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collect

/kəˈlɛkt/

verb

Meaning

  • To gather together; amass.

    "Suzanne collected all the papers she had laid out."

  • To get; particularly, get from someone.

    "A bank collects a monthly payment on a client's new car loan.   A mortgage company collects a monthly payment on a house."

  • To accumulate (a number of similar or related objects), particularly for a hobby or recreation.

    "I don't think he collects as much as hoards."

  • To form a conclusion; to deduce, infer. (Compare gather, get.)

  • (often with on or against) To collect payments.

    "He had a lot of trouble collecting on that bet he made."

  • To come together in a group or mass.

    "The rain collected in puddles."

  • To infer; to conclude.

  • (of a vehicle or driver) To collide with or crash into (another vehicle or obstacle).

    "The truck veered across the central reservation and collected a car that was travelling in the opposite direction."

adjective

Meaning

  • To be paid for by the recipient, as a telephone call or a shipment.

    "It was to be a collect delivery, but no-one was available to pay."

Synonyms

amound,
gather,
bump into,
plough into,
run into,
group,
mass,
merge,
aggregate,
gather up,
receive,
secure,
assume,
construe

adverb

Meaning

  • With payment due from the recipient.

    "I had to call collect."

Synonyms

amound,
gather,
bump into,
plough into,
run into,
group,
mass,
merge,
aggregate,
gather up,
receive,
secure,
assume,
construe