collector

noun

col·​lec·​tor kə-ˈlek-tər 

: one that collects: such as

a

: an official who collects funds or moneys

b

: a person who makes a collection

stamp collector

c

: an object or device that collects

the statuette was a dust collector

d

: solar collector

collectorship

kə-ˈlek-tər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of collector in a Sentence

He is an avid stamp collector.

The painting was purchased by a private collector.

The trash collectors came early today.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lawmakers and candidates should look at the people around them who help make their own lives better by showing up in lower-paying jobs: the laborers, wait staff, childcare workers, trash collectors, and more. —Hank Cardello, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Photo : Michael Alan Ross Magnus Walker, renowned collector and modifier of Porsches. —Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2024

That helped draw an international crowd of collectors and curators. —Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 30 Oct. 2024

Besides merch, can beauty products such as Rhode’s cutesy blush become a collector’s item like trainers? —Avani Thakkar, refinery29.com, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English collectour, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin collēctōr-, collēctor, from colleg-, variant stem of colligere "to gather together, assemble, accumulate" + -tōr-, -tor, agent suffix — more at collect entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing collector

• collector's item
• solar collector

Kids Definition

collector

noun

col·​lec·​tor kə-ˈlek-tər 

1

: a person whose job is to collect money due

tax collector

bill collector

2

: one that makes a collection

stamp collector

3

: an object or device that collects

the ornament was just a dust collector