noun
Common
cluster
KLUHS-tuh
Cluster (noun) means a small group of things growing, gathered, or occurring closely together. Example: “A small cluster of daisies grew beside the old gate.”
noun
1
A small group of things growing, gathered, or occurring closely together.
"A small cluster of daisies grew beside the old gate."
"A cluster of grapes hung from the vine."
"Doctors noticed a cluster of flu cases in the same building."
verb
1
To gather or group closely together.
"The sheep clustered together under the tree to shelter from the rain."
"Shops tend to cluster near the station."
"Reporters clustered around the entrance waiting for a statement."
How to use cluster
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tight bunch of things or people, or the act of grouping closely together.
Common pairings
cluster of stars
cluster around
a cluster of cases
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like cluster.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- clusters
- Past tense
- clustered
- Archaic forms
- clusterest, clusteredst, clustereth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A small _____ of daisies grew beside the old gate.
Etymology
From Old English clyster, related to Germanic words meaning to clump or lump together; probably a close relative of the word clot.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cluster
See all rhymes for cluster →Frequently asked questions
What does “cluster” mean?
The word “cluster” means a small group of things growing, gathered, or occurring closely together. In plain terms, a tight bunch of things or people, or the act of grouping closely together.
How do you pronounce “cluster”?
“Cluster” is pronounced KLUHS-tuh (/ˈklʌstɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cluster” in a sentence?
Here is “cluster” used in a sentence: “A cluster of grapes hung from the vine.”
What is another word for “cluster”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cluster” include constellate.
What part of speech is “cluster”?
Depending on how it is used, “cluster” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cluster” come from?
The word “cluster” comes from Old English. From Old English clyster, related to Germanic words meaning to clump or lump together; probably a close relative of the word clot.
Is “cluster” a common word?
“Cluster” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cluster” have?
“Cluster” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small group of things growing, gathered, or occurring closely together.
What is the difference between a cluster and a group?
A cluster is a group whose members sit closely together in space or time — stars, houses, or cases of illness packed into one small area. "Group" is more general and says nothing about how near the members are to one another.
What is the difference between cluster and clutter?
They look alike but mean different things. A cluster is a tight, often natural grouping of similar things, like a cluster of grapes, while clutter is an untidy mess of scattered objects. Cluster suggests order through closeness; clutter suggests disorder.
Do you say "cluster of" or "cluster around"?
Both are correct, but in different roles. The noun takes "of": a cluster of shops, a cluster of stars. The verb takes "around" or "together": reporters clustered around the door, and the houses cluster together on the hillside.
What is the difference between a cluster and a bunch?
A bunch usually describes things growing or fastened together, like a bunch of grapes or keys, and informally it just means "a lot." A cluster stresses that items sit close together as a compact group, and it is the more natural choice in technical or scientific writing, as in a cluster of cells.
