cluster

1 of 2

noun

clus·​ter ˈklə-stər 

: a number of similar things that occur together: such as

a

: two or more consecutive consonants or vowels in a segment of speech

b

: a group of buildings and especially houses built close together on a sizable tract in order to preserve open spaces larger than the individual yard for common recreation

c

: an aggregation of stars or galaxies that appear close together in the sky and are gravitationally associated

the Perseus cluster of galaxies

d

: a larger than expected number of cases of disease (such as leukemia) occurring in a particular locality, group of people, or period of time

e

: a number of computers networked together in order to function as a single computing system

Consisting of groups of inexpensive machines cobbled together, clusters in many ways have supplanted traditional supercomputers.

—Elizabeth K. Wilson

clustery

ˈklə-st(ə-)rē 

adjective

cluster

2 of 2

verb

clustered; clustering ˈklə-st(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to collect into a cluster

cluster the tents together

2

: to furnish with clusters

the bridge was clustered with men and officers

—Herman Wouk

intransitive verb

: to grow, assemble, or occur in a cluster

they clustered around the fire

Synonyms

Noun

• array
• assemblage
• band
• bank
• batch
• battery
• block
• bunch
• clot
• clump
• clutch
• collection
• constellation
• group
• grouping
• huddle
• knot
• lot
• muster
• package
• parcel
• passel
• set
• suite

Verb

• assemble
• collect
• concenter
• concentrate
• conglomerate
• congregate
• convene
• converge
• forgather
• foregather
• gather
• meet
• rendezvous

Examples of cluster in a Sentence

Noun

a cluster of cottages along the shore

A small cluster of people had gathered at the scene of the accident.

Verb

The children clustered around the storyteller.

the mice clustered together into a small burrow

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Serious cases are treated in a nearby cluster of tents that form a makeshift field hospital. —Bilal Shbair, New York Times, 6 June 2024

June 5: Moon near Pleiades, Jupiter, and Mercury The eastern horizon planet party will continue raging in the early morning through much of this month, but June 5 will be extra special for fans of Pleiades, a bright and naked-eye visible star cluster. —Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2024

Verb

By surrounding each cell with this sticky, elastic material, bacterial cells will cluster together to form a living slime. —Sara Molinari, The Conversation, 11 Oct. 2022

And the few that do cause widespread harm to humans conveniently cluster into groups, which serve as targets for broadly neutralizing antibodies. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English clyster; akin to Old English clott clot

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing cluster

• cluster analysis
• cluster bomb
• cluster headache
• globular cluster
• inter-cluster
• oak-leaf cluster
• sub-cluster

Kids Definition

cluster

1 of 2 noun

clus·​ter ˈkləs-tər 

: a number of similar things growing, collected, or grouped together : bunch

a cluster of houses

a flower cluster

cluster

2 of 2 verb

clustered; clustering -t(ə-)riŋ 

: to grow, collect, or gather in a cluster

Medical Definition

cluster

noun

clus·​ter ˈkləs-tər 

: a larger than expected number of cases of disease (as leukemia) occurring in a particular locality, group of people, or period of time