1 : the act or process of getting things from different places and bringing them together [noncount] ▪ a system of tax collection ▪ The technology makes data collection easier. [count] ▪ There will be a trash collection this week. 2 [count] : a group of interesting or beautiful objects brought together in order to show or study them or as a hobby
▪ The museum's collection is one of the best in the country. ▪ his baseball card collection — often + of ▪ He has a huge collection of CDs. ▪ She has an impressive collection of modern art. ▪ He has quite a collection of exercise equipment. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ She has acquired quite a collection of friends/contacts/experiences/stories. 3 [count] : a request for money in order to help people or to pay for something important
▪ We took up a collection for the school renovations. ; also : the money collected in this way
▪ Ten percent of the collection goes to the city's shelters for homeless people. — often used before another noun ▪ a collection plate/box 4 [count] : a group of clothes that a fashion designer has created
▪ a fashion show featuring his spring collection 5 [count] : a group of different writings that are brought together in one book
▪ You should consider publishing these stories as a collection. — often + of ▪ I have a collection of her short stories.