gather
3 ENTRIES FOUND:
gathers;
gathered;
gathering
gathers;
gathered;
gathering
Britannica Dictionary definition of GATHER
1
[+ object]
a
:
to bring (things or people) together into a group
-
The children gathered their toys (together) and put them away.
-
Give me just a minute to gather my things and then we can leave.
-
The coach gathered her players together.
-
She gathered her hair into a ponytail.
b
:
to choose and collect (things)
-
We gathered (up) wood for the fire.
-
The child was gathering flowers to give to his mother.
-
She has been gathering poems (together) for/into a collection.
c
:
to get or take (things) from different people or places and bring them together
-
The police are continuing to gather evidence relating to the crime.
-
Volunteers have been gathering contributions for the new library.
2
[no object]
:
to come together to form a group
— often + around or round
-
A crowd began to gather on the sidewalk.
-
The players gathered together to hear the coach's game plan.
-
Everyone gathered around him as he began to speak.
-
He asked us to gather round.
3
[+ object]
:
to get more of (something, such as speed) gradually
—
see also gathering dust at 1dust
-
The bicyclists gathered speed as they went downhill.
-
The campaign has begun to gather momentum/strength. [=has begun to be more popular and effective]
4
[no object]
:
to increase in amount or strength
-
Clouds had begun to gather overhead.
-
We hurried home in the gathering darkness.
-
the gathering storm
-
the gathering [=worsening] crisis
5
[+ object]
a
:
to prepare yourself to use (your courage, strength, etc.) in order to do something difficult
-
He gathered his courage and finally spoke up.
-
Despite her injury, she gathered her strength and was able to finish the race.
b
:
to prepare (yourself, your thoughts, etc.) before doing something difficult
-
He paused to gather himself before stepping out onto the stage.
-
I barely had time to gather my thoughts/wits before replying.
6
not used in progressive tenses,
[+ object]
:
to believe that something is probably true because of what you have heard or learned
-
I gather (from her comments) that she's read a great deal about this topic. = From what I (can) gather, she's read a great deal about this topic.
-
“She's read a great deal about this topic.” “So I gather!”
7
[+ object]
:
to pull (someone or something) close to your body
-
He gathered the child (up) in his arms.
-
She gathered her cloak around her before stepping outside.
8
[+ object]
sewing
:
to pull (cloth) along a line of stitches to form folds
-
I gathered the fabric to make small pleats.
-
a gatherer of data/information
-
hunters and gatherers [=people who gather food]
2
gather
/ˈgæðɚ/
noun
plural
gathers
2
gather
/ˈgæðɚ/
noun
plural
gathers
Britannica Dictionary definition of GATHER
[count]
:
a fold formed when cloth is pulled together
— usually plural
-
a shirt with gathers at the shoulders
