collation

American  

[kuh-ley-shuhn, koh-, ko-] / kəˈleɪ ʃən, koʊ-, kɒ- /

noun

1. the act of collating.

2. Bibliography. the verification of the number and order of the leaves and signatures of a volume.

3. a light meal that may be permitted on days of general fast.

4. any light meal.

5. (in a monastery) the practice of reading and conversing on the lives of the saints or the Scriptures at the close of the day.

6. the presentation of a member of the clergy to a benefice, especially by a bishop who is the patron or has acquired the patron's rights.

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collation British  

/ kə-, kɒˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of collating

2. a description of the technical features of a book

3. RC Church a light meal permitted on fast days

4. any light informal meal

5. the appointment of a clergyman to a benefice

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Etymology

Origin of collation

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English collacion, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin collātiōn-, stem of collātiō “placement together, combination”; equivalent to collate + -ion

Explanation

A collation is the collection and ordering of materials, usually paper. It can be tedious and repetitive work, so most people are more than happy to let a copy machine do the job for them. Collation actually has two separate and very different meanings. After you finish the collation of all those document pages, you might grab a quick collation. (That is, you deserve a light snack after all that organizing.) That's right, a collation is also "a light meal," usually cold, and often set out for people to take at their leisure. It sometimes refers to a small meal eaten on fasting days.

Example Sentences

Saudi Arabia entered the war in 2015, heading a military collation with the United Arab Emirates and other Arab nations.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 16, 2023

“I have arranged a collation, if you will do me the honour. We were all up early today.”

From The Guardian • Feb. 22, 2020

To help in that ambition, the 29 clubs are sharing data about their youngsters - although the players remain anonymous when data is forwarded for collation.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2015

In June 2003, the U.S. carried out air strikes near Haditha to allow collation forces to seize the facility from Saddam Hussein’s army.

From Time • Sep. 8, 2014

We lunched on a cold collation of duck and mutton shortly after noon; then betook ourselves to the instruments to observe the Transit.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson