collector

[kuh-lek-ter]

noun

1. a person or thing that collects.

2. a person employed to collect debts, duties, taxes, etc.

3. a person who collects books, paintings, stamps, shells, etc., especially as a hobby.

4. Electricity.,  a device for accumulating current from contact conductors.

5. Electronics.,  an electrode in a transistor or vacuum tube for collecting electrons, ions, or holes.

6. Metallurgy.,  promoter.

7. Energy.,  solar collector.

collector

/ kəˈlɛktə /

noun

1. a person or thing that collects

2. a person employed to collect debts, rents, etc

3. the head of a district administration in India

4. a person who collects or amasses objects as a hobby

5. electronics the region in a transistor into which charge carriers flow from the base

Other Word Forms

• collectorship noun
• collectorate noun
• precollector noun
• subcollector noun
• subcollectorship noun
• undercollector noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of collector¹

1375–1425; late Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Medieval Latin, equivalent to Latin colleg- (variant stem of colligere; collect ¹ ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

The first Roman Torlonia acquired important antique sculptures assembled by earlier collectors, with everything restored to perfection—no missing noses or limbless torsos.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Back before YouTube, these were the only way most fans would have access to this kind of footage if you weren’t a rich private collector.

Read more on Salon

Both sites have been heavily impacted by development and the removal of objects by private collectors.

Read more on Science Daily

Teachers, medical staff and rubbish collectors will all be joining the rolling industrial action which is set to end in a general strike on Wednesday.

Read more on BBC

The painting was purchased by a private collector, whose identity remains undisclosed, and taken to a fine art conservator.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• connoisseur 
• hobbyist