Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - collect

~1 v 1 »BRING TOGETHER« to get things of the same type from different places and bring them together  (Researchers spent 6 months collecting facts and figures. | Could you collect some branches for a fire?) 2 »KEEP OBJECTS« to get and keep objects because you think they are attractive or interesting  (The family's been collecting modern art for thirty years.) 3 »MONEY« a) to ask for or obtain money you are owed or something you have won  (He's collected his second gold medal of these Olympics.) b) collect (money) for sth to ask people to give you money for a particular purpose  (We're collecting for Save the Children.) 4 »INCREASE IN AMOUNT« if something collects in a place or you collect it there, it gradually increases in amount  (Rain collected in pools on the uneven road. | solar panels for collecting the sun's heat) 5 »CROWD« to come together gradually to form a group of people  (A crowd was beginning to collect around the scene of the accident.) 6 »DUST/DIRT« to become covered in dust etc  (All the furniture had collected a fine layer of dust.) 7 »TAKE SB/STH FROM A PLACE« especially BrE to come to a particular place in order to take someone or something away  (Martin's gone to collect the children from school.) 8 collect yourself/collect your thoughts etc to make an effort to remain calm and think clearly and carefully about something  (He paused for a moment to collect himself, then pushed open the door.) ~2 adv AmE 1 call/phone sb collect when you telephone someone collect, the person who received the call pays for it 2 collect call a telephone call paid for by the person who receives it ~3 n a short prayer in some Christian services