collection
B1Neutral (used across formal, informal, and technical contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A group of objects or items gathered together.
The act or process of gathering; a range of creative works by one artist or in one place; money collected for a purpose (e.g., church collection); a regular removal of mail or waste.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Core meaning is concrete (group of items). Extended meanings include action/process, financial, and logistical domains.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the context of waste/garbage, BrE uses "rubbish collection", AmE uses "garbage collection/trash pickup". For mail, BrE uses "post collection", AmE "mail collection". The financial sense (money gathered) is common in both.
Connotations
Equally neutral in both dialects. No significant connotative difference.
Frequency
Equally frequent and core in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
collection of + [plural noun]collection for + [purpose/charity]collection by + [agent/artist]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take up a collection (to gather money)”
- “A fine collection of... (often ironic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the process of obtaining payment of debts (debt collection), or a seasonal set of products (autumn collection).
Academic
Systematic gathering of data or specimens for study (data collection, specimen collection).
Everyday
Group of personally owned items (DVD collection), or the day rubbish is taken.
Technical
In computing, a class of objects for storing data (e.g., Java Collection Framework).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I need to collect the children from school.
- He collects vintage motorcycles.
American English
- We collect the mail every afternoon.
- She collects data for her research.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form of 'collection').
American English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form of 'collection').
adjective
British English
- The collection point for parcels is at the rear.
- Collection day for recycling is Tuesday.
American English
- Please use the collection bin for donations.
- The collection agency handles overdue bills.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has a big collection of postcards.
- The rubbish collection is on Monday.
- The museum has a fascinating collection of ancient coins.
- We made a collection to buy a gift for the teacher.
- The designer's latest collection was showcased at London Fashion Week.
- Effective data collection is crucial for the study's validity.
- His extensive collection of first editions is bequeathed to the national library.
- The poem is part of a larger collection exploring themes of exile.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a detective COLlecting EVIDENCE to form a COLLECTION of clues.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/OBJECTS ARE VALUABLES TO BE COLLECTED (e.g., 'a collection of facts').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'коллекция' for the *action* of collecting. Use 'collecting' or 'gathering'.
- In logistical contexts (mail, waste), Russian may use 'вывоз' or 'сбор', which map to 'collection'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'collection' as a countable noun for a single item (e.g., 'This is a nice collection' referring to one painting).
- Confusing 'collection' (n) with 'collecting' (gerund) for the action.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'collection' LEAST likely to refer to a group of physical objects?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily countable (a collection, two collections). The *action* sense can be uncountable (e.g., 'the collection of data').
A 'collection' implies things gathered over time, often by a collector. A 'selection' implies a curated subset chosen from a larger group.
Rarely for a random group. It can be used for a group assembled for a purpose (e.g., 'a collection of dignitaries'), but 'gathering' or 'group' is more natural.
The verb is 'to collect'. It is directly related, meaning to bring or gather together.
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