collector

The word “collector” means a person who collects items, often as a hobby. In plain terms, someone (or something) that gathers items or payments — a hobbyist collector, a debt collector, or a transistor part.

“Collector” is pronounced kuh-LEHK-tuh (/kəˈlɛk.tɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “collector” used in a sentence: “He's a serious collector of rare comic books.”

“Collector” is a noun.

The word “collector” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin collector, from Latin colligere, "to gather together".

“Collector” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Collector” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who collects items, often as a hobby.

A collector deliberately gathers specific items, often organising and valuing them as a hobby. A hoarder accumulates large quantities of things without selective purpose and often struggles to discard them; "collector" carries a positive tone, while "hoarder" is usually negative.

A collector personally acquires and owns items, typically for enjoyment or investment. A curator is a professional who selects, organises, and looks after items in a museum or gallery, usually items they do not personally own.

In these terms, a "collector" is a person or agency whose job is to collect payments that are owed. A debt collector pursues money owed to a business, while a tax collector gathers taxes on behalf of a government.

A "collector's item" is an object considered valuable or desirable to collectors, often because it is rare, old, or no longer produced. The related word "collectible" describes items specifically made or kept to be collected.