COLLECT

Definition of COLLECT

COLLECT Noun and Verb

Collect is both a verb and a noun, primarily referring to the act of gathering things together or assembling items into a group or set. As a verb, it means to bring together objects, people, or information from different sources. As a noun, it can refer to a request for payment, particularly in the context of telephone calls or services. The word is commonly associated with accumulation, organization, and retrieval.

COLLECT as a verb

As a verb, collect often refers to the physical gathering of objects, especially when done intentionally and systematically. For example, “She collects stamps from all over the world,” or “He collects rare coins.” In this context, the act of collecting is purposeful and often linked to hobbies or long-term interests, where each item is valued as part of a larger whole.

Gathering Data or Information: Collect is frequently used in academic, research, or administrative contexts to describe the gathering of data, evidence, or information. For instance, “The scientists collected data from multiple experiments,” or “The survey was used to collect opinions from the public.” This form of collection implies careful, structured effort to retrieve information for analysis or decision-making.

Receiving or Accumulating: Collect can also mean to receive or accumulate something over time, such as payments, fees, or donations. For example, “The organization collects monthly contributions from its members,” or “He collected the rent from all his tenants.” In this usage, the word emphasizes the role of collecting as a function of receiving something owed, expected, or gathered regularly.

Retrieval or Pickup: Another use of collect is in the sense of picking something or someone up, particularly in transportation or logistics. For example, “She went to collect her child from school,” or “The courier collected the parcel at noon.” This use reflects the action of retrieving or taking possession of something from a specific location or source.

Emotional or Mental Gathering: Collect can also refer to regaining composure or gathering one’s thoughts or emotions. For example, “He paused to collect his thoughts before answering,” or “She collected herself after the shocking news.” In this sense, the word takes on a figurative meaning, expressing the act of mentally or emotionally regrouping to regain clarity or control.

COLLECT as a noun

As a noun, collect most commonly appears in financial or communication-related contexts. A traditional example is a “collect call,” where the recipient agrees to pay for the cost of a phone call. For instance, “He made a collect call to his parents after losing his wallet.” This use highlights the transactional or service-based nature of the noun form.

Financial Collection: Though less common in modern usage, collect as a noun may also refer to the act or instance of collection, especially in financial or commercial settings. For example, “The company scheduled the collect for unpaid invoices next week.” This noun form is functional, often used in logistics, accounting, or utility billing contexts.

Religious or Liturgical Use: In specific religious traditions, particularly within Christian liturgy, a collect is a short prayer that gathers the intentions of the congregation. For instance, “The priest recited the collect at the beginning of the service.” This specialized use reflects the word’s role in unifying or summing up collective thoughts and requests in a formal religious setting.

In summary, collect serves as both a verb and a noun, with meanings that center around the act of gathering, receiving, or bringing things together. As a verb, it ranges from collecting physical objects to accumulating information, retrieving people or items, or regaining mental clarity. As a noun, it typically refers to payment-related actions or specific religious practices. Across contexts, collect conveys intention, organization, and the bringing together of things or ideas, whether tangible or intangible.

Examples of COLLECT in a sentence

COLLECT as a verb in a sentence

• He plans to collect stamps from every country he visits.
• The volunteers will collect donations for the homeless shelter.
• She went out to collect wildflowers for her art project.
• They will collect the forms from all the participants tomorrow.
• I need to collect my thoughts before speaking at the meeting.
• He asked the students to collect their assignments and turn them in.
• The museum aims to collect rare pieces of art from around the world.
• After the event, they will collect feedback from attendees to improve future events.

COLLECT as a noun in a sentence

• His collect of rare comic books is worth a lot of money.
• The collect of essays in the anthology was widely praised for its depth.
• She displayed her collect of vintage postcards from different countries.
• The collect of coins includes pieces from over 30 different nations.
• He has an impressive collect of antique clocks, each with its own story.
• The collect of rare fossils in the museum is one of its most valuable exhibits.
• They put together a collect of the best performances from the festival.
• The artist’s collect of sketches from various travels was showcased in the gallery.

Origin of COLLECT

The term collect has an extensive etymological history, originating from Latin and evolving into a versatile verb used in various contexts related to gathering, accumulating, and bringing things together.

Semantic Context: Collect is primarily a verb that means to gather or bring together items, people, or information. It can be used in different settings, such as collecting physical objects, accumulating data, or even bringing together ideas or resources. As a noun, collection refers to the group of items that have been gathered.

• Etymological Roots: The word collect comes from the Latin verb collectus, the past participle of colligere, meaning “to gather together” or “to pick up.” The Latin colligere is formed from com- (meaning “together” or “with”) and legere (meaning “to gather” or “to choose”). This combination of roots conveys the idea of bringing things together or accumulating them into one place.
• Historical Development: The term collect was adopted into English in the 14th century, maintaining its original sense of gathering things together. Early on, it was primarily used in contexts related to physical objects, like collecting items or resources. Over time, collect expanded to include more abstract uses, such as gathering information, data, or even people, as well as referring to efforts to accumulate knowledge or artistic works, such as collecting paintings, stamps, or rare objects. The evolution of the word reflects its growing flexibility in describing both tangible and intangible gathering processes.
• Applications in Various Fields: Collect is used in a wide range of fields, from everyday contexts like collecting stamps or books, to professional and scientific fields like data collection, specimen collection, or the collection of evidence. In art and culture, collecting is often associated with the accumulation of valuable objects or artworks. In economics, collecting can refer to the process of gathering or accumulating wealth or resources. Collect is also a term used in religious contexts to refer to specific prayers or invocations, often at the beginning of worship services, as seen in the Christian tradition of the “collect” prayer.
• Current Usage: Today, collect is widely used in both everyday and specialized contexts. It can refer to physical collection activities, such as gathering items for a personal collection, or the act of acquiring something over time. The term is also commonly used in business and data contexts, such as collecting information, feedback, or statistical data. In a more metaphorical sense, collect can refer to the act of amassing or organizing abstract concepts, such as thoughts, ideas, or resources. The term remains versatile, with applications in multiple fields, and it retains its core meaning of bringing things together or accumulating them.

The term collect has evolved from its Latin roots in colligere, emphasizing the act of bringing things together or accumulating them. Its historical development from physical gathering to broader abstract uses highlights its widespread application in modern language, encompassing everything from material collections to data gathering and conceptual accumulation.