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

Using some of the resources from High-Flyer, which by 2019 managed over $10 billion in assets, Liang developed a cluster of 10,000 of the Nvidia A100 GPU chips in 2022 before U.S. export restrictions took effect. —Bryan Penprase, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

Meanwhile, her second ring, given to her by Timothy Laurence—her husband of more than 30 years—features an oval-cut cabochon sapphire with a cluster of three diamonds on either side. —Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025

Verb

As might be expected, many of the orange spots were clustered around downtown. —Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025

Experts say the four recent accidents should not be viewed as a systemic, nationwide problem, but rather as four random events that happened to cluster together in time. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 11 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for cluster

• bluster
• buster
• duster
• juster
• luster
• lustre
• muster
• thruster
• trustor
• adjuster
• baluster
• blockbuster

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