gleanings: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “gleanings” mean?
Small amounts of information or physical items collected slowly and with effort from various sources.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Small amounts of information or physical items collected slowly and with effort from various sources.
The useful or valuable pieces that remain after a main collection or harvest; the results of careful gathering or research.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more literary in both varieties.
Connotations
Same connotations of careful, piecemeal collection in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “gleanings” in a Sentence
gleanings from + sourcegleanings of + abstract noun (e.g., knowledge)gleanings + relative clause (that/which...)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gleanings” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The researchers gleaned useful data from old parish registers.
- She gleaned a sense of the company's culture from the interview.
American English
- He gleaned tips from online forums to fix his car.
- From the report, we gleaned that sales are improving.
adverb
British English
- [No adverbial form.]
American English
- [No adverbial form.]
adjective
British English
- [The adjective form 'gleaning' is not standard.]
American English
- [The adjective form 'gleaning' is not standard.]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could refer to insights gathered from market research data.
Academic
Used in humanities and social sciences for information pieced together from various primary sources.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used metaphorically for bits of gossip or news.
Technical
In agriculture: the grain left in a field after harvesting. In data science: insights derived from fragmented datasets.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gleanings”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gleanings”
- Using as a singular noun ('a gleaning').
- Confusing with 'gleaming' (shining).
- Using in overly casual contexts where 'bits' or 'pieces' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is almost exclusively used as a plural noun. The singular 'gleaning' is very rare and often sounds unnatural.
Yes, its original meaning refers to physical grains left in a field after harvest. It is now more commonly used for information or abstract things, but physical use is still possible.
'Findings' suggests a more formal, complete, or conclusive result of research. 'Gleanings' implies a more scattered, incomplete, and painstakingly gathered collection of bits and pieces.
It is more common than the noun 'gleanings' and is used in formal or literary contexts to mean 'to collect information bit by bit'.
Small amounts of information or physical items collected slowly and with effort from various sources.
Gleanings is usually formal, literary in register.
Gleanings: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡliːnɪŋz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡlinɪŋz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'gleanings']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a farmer GLEANING (gathering) the last grains of corn. GLEANINGS are what they have GLEANED + ING + S.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A HARVEST / KNOWLEDGE IS FOOD (gleanings are the scraps of food/information left after the main harvest/collection).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'gleanings' CORRECTLY?