collector

American  

[kuh-lek-ter] / kəˈlɛk tər /

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.

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collector British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of collector

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

Example Sentences

Goodison-Blanks said there were collectors "worldwide" who enjoyed these sorts of pieces from expeditions relating to the Arctic, Antarctic and in particular Mount Everest.

From BBC

Longevity and electoral success do not necessarily lead to interest from collectors.

From BBC

Plus, the Fed holds rates steady, and an art collector who keeps buying houses he rarely uses.

From The Wall Street Journal

Riding on the back of a garbage collector's truck for her social media accounts, she has promised a city that is clean seven days a week.

From Barron's

I spent much of my life playing with collector cars, but I find I’m losing interest in them.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• connoisseur
• hobbyist