collect

A2 · Elementary

v. to buy or find things of a certain type because you enjoy keeping them.

v. to accumulate a number of similar or related objects for recreation, study, or investment.

“My brother used to collect rare coins when he was younger.”

“She has spent decades collecting first-edition novels, eventually amassing one of the most significant private libraries in the country.”

A2 · Elementary British English

v. to go to a place and get someone or something to take them away.

v. to fetch or pick up a person or object from a designated location.

“I need to leave work early to collect my daughter from school.”

“The courier is scheduled to collect the signed documents from the reception desk at four o'clock this afternoon.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to gather in one place to form a group or a pile.

v. to assemble or accumulate in a mass or group; often used of substances or people.

“Dust tends to collect under the bed if you do not clean regularly.”

“A small crowd began to collect outside the courthouse as news of the verdict spread through the city.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to ask for and receive money that people owe, like taxes or rent.

v. to receive or compel payment of money due.

“The charity workers went door-to-door to collect donations for the hospital.”

“The agency was hired to collect outstanding debts from clients who had failed to respond to initial invoices.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to make an effort to become calm and think clearly.

v. to regain control of one's composure or thoughts, especially after a shock.

“She took a deep breath to collect herself before walking onto the stage.”

“He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts, ensuring his response to the hostile question was measured and professional.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate American English

adj. describes a phone call or delivery that the person receiving it pays for.

adj. denoting a shipment or telecommunications connection for which the recipient, rather than the initiator, pays.

“He didn't have any money, so he made a collect call to his parents.”

“The shipping department confirmed that the heavy machinery would be sent via collect freight, with the buyer assuming all transport costs upon arrival.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Religion Formal · Technical

n. a short prayer used in some Christian church services.

n. a brief liturgical prayer used in Western Christian traditions, typically assigned to a specific day or theme.

“The priest read the collect for the day at the start of the service.”

“The congregation stood in silence as the bishop recited the ancient collect, its phrasing preserved from the sixteenth-century prayer book.”