collections - Master This Word
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collections Word Meanings
- a group of things collected together
- an act of collecting items or data
- a set of works or items with a common theme
collections Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
- I have a collection of stamps.
- She started a collection of coins.
- Our school has a book collection.
- His collection of toys is very large.
- They love to see my art collection.
collections Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/kəˈlɛkʃən/
US
/kəˈlɛkʃən/
collections Word Etymology
The word is broken down as 'col-' = together + 'lect' = to gather. It originates from Latin 'collectio', which came into Old French before entering English. Visualize a group of friends gathering in a cozy library, each bringing their favorite book to form a shared collection.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I start by lifting a few items and setting them on the table, feeling them settle as I move them into place. I shift a photo here, pull a postcard there, and adjust the spacing until the line feels balanced. I decide what belongs together, hold the group steady, and keep adding until the shelf looks like a small collection. The more I arrange, the more the idea of a collection comes alive, a quiet order you can hold in one glance.
Real Context
Collection is a flexible noun that refers to three related ideas. First, a group of things gathered together, such as a stamp collection or a library's rare-book collection. Second, the act or process of collecting items or data, often used in research, surveys, and archiving. Third, a set of works or items linked by a common theme, genre, or provenance, like a collection of short stories or a photograph collection. The term can pair with numbers (a collection of ten stamps) or with compound nouns (art collection, data collection). In everyday speech, collection describes both the objects and the ongoing act of gathering, so watch for context clues to pick the right meaning.
Usage Reminders
- Use with physical items: a collection of coins; with data: data collection; with themed works: a collection of photographs; watch for countable vs non-countable nouns; prefer 'a collection' for objects and 'collected data' for results.
Common Misconceptions
- Thinking collection only means a physical pile of items
- Mistaking 'collection of data' for 'data collection' a noun vs. verb issue
- Using 'collection' when a single item is meant (e. g., one stamp) instead of a group
- Confusing 'collection' with 'collective' or 'gathering' as a synonym
- Overlooking the themed-group sense (a collection of works)
Thinking Differences
English tends to treat collection as both a tangible group and an ongoing activity; learners often mix up the noun with the verb form and struggle with 'data collection' vs 'collection of data'.
Learning Tips
- Note whether you are talking about objects or the act of gathering.
- Use data collection for the process; 'collection of data' is typically awkward in formal writing.
- Pair 'collection' with the theme (a collection of paintings) rather than with data.
- When counting, say 'a collection of five stamps' rather than 'five collections of stamps'.
- Learn common collocations: art collection, data collection, collection of works.
- Practice distinguishing collections from collectives or groups in different contexts.
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