cluster

[ kluhs-ter ]

/ ˈklʌs tər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cluster ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a number of things of the same kind, growing or held together; a bunch: a cluster of grapes.

a group of things or persons close together: There was a cluster of tourists at the gate.

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.

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

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.Compare globular cluster, open cluster, stellar association.

verb (used with object)

to gather into a cluster or clusters.

to furnish or cover with clusters.

verb (used without object)

to form a cluster or clusters: The people clustered around to watch.

Nearby words

clupeid, clupeoid, clurman, clurman, harold, clusium, cluster, cluster area, cluster bomb, cluster college, cluster cup, cluster fly

Origin of cluster

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

SYNONYMS FOR cluster

8 group, gather, throng, crowd, bunch.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cluster ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

clus·ter·ing·ly, adverbclus·ter·y, adjectivein·ter·clus·ter, adjectivesub·clus·ter, noun

un·clus·tered, adjectiveun·clus·ter·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for clustered

The researchers examined stories in 469 local papers following suicides in both the clustered and the control group.
Teen Copycat Suicides Are A Real Phenomenon|Brandy Zadrozny|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
House Republicans clustered at the hotel seemed to have few new approaches.
At Retreat, Republican Alternatives Are Just Repeats|Ben Jacobs|January 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, D.C. can also be overrun with tourists, particularly as most of its well-known attractions are clustered in a small area.
A Local’s Guide to D.C. During the Holidays|William O’Connor|December 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
To be sure, Canada is a rich country, on a per-capita basis, and its population tends to be clustered along the border.
Is Canada Having a Housing Bubble? And is It Popping?|Megan McArdle|January 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST

They clustered around waiters offering glasses of champagne.
Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs Exhibit Opens in Paris|Robin Givhan|March 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Only in isolated spots were the flies really numerous, but there they clustered in clouds that darkened the sky.
The Mad Planet|Murray Leinster
In as few words as possible Ned explained this to the others, as they clustered around him, hanging upon his every word.
Boy Scouts on Hudson Bay|G. Harvey Ralphson
At the last reach she stood still a moment and looked at the clustered cottages and the boats swaying softly on the incoming tide.
A Singer from the Sea|Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr
For some minutes the hordes of the Bow-legs clustered together, jabbering and waving their crude but massive clubs excitedly.
In the Morning of Time|Charles G. D. Roberts
The clustered fig tree of the Burdekin, became again more frequent; but Sarcocephalus was the characteristic tree of the river.
Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia|Ludwig Leichhardt

British Dictionary definitions for clustered

cluster

/ (ˈklʌstə) /

noun

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

a number of persons or things grouped together

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

military

a group of bombs dropped in one stick, esp fragmentation and incendiary bombs
the basic unit of mines used in laying a minefield

astronomy an aggregation of stars or galaxies moving together through space

a group of two or more consecutive vowels or consonants

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

chem

a chemical compound or molecule containing groups of metal atoms joined by metal-to-metal bonds
the group of linked metal atoms present

verb

to gather or be gathered in clusters

Derived Formsclustered, adjectiveclusteringly, adverbclustery, adjective

Word Origin for cluster

Old English clyster; related to Low German Kluster; see clod, clot

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for clustered (1 of 2)

cluster

Old English clyster "cluster," probably from the same root as clot (n.). Of stars, from 1727. Cluster-bomb attested from 1967.

Word Origin and History for clustered (1 of 2)

cluster

late 14c. (transitive), from cluster (n.). Intransitive sense from 1540s. Related: Clustered; clustering.

cluster

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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Nearby words

Origin of cluster

Examples from the Web for clustered

British Dictionary definitions for clustered

cluster

noun

verb

Word Origin for cluster

Word Origin and History for clustered (1 of 2)

cluster

Word Origin and History for clustered (1 of 2)

cluster