Compilation: meaning, definitions and examples

Utilized when referring to a curated set of items, often of artistic, literary, or academic value.

• She published a compilation of the best short stories from aspiring writers.
• The album is a compilation of their greatest hits.

Commonly used when referring to an organized group of similar items, often for purposes of study, enjoyment, or possession.

• He has an impressive collection of classic cars.
• The museum has a rich collection of Roman artifacts.

Used when discussing a group of different things or people that have been brought together, usually emphasizing the diversity or variety.

• The art piece was an assemblage of recycled materials.
• At the conference, there was an interesting assemblage of experts from various fields.

Typically used to describe the action of bringing together things or people, often for a specific event or purpose.

• They are gathering signatures for the petition.
• An unexpected gathering of friends happened over the weekend.

This refers to the ongoing process of gathering information, items, or data, usually for documentation or publication.

• She spent months compiling data for her research paper.
• They are compiling a list of all the local restaurants.

A compilation is a collection of works, such as songs or articles, that are brought together from various sources. It is often used for collections that involve some effort in selecting and arranging the pieces.

• The band's greatest hits compilation sold millions of copies.
• This compilation of academic essays is essential reading for this course.

An album generally refers to a collection of recordings issued as a single item on CDs, records, or digital platforms. It is often a cohesive collection of music tracks by a single artist or band.

• Their latest album features ten new tracks.
• She released her debut album last year.

A playlist is a collection of songs or pieces of music grouped together to be played sequentially or randomly. It is usually created digitally and can be shared or tailored to specific events or moods.

• I created a workout playlist to keep me motivated at the gym.
• Her road trip playlist has the perfect mix of genres.

A mixtape is a compilation of music tracks, typically by different artists, that is usually produced and shared informally for promotional purposes. It has a more casual and underground connotation compared to an album.

• The rapper dropped a new mixtape on his website.
• He made a mixtape of his favorite hip-hop tracks for the party.

Best used when referring to something created by collecting and combining various items, information, or works, often related to books, articles, or data.

• The compilation of the quarterly report took several weeks.
• They released a new compilation of their greatest hits.

Often used when referring to items gathered for a purpose, such as a hobby or a curated set of objects.

• Her stamp collection is very impressive.
• The museum has a vast collection of ancient artifacts.

Generally used for bringing people or things together in one place; can also refer to the act of collecting information or items.

• They held a gathering for all the alumni.

Commonly used in contexts where parts or components are put together to form a whole, especially in manufacturing or programming.

• The assembly of the new furniture was more complicated than expected.
• He studied assembly language in his computer science class.

Typically used to describe the process of gathering and organizing information or data, but it can also refer to the process of translating code in programming.

• She spent the day compiling data for the research project.
• Compiling the code revealed several bugs.