024 Read More: Power to the People — By Plugging into the Sahara While 2.5 million people sounds like a lot, bear in mind that most of those populations are clustered in cities and towns. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2024 Finding talent in finance and internal audit (37%), compliance with laws and regulations (36%), and finance transformation (33%), were clustered together. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 The process clusters homes into eight to 12 routes, with eight to 10 houses on each route. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024 Tents were clustered together and encircled by alleys, forming little neighborhoods. Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cluster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English clyster; akin to Old English clott clot

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cluster was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near cluster

Cite this Entry

“Cluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cluster. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

cluster

1 of 2 noun
clus·​ter ˈkləs-tər How to pronounce cluster (audio)
: a number of similar things growing, collected, or grouped together : bunch
a cluster of houses
a flower cluster

cluster

2 of 2 verb
clustered; clustering -t(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce cluster (audio)
: to grow, collect, or gather in a cluster

Medical Definition

cluster

noun
clus·​ter ˈkləs-tər How to pronounce cluster (audio)
: a larger than expected number of cases of disease (as leukemia) occurring in a particular locality, group of people, or period of time

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