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

Other Word Forms

• gleanable adjective
• gleaner 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

It was a lot to glean from a round of charades.

Read more on Literature

One former US intelligence official said information gleaned by Colombian officers was often vital in supporting American eavesdropping and satellite intelligence.

Read more on Barron's

The consumer research gleaned from those who attended told Netflix there is a market for permanent venues that promote the brand, Lee said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The report will typically draw on information gleaned from examination of the crash site, for example, as well as basic material downloaded from the flight data recorder.

Read more on BBC

Most of the advice being pushed on investors today isn’t much good, and what can be gleaned from promoters on Reddit even worse.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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