collection

noun

col·​lec·​tion kə-ˈlek-shən 

1

: the act or process of collecting

the collection of data

the collection of taxes

2

a

: something collected

especially : an accumulation of objects gathered for study, comparison, or exhibition or as a hobby

a collection of poems

a collection of photographs

a baseball card collection

b

: group, aggregate

a collection of symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, and joint pain

c

: a set of apparel designed for sale usually in a particular season

the designer's spring collection of dresses

Synonyms

• assemblage
• library

Examples of collection in a Sentence

a system of tax collection

The technology makes data collection easier.

There will be a trash collection this week.

The museum's collection is one of the best in the country.

We took up a collection for the school renovations.

Ten percent of the collection goes to the city's shelters for homeless people.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is just one of three 1964 Valiants in his collection, none of which are for sale. —David Krumboltz, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024

Patek Philippe divides its current collection into complications (world timers, chronographs, and annual calendars) and grand complications (perpetual calendars, tourbillons, chiming watches, and so on). —Sophie Furley, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024

Back in February, Marc Jacobs unveiled his Fall/Winter 2024 collection a full week ahead of the official NYFW calendar. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024

Full Vertical Collection This collection is valued at $12,000. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English colleccioun, collection, borrowed from Anglo-French collection, borrowed from Latin collēctiōn-, collēctiō "bringing together, accumulation," from colleg-, variant stem of colligere "to gather together, assemble, accumulate, pull (oneself) together" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at collect entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing collection

• sub-collection

Kids Definition

collection

noun

col·​lec·​tion kə-ˈlek-shən 

1

: the act or process of collecting

2

a

: something collected

especially : an accumulation of objects gathered for study, comparison, or exhibition or as a hobby

b

: set entry 2 sense 7

3

: a gathering of money

take up a collection