cluster

[ kluhs-ter ]

noun

1. a number of things of the same kind, growing or held together; a bunch:

   a cluster of grapes.

2. a group of things or persons close together:

   There was a cluster of tourists at the gate.

3. U.S. Army. a small metal design placed on a ribbon representing an awarded medal to indicate that the same medal has been awarded again:

   oak-leaf cluster.

4. Phonetics. a succession of two or more contiguous consonants in an utterance, as the str- cluster of strap.
5. Astronomy. a group of neighboring stars, held together by mutual gravitation, that have essentially the same age and composition and thus supposedly a common origin. Compare globular cluster, open cluster, stellar association.

verb (used with object)

1. to gather into a cluster or clusters.
2. to furnish or cover with clusters.

verb (used without object)

1. to form a cluster or clusters:

   The people clustered around to watch.

   Synonyms: bunch, crowd, throng, gather, group

cluster

/ ˈklʌstə /

noun

1. a number of things growing, fastened, or occurring close together
2. a number of persons or things grouped together
3. military a metal insignia worn on a medal ribbon to indicate a second award or a higher class of a decoration or order
4. military
   1. a group of bombs dropped in one stick, esp fragmentation and incendiary bombs
   2. the basic unit of mines used in laying a minefield
5. astronomy an aggregation of stars or galaxies moving together through space
6. a group of two or more consecutive vowels or consonants
7. statistics a naturally occurring subgroup of a population used in stratified sampling
8. chem
   1. a chemical compound or molecule containing groups of metal atoms joined by metal-to-metal bonds
   2. the group of linked metal atoms present

verb

1. to gather or be gathered in clusters

Derived Forms

• ˈclusteringly, adverb
• ˈclustery, adjective
• ˈclustered, adjective

Other Words From

• cluster·ing·ly adverb
• cluster·y adjective
• inter·cluster adjective
• sub·cluster noun
• un·clustered adjective
• un·cluster·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cluster¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English cluster, clyster bunch; cognate with Low German kluster

Word History and Origins

Origin of cluster¹

Old English clyster; related to Low German Kluster; see clod , clot

Example Sentences

This effect was sparked by a historical fluke: a cluster of deaths of 27-year-old musicians within a two-year period.

From Los Angeles Times

“It reminds me of some cancer clusters, where a surprising number of cancers gets notoriety, say in a workplace during a short period of time, and then the cluster gets bigger because other office workers get tested and cancers get diagnosed that would have been missed without the concern caused by the initial cluster,” Barnett said.

From Los Angeles Times

“So a potentially chance set of events creates a self-propelling cluster.”

From Los Angeles Times

Barely two miles away, Israeli warplanes begin their near-nightly pummeling of the Dahiyeh, the cluster of Beirut suburbs where Hezbollah holds sway.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump Heights is an isolated cluster of pre-fabricated houses in the rocky, mine-strewn landscape of the Golan Heights, a soaring eagle-and-menorah statue guarding the entrance gate.

From BBC

Related Words

• bundle
• flock
• gather
• round up