cluster

American  

[kluhs-ter] / ˈklʌs tər /

noun

1. a number of things of the same kind, growing or held together; a bunch.

   a cluster of grapes.

2. a group of things or persons close together.

   There was a cluster of tourists at the gate.

3. U.S. Army.  a small metal design placed on a ribbon representing an awarded medal to indicate that the same medal has been awarded again.

   oak-leaf cluster.

4. Phonetics.  a succession of two or more contiguous consonants in an utterance, as the str- cluster of strap.

5. Astronomy.  a group of neighboring stars, held together by mutual gravitation, that have essentially the same age and composition and thus supposedly a common origin.

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verb (used with object)

1. to gather into a cluster or clusters.

2. to furnish or cover with clusters.

verb (used without object)

1. to form a cluster or clusters.

   The people clustered around to watch.

   Synonyms:

   bunch , crowd , throng , gather , group

cluster British  

/ ˈklʌstə /

noun

1. a number of things growing, fastened, or occurring close together

2. a number of persons or things grouped together

3. military a metal insignia worn on a medal ribbon to indicate a second award or a higher class of a decoration or order

4. military

   1. a group of bombs dropped in one stick, esp fragmentation and incendiary bombs

   2. the basic unit of mines used in laying a minefield

5. astronomy an aggregation of stars or galaxies moving together through space

6. a group of two or more consecutive vowels or consonants

7. statistics a naturally occurring subgroup of a population used in stratified sampling

8. chem

   1. a chemical compound or molecule containing groups of metal atoms joined by metal-to-metal bonds

   2. the group of linked metal atoms present

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verb

1. to gather or be gathered in clusters

Other Word Forms

• clustered adjective
• clusteringly adverb
• clustery adjective
• intercluster adjective
• subcluster noun
• unclustered adjective
• unclustering adjective

Etymology

Origin of cluster

before 900; Middle English; Old English cluster, clyster bunch; cognate with Low German kluster

Example Sentences

Circular and rectangular ditches, drainage channels, raised planting platforms, and clusters of mounds create a complex network designed for water control and cultivation.

From Science Daily

Officials said the attack followed the same pattern seen across a cluster of villages reporting similar incidents since September.

From Barron's

They have taken photos with visiting families on the National Mall, gathered outside metro stations during rush hour, and walked downtown streets in two- or three-troop clusters.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Spring” is a densely packed wall, interrupted by two doorways, which causes Ms. Yukhnovich’s floral interventions to cluster particularly close together, suggesting the sudden bursting forth of life following the hoary months.

From The Wall Street Journal

Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans called it an "exciting project" that would "benefit from the robust automotive sector and supply chain cluster we are developing here in Wales".

From BBC

Related Words

• array
• assemblage
• band
• batch
• bunch
• bundle
• chunk
• clump
• collection
• knot