Collector: meaning, definitions and examples

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collector

[kəˈlɛktər ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

money

A person whose job is to collect payments from people or businesses.

Synonyms

gatherer, gleaner, receiver.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
collector	Can also refer to someone who collects money, such as a debt collector or tax collector. The debt collector called insisting on payment Each district has a tax collector to manage local revenues
gatherer	Refers to someone who collects items or resources, typically in a general sense and often historically, as in hunter-gatherer societies. He works as a data gatherer for the research project Early humans were primarily hunters and gatherers
receiver	Used for someone who takes possession or is the recipient of something, such as goods, messages, or payments. Also, can have a legal context regarding handling assets in bankruptcy cases. She was the receiver of the charity donations The court appointed a receiver to manage the bankrupt company's assets
gleaner	Refers to someone who collects leftover crops from fields after they have been commercially harvested. This word has a more rural and traditional usage. In some rural areas, communities still have gleaners who collect the remaining grain The painting showed gleaners working in the fields at dusk

Examples of usage

The tax collector comes to our office every month to collect our taxes.
The museum has hired a new collector to acquire valuable artworks for their collection.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

stamps

A person who collects stamps as a hobby.

Synonyms

philatelist, stamp enthusiast.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
collector	A general term used for someone who gathers items of a particular type, such as coins, stamps, or antiques. He is a collector of rare books She has been a collector of vintage postcards for years
philatelist	A specific term for someone who studies or collects stamps. Often used in more formal or specialized contexts. The philatelist showcased his rare stamp collection at the exhibition She met several philatelists at the stamp convention
stamp enthusiast	A term that emphasizes a strong interest or passion for collecting stamps, often used in both casual and formal contexts. As a stamp enthusiast, he spends his weekends hunting for rare editions She joined a club for stamp enthusiasts to share her passion

Word

Description / Examples

collector

A general term used for someone who gathers items of a particular type, such as coins, stamps, or antiques.

He is a collector of rare books
She has been a collector of vintage postcards for years

philatelist

A specific term for someone who studies or collects stamps. Often used in more formal or specialized contexts.

The philatelist showcased his rare stamp collection at the exhibition
She met several philatelists at the stamp convention

stamp enthusiast

A term that emphasizes a strong interest or passion for collecting stamps, often used in both casual and formal contexts.

As a stamp enthusiast, he spends his weekends hunting for rare editions
She joined a club for stamp enthusiasts to share her passion

Examples of usage

My grandfather is an avid stamp collector and has a huge collection from all over the world.
The stamp collector was thrilled to find a rare stamp at the flea market.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

art

A person who collects works of art, often for investment purposes.

Synonyms

art aficionado, art connoisseur.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
collector	This word is best used to describe someone who gathers items of a particular kind, often for a hobby or investment. It is a general term and does not imply any particular expertise. He is a collector of vintage stamps
art connoisseur	This word describes someone who possesses expert knowledge and a refined taste in art. It implies a high level of sophistication and ability to critically evaluate art. The art connoisseur immediately recognized the painting as an early work of the renowned artist
art aficionado	This term is used to describe a person who is highly enthusiastic and passionate about art but may not necessarily have expert knowledge. It suggests a deep appreciation and love for art. As an art aficionado, she spends her weekends visiting galleries

Word

Description / Examples

collector

This word is best used to describe someone who gathers items of a particular kind, often for a hobby or investment. It is a general term and does not imply any particular expertise.

He is a collector of vintage stamps

art connoisseur

This word describes someone who possesses expert knowledge and a refined taste in art. It implies a high level of sophistication and ability to critically evaluate art.

The art connoisseur immediately recognized the painting as an early work of the renowned artist

art aficionado

This term is used to describe a person who is highly enthusiastic and passionate about art but may not necessarily have expert knowledge. It suggests a deep appreciation and love for art.

As an art aficionado, she spends her weekends visiting galleries

Examples of usage

The art collector bid on the Picasso painting at the auction.
She is a well-known art collector with an impressive collection of contemporary art.

^{Context #4 | Noun}

data

A device or mechanism for gathering data.

Synonyms

data logger, data recorder.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
collector	A person who gathers items of a particular type as a hobby or for a collection. He is a stamp collector She has been a coin collector since she was a child
data logger	An electronic device that records data over time or in relation to location, often used in scientific and industrial applications. The temperature data logger was placed in the greenhouse They used a data logger to monitor the environmental conditions during the experiment
data recorder	A device that captures and stores data, commonly used in research and data analysis. The data recorder was essential for tracking the experiment's progress Researchers relied on the data recorder to store the complex data sets

Word

Description / Examples

collector

A person who gathers items of a particular type as a hobby or for a collection.

He is a stamp collector
She has been a coin collector since she was a child

data logger

An electronic device that records data over time or in relation to location, often used in scientific and industrial applications.

The temperature data logger was placed in the greenhouse
They used a data logger to monitor the environmental conditions during the experiment

data recorder

A device that captures and stores data, commonly used in research and data analysis.

The data recorder was essential for tracking the experiment's progress
Researchers relied on the data recorder to store the complex data sets

Examples of usage

The weather station has an automatic rain collector that measures precipitation.
The data collector is used to gather information from various sensors in the laboratory.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'collector' comes from the Latin 'collectus', meaning 'gathered together'.
Historically, collectors were often seen as wealthy individuals who amassed rare items from different cultures.

Art & Culture

Famous collectors like King Ludwig II of Bavaria collected art and furniture that shaped the aesthetics of historic castles.
Many museums started as the private collections of individuals, showcasing how personal interests can impact public culture.

Psychology

Collecting can fulfill emotional needs, as people find joy and nostalgia in the items they gather.
Hoarding is recognized as a psychological condition, where individuals collect items excessively, impacting their living conditions.

Pop Culture

Many movies and shows feature collectors, like the 'Pokémon' series, where characters collect creatures to become master trainers.
Vinyl records have seen a resurgence in popularity, with collectors driving the market for vintage music memorabilia.

Technology

With the rise of digital art, collectors are now purchasing NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) as digital collectibles.
Collecting data and personal information has also become a new form of collection in the tech industry, raising privacy concerns.

Translations

Translations of the word "collector" in other languages:

🇵🇹 colecionador

🇮🇳 संग्राहक

🇩🇪 Sammler

🇮🇩 kolektor

🇺🇦 колекціонер

🇵🇱 kolekcjoner

🇯🇵 コレクター

🇫🇷 collectionneur

🇪🇸 coleccionista

🇹🇷 koleksiyoncu

🇰🇷 수집가

🇸🇦 جامع

🇨🇿 sběratel

🇸🇰 zberateľ

🇨🇳 收藏家

🇸🇮 zbiratelj

🇮🇸 safnari

🇰🇿 жинаушы

🇬🇪 შემგროვებელი

🇦🇿 koleksiyaçı

🇲🇽 coleccionista

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,793, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.

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4790 emphasize
4791 alliance
4792 traced
4793 collector
4794 molecule
4795 metabolism
4796 grief
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