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1 [no object] come together; assemble or accumulate: as soon as a crowd gathered, the police came
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2 [with object] bring together and take in from scattered places or sources: information that we have gathered about people
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(gather something up) pick something up: I gathered up the prescription and went to the door
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(gather something in) harvest grain or other crops: the harvest of wheat and barley had been gathered in
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[no object] collect plants, fruits, etc., for food: the Bushmen live by hunting and gathering
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3 [with object] increase in (speed, force, etc.): the destroyer gathered speed
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4 [with object] infer; understand: [with clause]: I gathered that they were old friends
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5 [with object] summon up (a mental or physical attribute) for a purpose: she lay gathering her thoughts together he gathered himself for a tremendous leap
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gain or recover (one’s breath): she paused to gather her breath and leaned against the wall puffing
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6 [with object] pull (someone) into one’s arms: she gathered the child in her arms
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pull (clothing) more tightly around one’s body.
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7 [with object] draw and hold together (fabric or a part of a garment) by running thread through it: the front is gathered at the waist
