collection

[ kuh-lek-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of collecting.
2. something that is collected; a group of objects or an amount of material accumulated in one location, especially for some purpose or as a result of some process: a collection of unclaimed hats in the checkroom;

   a stamp collection;

   a collection of unclaimed hats in the checkroom;

   a collection of books on Churchill.

   Synonyms: store, hoard, pile, heap, aggregation, accumulation, mass

3. the works of art constituting the holdings of an art museum:

   a history of the museum and of the collection.

4. the gathered or exhibited works of a single painter, sculptor, etc.:

   an excellent Picasso collection.

5. collections, the various holdings of an art museum organized by category, as painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, or film:

   the director of the collections.

6. the clothes or other items produced by a designer, especially for a seasonal line:

   the spring collection.

7. a sum of money collected, especially for charity or church use.

   Synonyms: alms, contribution(s)

8. Manège. act of bringing or coming into a collected attitude.

collection

/ kəˈlɛkʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of collecting
2. a number of things collected or assembled together
3. a selection of clothes, esp as presented by a particular designer for a specified season
4. something gathered into a mass or pile; accumulation

   a collection of rubbish

5. a sum of money collected or solicited, as in church
6. removal, esp regular removal of letters from a postbox
7. often plural (at Oxford University) a college examination or an oral report by a tutor

Other Words From

• col·lection·al adjective
• noncol·lection noun
• precol·lection noun
• subcol·lection noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of collection¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English colleccioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin collēctiōn-, stem of collēctiō “a gathering together,” from collēct(us) “gathered together” (past participle of colligere; collect ¹ ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

“How can anyone pretend that this collection can serve as a reference for anyone?” the collective asks, noting that online dictionaries are both bigger and faster-moving.

From BBC

It was part of the Anglesey family jewellery collection for about 100 years before it was sold to a private Asian collector in the 1960s.

From BBC

The second item on his to-do list involves continuing negotiations with the city of L.A., which will have to provide traffic control, garbage collection and other services at venues.

From Los Angeles Times

The director of the British Museum, Dr Nicholas Cullinan, said it was an "incomparable private collection".

From BBC

Trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation said he had wanted his private collection to be used to inform and inspire people.

From BBC

Related Words

• assemblage
• assortment
• compilation
• lot
• number
• selection
• set
• store