gather

gath|er1 [ `gæðər ] verb ***

▸ 1 come together

▸ 2 search for and find

▸ 3 increase

▸ 4 bring things together

▸ 5 believe when not told

▸ 6 when clouds appear

▸ 7 make many folds in cloth

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive or transitive if people gather or someone gathers them, they come together in one place to see or do something:

A crowd gathered outside the hotel.

Football fans gathered around the TV in the corner of the bar.

She gathered her children and ran for shelter.

There were 60,000 fans gathered in the stadium.

2. ) transitive to look for and find information or documents in different places:

Our report is based on information gathered from all parts of the country.

The police have been gathering evidence against him.

I need to gather together our tax documents.

a ) to search for and find similar things that you need or want:

They live by gathering shellfish and snails.

Bees were gathering pollen from the wild flowers.

3. ) transitive if something gathers force, speed, or strength, its force, speed, or strength increases:

The train pulled away slowly, then gathered speed.

a ) gather momentum to become gradually stronger or more successful:

Opposition to the new law is gathering momentum.

4. ) transitive to bring things closer together, for example to protect something or make it tidy:

Gathering her robe around her, Maria ran upstairs.

She gathered her hair into a knot at the back of her head.

5. ) transitive MAINLY SPOKEN to believe that something is true, although no one has directly told you about it:

You're new here, I gather.

From what I can gather she's madly in love with him.

gather (that): I gather that the storm caused a power failure.

6. ) intransitive if clouds gather, they start to appear and cover part of the sky

7. ) transitive usually passive to make a lot of small folds in cloth:

The dress is gathered at the waist with elastic.

gather dust

to not be used or touched by anyone for a long time:

Too often, expensive toys just gather dust.

gather your strength/courage/energy/wits

to prepare yourself for a difficult situation or action

gather someone into your arms MAINLY LITERARY

to put your arms around someone, especially to protect them

gather yourself (together) MAINLY LITERARY

to calm yourself, usually so you can do something you must do

,gather `in phrasal verb transitive LITERARY

to bring crops from the field when they are ready

,gather `up phrasal verb transitive

to pick up things from several different places and put them together:

Janet quickly gathered up her books and left the classroom.

gather

gath|er 2 [ `gæðər ] noun count often plural

a small fold that has been made in cloth, usually sewn in place