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¹gather

verb gath·er \ˈga-thər also ˈge-\

: to bring (things or people) together into a group

: to choose and collect (things)

: to get or take (things) from different people or places and bring them together

gath·eredgath·er·ing \ˈgath-riŋ, ˈga-thə-\

Full Definition of GATHER

transitive verb

: to bring together : collect <tried to gather a crowd> <gathered firewood>

a : pick, harvest <gather flowers>

b : to pick up or amass as if by harvesting <gathering ideas for the project>

c : to scoop up or take up from a resting place <gathered the child up in his arms>

: to serve as an attraction for : accumulate <books gathering dust>

: to effect the collection of <gather contributions>

a : to summon up <gathered his courage>

b : to gain by gradual increase <gather speed>

c : to prepare (as oneself) by mustering strength

d : to gain or regain control of <gathered his wits>

: to reach a conclusion often intuitively from hints or through inferences <I gather that you want to leave>

a : to pull (fabric) along a line of stitching so as to draw into puckers

b : to draw about or close to something <gathering her cloak about her>

c : to bring together the parts of <gathered her hair into a ponytail>

d : to assemble (the signatures of a book) in sequence for binding

e : to haul in <the sailors gathered the sails>

intransitive verb

a : to come together in a body

b : to cluster around a focus of attraction

a : to swell and fill with pus

b : grow, increase <the gathering crisis>

— gath·er·er \-thər-ər\ noun

See gather defined for English-language learners

See gather defined for kids

Origin of GATHER

Middle English gaderen, from Old English gaderian; akin to Middle High German gadern to unite — more at good

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to GATHER

Synonyms: accumulate, amass, assemble, bulk (up), collect, concentrate, congregate, constellate, corral, garner, group, lump, pick up, round up, get together

Antonyms: dispel, disperse, dissipate, scatter

Synonym Discussion of GATHER

gather, collect, assemble, congregate mean to come or bring together into a group, mass, or unit. gather is the most general term for bringing or coming together from a spread-out or scattered state <a crowd quickly gathered>. collect often implies careful selection or orderly arrangement <collected books on gardening>. assemble implies an ordered union or organization of persons or things often for a definite purpose <experts assembled for a conference>. congregate implies a spontaneous flocking together into a crowd or huddle <congregating under a shelter>.

synonyms see in addition infer

²gather

noun

: a fold formed when cloth is pulled together

Full Definition of GATHER

: something gathered: as

a : a puckering in cloth made by gathering

b : a mass of molten glass collected for use in glassblowing

: an act or instance of gathering

See gather defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of GATHER

1555

Other Handicraft Terms

biscuit, darn, tambour, wrought

Rhymes with GATHER

blather, Cather, lather, rather, slather

GATHER Defined for Kids

¹gather

verb gath·er \ˈga-thər\

gath·eredgath·er·ing

Definition of GATHER for Kids

: to pick up and collect <They gathered wood for the fire.>

: to choose and collect <gather fruit> <I'm gathering facts for my report.>

: to come together in a group or around a center of attraction <A crowd gathered on the sidewalk.>

: to gain little by little <gather speed>

: to bring or call forth (as strength or courage) from within

: to get an idea : conclude <I gather you don't agree.>

: to draw together in or as if in folds <She gathered her cloak about her.>

Synonym Discussion of GATHER

gather, collect, and assemble mean to come or bring together. gather is used for the coming or bringing together of different kinds of things. <They gathered all the goods in the house and sold them.> collect is used for a careful or orderly gathering of things that are often of one kind. <It's fun to collect coins.> assemble is used for a gathering of units into an orderly whole. <The choir assembled and started to sing.>