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collector

collector

137 3.0
A person who gathers and keeps special items like stamps
  • noun
  • /kəˈlɛktər/
translation icon : coleccionista
  • She is an avid collector of vintage stamps and often attends fairs to find new additions.
  • private collectors
  • art collectors
  • dealers and collectors

I've always been a collector of kind of weird artwork.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • I know the Brunwalds are famous art collectors.

  • Alice, an enthusiastic collector, taped it twice, a cassette for each of them.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • "What would one be worth to a collector, and who would buy one?

    Fiction book (1993)
  • My husband was a great collector.

  • I know at least two other collectors who would die for it.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • I've always been a collector of kind of weird artwork.

  • Now his artifacts from Morocco and north Africa are bought by collectors all over the world.

  • He was a voracious reader and collector of books.

  • I just found out that Dr Lecter's signed copy of The Joy of Cooking... sold to a private collector for $16,000.

  • As students become curators and collectors, we hope they will become guardians and protectors of our past.

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

scavenger
vscollector
20 5.5

A person who searches through trash for things to reuse or sell

is broader collecting for interest or study not mainly salvaging discarded goods
gatherer
vscollector
19 3.2

A person who collects wild plants and berries for a living

is used more for hobby or study not mainly for earning a living
book lover
vscollector
3 1.4

A person who loves reading and collecting books

is mainly the general term for gathering items across hobbies or study
coin collector
vscollector
3 2.8

A person who keeps and studies old and rare coins as a hobby or for work

is broader, applying to many types of gathered items not only coins
bibliophile
vscollector
2 8.8

A person who loves books and collects them, often rare or old

is broader and applies to collectors of many different item types
stamp collector
vscollector
1 2.6

A person who collects stamps as a hobby or to study them

is used for any type of item rather than one specific kind
numismatist
vscollector
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A person who collects and studies coins, paper money, and medals

is the general term for someone who gathers various items not just coins
rock hound
vscollector
  • US
1 6.8

A person who collects rocks and minerals as a hobby

is general for gathering items not limited to natural specimens
antiquarian
vscollector
1 9.9

A person who studies, collects, or sells old objects like books and furniture

is broader used for collecting any set of items not only old objects
junker
vscollector
  • US
1 8.1

A person who collects and fixes old broken things to sell or keep

is not limited to low value objects and includes careful collecting
magpie
vscollector
1 8.1

A person who often collects small old things other people discard

is about intentional collecting for interest or study not habitual hoarding
butterfly collector
vscollector
1 4.1

A person who catches butterflies and moths to keep and study

is about gathering any items rather than this narrow naturalist focus
booklover
vscollector
1 2.5

A person who likes reading and collecting books

is about gathering many kinds of items rather than only books
antiquer
vscollector
1 6.8

A person who collects or sells old valuable things like furniture

is less specific and applies to gathering many different item categories
gleaner
vscollector
1 7.7

A person who carefully gathers small amounts of information or resources

is about accumulating items generally not only gradual careful gathering
numismatologist
vscollector
  • Specialized
9.9

A person who studies or collects coins, paper money, and medals

is broader, used for collectors of many different kinds of things
numismatic
vscollector
  • Specialized
9.7

A person who studies or collects coins, paper money and medals

is broader and applies to many other types of collected items
true junker
vscollector
8.5

A person who collects old broken things and fixes them for fun

is broader covering collectors of many types beyond restoring discarded goods

Antonyms

6.4

An animal or machine that spreads seeds and pollen across a wide area

Compounds

13 3.6

A person who takes money from people to pay taxes to the government

A person who collects and removes trash from homes and businesses

A person who keeps and studies old and rare coins as a hobby or for work

A person who takes money from drivers at a road or bridge

solar collector
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A device that uses mirrors or panels to focus sunlight and make heat

A person who collects stamps as a hobby or to study them

A person who catches butterflies and moths to keep and study

1 3.1

A person who collects and takes away rubbish from homes and businesses

A person who checks and takes tickets from people entering trains or concerts

A government official who gathers national taxes on income from people and businesses

current collector
  • Specialized
6.2

A part on trams and trains that takes electricity from overhead wires or a rail to power them

dust-collector
  • Specialized
4.1

A machine that removes dust from the air in workshops and factories

A person who goes door to door to collect rent money for a property owner

How Dedicated

aficionado
27 7.7
collector
137 3.0

Surface Forms

collector singular
collectors plural

Morphology

collector = collect (transparent) = collect + or

Straightforward agent noun from 'collect' + '-or' meaning a person who gathers items.

Etymology

Collector comes from Latin parts com- ('together') and legere ('to gather'). A collector is someone who 'gathers' items into a group or set, just like the related word collection, which makes the meaning easy to remember.