Clusters: meaning, definitions and examples

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clusters

 

[ˈklʌstərz ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

data processing

Clusters are groups of linked objects or entities that are close together in space or time.

Synonyms

collection, group, set.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
clusters

Usually refers to a group of similar things or people positioned or occurring closely together. Often used in scientific, statistical, or technological contexts.

  • The astronomers observed clusters of stars through the telescope.
  • Clusters of students gathered around the teacher.
group

Refers to a number of people or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

  • A group of friends went hiking in the mountains.
  • The manager divided the workers into small groups.
collection

Best used when referring to a group of objects or works that have been gathered, often for a purpose like display or study.

  • She has an impressive collection of vintage stamps.
  • The museum houses a diverse collection of ancient artifacts.
set

Indicates a collection of distinct objects considered as a whole. Commonly used in mathematical and logical contexts, as well as everyday language.

  • She bought a new set of dishes for her kitchen.
  • In mathematics, a set is a collection of distinct objects.

Examples of usage

  • Data points that belong to the same cluster are more similar to each other than to those in other clusters.
  • In image processing, clusters are often used to group similar pixels together.
Context #2 | Noun

computing

In computing, clusters refer to multiple computers working together as a single system.

Synonyms

cluster computing, server farm.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
clusters

This can also refer to groups of servers or computers grouped together for enhanced performance and fault tolerance.

  • The network's server clusters ensure high availability and reliability.
  • The IT team is setting up clusters to improve system performance.
cluster computing

This phrase is used in the context of computer science and information technology to describe multiple computers working together as a single system to perform tasks efficiently.

  • Cluster computing is ideal for handling large datasets quickly.
  • Many companies rely on cluster computing for their big data applications.
server farm

This term is used to refer to a large collection of computer servers maintained by an organization to provide services, store data, or run applications. Typically associated with data centers.

  • Google operates several server farms around the world.
  • The new server farm will significantly increase our data storage capacity.

Examples of usage

  • Cluster computing allows for high-performance parallel processing.
  • The cluster of servers ensures redundancy and load balancing.
Context #3 | Verb

data analysis

To cluster data is to group similar data points together based on certain criteria.

Synonyms

categorize, classify, group.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
clusters

This can refer to grouping items that are found together or have similar features. It's often used in data analysis, geography, or when describing a collection of similar items.

  • The researchers found that the stars formed clusters in the night sky.
  • We identified several clusters of symptoms in the patient reports.
group

Used for organizing people or things into sets based on common attributes or purposes. It's the most general term and can be applied in both formal and informal settings.

  • Please group the students by their skill levels.
  • I will group the files in the project folder for easier access.
categorize

Used when you need to arrange or organize something into specific categories or classes based on their characteristics or properties.

  • You should categorize your expenses to better manage your budget.
  • The software can categorize emails automatically.
classify

Appropriate for sorting or organizing items, especially in scientific, technical, or formal contexts. It often implies a more systematic or detailed process than 'categorize'.

  • Scientists classify animals based on their physical characteristics.
  • The librarian will classify the new books according to their genres.

Examples of usage

  • Researchers often use clustering algorithms to analyze large datasets.
  • The algorithm clusters the data points into distinct groups.

Translations

Translations of the word "clusters" in other languages:

🇵🇹 aglomerados

🇮🇳 क्लस्टर

🇩🇪 Cluster

🇮🇩 kluster

🇺🇦 кластери

🇵🇱 klastry

🇯🇵 クラスタ

🇫🇷 clusters

🇪🇸 clústeres

🇹🇷 kümeler

🇰🇷 클러스터

🇸🇦 مجموعات

🇨🇿 shluky

🇸🇰 klastre

🇨🇳 集群

🇸🇮 grozdi

🇮🇸 klasa

🇰🇿 кластерлер

🇬🇪 კლასტერი

🇦🇿 klasterlər

🇲🇽 clústeres

Etymology

The word 'clusters' originates from the Middle English word 'closter,' which meant a group of things close together. Over time, the term evolved to refer to various groupings in different fields, such as data processing and computing. The concept of clustering has become essential in data analysis and computing, allowing for efficient organization and processing of information.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,616 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.