- col|lect
- col|lect1 «kuh LEHKT», verb, adverb, adjective.–v.t.1. to bring together; gather together: »
We collected sticks of wood to make a fire.
SYNONYM(S): See syn. under gather. (Cf. ↑gather)2. to gather together for a set: »Most boys collect stamps at some time or other.
3. to pick up; take along: »She came over to collect the book she had forgotten. He returned later in the evening to collect his wife.
4. to ask and receive payment of (bills, debts, dues, or taxes): »The milkman collects money from his customers each month.
5. Figurative. to regain control of: »After the shock he tried to collect himself and his thoughts.
SYNONYM(S): rally.6. Rare. to infer; conclude: »Many of the laws of Nature…may be collected from experiments (Samuel Butler).
–v.i.1. to come together; assemble: »A crowd soon collects at the scene of an accident.
SYNONYM(S): See syn. under gather. (Cf. ↑gather)2. to accumulate: »Junk tends to collect in every household. Dust is collecting under his bed.
3. to make a collection: »Whether it be books, beer mugs, or antiques, people have an instinct to collect.
–adv., adj.╂[< Latin collectus, past participle of colligere < com- together + legere gather]–col|lect´a|ble, adjective.col|lect2 «KOL ehkt», noun.a short prayer used in certain church services. In Western churches, a collect is said before the Epistle in the Eucharistic service; in Anglican churches, in morning and evening prayer. »Faith, hope, charity, for an increase in which the collect for tomorrow offers petition, rank high among the specifically Christian qualities (London Times).
Useful english dictionary. 2012.