glean

[ gleen ]

verb (used with object)

1. to gather slowly and laboriously, bit by bit.
2. to gather small amounts of (grain or the like) left behind after a harvest, nowadays often for charitable use.
3. to clear (a field, orchard, etc.) of leftover produce in this way:

   Millet’s painting The Gleaners depicts three peasant women stooping low as they glean a field of wheat.

4. to learn, discover, or find out, usually little by little or slowly.

   Synonyms: infer, extract, derive, deduce, reap, gather

verb (used without object)

1. to collect or gather anything little by little or slowly.
2. to gather what is left by reapers.

glean

/ ɡliːn /

verb

1. to gather (something) slowly and carefully in small pieces

   to glean information from the newspapers

2. to gather (the useful remnants of a crop) from the field after harvesting

Derived Forms

• ˈgleaner, noun
• ˈgleanable, adjective

Other Words From

• glean·a·ble adjective
• glean·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of glean¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English glenen, from Old French glener, from Late Latin glennāre, ultimately from Celtic

Word History and Origins

Origin of glean¹

C14: from Old French glener, from Late Latin glennāre, probably of Celtic origin

Example Sentences

By presenting the data in a unified fashion, it makes it easier to glean insights.

From The Daily Beast

And you might be able to glean some advance knowledge of new product launches or marketing campaigns.

From The Daily Beast

But there are still many valuable insights that modern politicians can glean from his example.

From The Daily Beast

“They wanted to glean good ideas and figured their opponent the CIA was doing it, so they had to do it too,” Grady said.

From The Daily Beast

I also reread writers I admire, and try to glean a phrase or thought that will get me going.

From The Daily Beast

This is all I have been able to glean with regard to Peter Ilichs musical development at this period of his life.

From Project Gutenberg

From the little we can glean of them, the ancient inhabitants of the village must have been a grim old race.

From Project Gutenberg

Also, was he fencing for such additional information as he might glean, and for this purpose had he come.

From Project Gutenberg

They also glean part of their living from the underside of the foliage much as do the Vireos.

From Project Gutenberg

That Mrs. Matilda Knowles, our beau ideal missionary, possessed a thankful heart, we glean from her diary.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cull
• deduce
• extract
• garner
• gather
• learn
• reap
• sift