English Reference

Word

collage

Phoneticscol·lage, stress on the second syllable

US/kəˈɫɑʒ/

UK/kɒlˈɑːʒ/

Definitions

01visual art

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a picture made by sticking pieces of different materials, such as paper, cloth, or photographs, onto a surface.

n. a work of art created by affixing various materials—such as paper clippings, fabric, or found objects—to a backing or surface.

“The children made a colorful collage using old magazines and glue.”

“The artist's latest collage juxtaposes vintage newsprint with vibrant silk fragments to comment on the fragility of historical memory.”

Synonyms

montageassemblage

02a collection of things

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a collection of different things, like sounds, ideas, or images, put together to make something new.

n. a diverse collection or combination of distinct elements, often used to describe abstract compositions in film, music, or literature.

“The documentary was a collage of interviews and old home videos.”

“The novel functions as a literary collage, weaving together diary entries, police reports, and lyrical prose to tell a non-linear story.”

Synonyms

mixturemedleypatchwork

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French collage. Doublet of collagen, colloid, and protocol.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Frequent
Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

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