1 gath·er
Pronounced:
/ˈgæðɚ/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
gath·ers; gath·ered; gath·er·ingMeaning:
1 [+ obj] 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 obj] : to come together to form a group ▪ A crowd began to gather on the sidewalk. ▪ The players gathered together to hear the coach's game plan. —often + around or round ▪ Everyone gathered around him as he began to speak. ▪ He asked us to gather round.
3 [+ obj] : to get more of (something, such as speed) gradually ▪ The bicyclists gathered speed as they went downhill. ▪ The campaign has begun to gather momentum/strength. [=has begun to be more popular and effective] —see also gathering dust at 1dust
4 [no obj] : 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 [+ obj] 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 [+ obj] : 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 [+ obj] : 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 [+ obj] sewing : to pull (cloth) along a line of stitches to form folds ▪ I gathered the fabric to make small pleats.
2 [no obj] : to come together to form a group ▪ A crowd began to gather on the sidewalk. ▪ The players gathered together to hear the coach's game plan. —often + around or round ▪ Everyone gathered around him as he began to speak. ▪ He asked us to gather round.
3 [+ obj] : to get more of (something, such as speed) gradually ▪ The bicyclists gathered speed as they went downhill. ▪ The campaign has begun to gather momentum/strength. [=has begun to be more popular and effective] —see also gathering dust at 1dust
4 [no obj] : 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 [+ obj] 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 [+ obj] : 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 [+ obj] : 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 [+ obj] sewing : to pull (cloth) along a line of stitches to form folds ▪ I gathered the fabric to make small pleats.
—gath·er·er /ˈgæðɚrɚ/ noun plural gath·er·ers [count] ▪ a gatherer of data/information ▪ hunters and gatherers [=people who gather food]
/ˈgæðɚrɚ/ noun plural gath·er·ers [count] ▪ a gatherer of data/information ▪ hunters and gatherers [=people who gather food]