{
    "term": "collect",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "collect",
            "heSheIt": "collects"
        },
        "pastSimple": "collected",
        "pastParticiple": "collected",
        "ingForm": "collecting"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to bring things together from different people or places",
            "sensetop": "collect somethingcollect something from somebody/something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to **collect data/evidence/information**",
                    "contextForm": "collect something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We're **collecting signatures** for a petition."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The purpose of his trip was to collect material for a book."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**Samples were collected** from over 200 patients.",
                    "contextForm": "collect something from somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "an analysis of 400 specimens collected from 12 localities"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We've been collecting data from various sources."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "gather"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to buy or find things of a particular type and keep them as a hobby",
            "sensetop": "collect something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to collect stamps/postcards/coins"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She started to collect art seriously soon after the turn of the century."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He began collecting antiquities in 1785."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Art"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to gradually increase in amount in a place; to gradually obtain more and more of something in a place",
            "sensetop": "collect + adv./prep.collect something",
            "labels": "(figurative)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "In spite of their efforts a large pool of liquid continued to collect."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Dirt had collected in the corners of the room.",
                    "contextForm": "collect + adv./prep."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Water had collected on the flat roof."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We seem to have collected an enormous number of boxes *(= without intending to)*.",
                    "contextForm": "collect something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It’s amazing how she collects friends."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to go somewhere in order to take somebody/something away",
            "sensetop": "collect somethingcollect something from…collect somebodycollect somebody from…",
            "labels": "(British English)(British English)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What day do they collect the rubbish/garbage?",
                    "contextForm": "collect something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The package is waiting to be collected."
                },
                {
                    "text": "On arrival, collect your keys from reception.",
                    "contextForm": "collect something from…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Someone will be at the airport to collect you.",
                    "contextForm": "collect somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She's gone to collect her son from school.",
                    "contextForm": "collect somebody from…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Your package is ready to be collected."
                },
                {
                    "text": "What time do you have to collect the children from school?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We were invited to London to collect our prize."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They usually collect the rubbish/​garbage on a Thursday."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to ask people to give you money for a particular purpose",
            "sensetop": "collect for somethingcollect somethingcollect something for something",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I've been out collecting, knocking on peoples doors and asking them for money."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We're collecting for local charities.",
                    "contextForm": "collect for something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Volunteers have been going door to door, **collecting money**.",
                    "contextForm": "collect something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We collected over £300 for the appeal.",
                    "contextForm": "collect something for something"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "to obtain the money, etc. that somebody owes, for example by going to their house to get it",
            "sensetop": "collect something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to **collect rent/debts/tax**"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "to receive something; to win something",
            "sensetop": "collect (something)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She collected £25 000 in compensation."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to collect a prize/a medal"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She collected $50 000 on her husband’s life insurance policies."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He went to the casino most nights, but usually failed to collect."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "to come together in one place to form a larger group",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "A crowd began to collect in front of the embassy."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "gather"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to not be used for a long time",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "That guitar's been sitting there gathering dust for years now."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Play your guitar that's gathering dust, or pull out the old tennis racket for a match."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You may already have an old laptop that is collecting dust but otherwise usable."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to try to control your emotions and become calm",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I'm fine—I just need a minute to collect myself."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to prepare yourself mentally for something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She paused to collect her thoughts before entering the interview room."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kəˈlekt/",
                "audio": "co/collect/collect__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kəˈlekts/",
                "audio": "co/collect/collects__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kəˈlektɪd/",
                "audio": "co/collect/collected__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kəˈlektɪŋ/",
                "audio": "co/collect/collecting__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kəˈlekt/",
                "audio": "co/collect/collect__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kəˈlekts/",
                "audio": "co/collect/collects__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kəˈlektɪd/",
                "audio": "co/collect/collected__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kəˈlektɪŋ/",
                "audio": "co/collect/collecting__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: from Old French collecter or medieval Latin collectare, from Latin collect- ‘gathered together’, from the verb colligere, from col- ‘together’ + legere ‘choose or collect’."
}