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collection

n.
US //kəˈɫɛkʃən// UK //kəlˈɛkʃən// col·lec·tion
  1. 1 a group of items (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a group of objects that someone has gathered because they are interesting or valuable.

    a set of items or amount of material gathered or presented together as a coherent group.

    Example

    He has an impressive collection of old coins from all over the world.

    Example

    The museum's permanent collection includes several rare manuscripts that have never been displayed to the public before.
  2. 2 the act of gathering (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the act of picking things up or bringing them together.

    the systematic process of gathering objects, data, or materials from various sources.

    Example

    Trash collection usually happens early on Tuesday mornings.

    Example

    The automated data collection system monitors traffic patterns every hour to help urban planners reduce congestion.
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  1. 3 gathering money (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    money that is collected from people for a charity or a special reason.

    the act of soliciting and gathering monetary contributions, often for charitable or religious purposes.

    Example

    The church took up a collection to help the families affected by the fire.

    Example

    The charity organised a door-to-door collection to raise funds for the new community hospital wing.
  2. 4 debt recovery (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Law

    the work of getting money from people who have not paid their bills.

    the process of pursuing payments of debts owed by individuals or businesses.

    Example

    If you don't pay your bill soon, the account will be sent to a collection agency.

    Example

    The legal department specialises in debt collection, ensuring that all outstanding invoices are settled within the fiscal quarter.

    Usage

    Often used in the plural form 'collections' to refer to a department in a company.
  3. 5 musical notes (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Music

    a group of musical notes that a composer chooses to use in a piece of music.

    a set of pitch classes used as the harmonic or melodic basis for a musical composition.

    Example

    The composer used a specific collection of notes to create a haunting melody.

    Example

    The analyst noted that the entire movement is derived from a single hexachordal collection, providing a sense of structural unity.
Origin

From Middle English colleccioun, collection, from Old French collection, from Latin collēctiō, collēctiōnem, from collēctus, from colligō (“collect together”), composed of con- + legō (“bring together, gather, collect”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (“to gather, collect”). Equivalen to collect + -ion.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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