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Glite Dictionary
to glean information

to glean information

2 5.2
To find small pieces of information from different places and put them together
  • phrasal verb
  • /ɡliːn ɪn.fɔːrˈmeɪ.ʃən/
translation icon : recopilar información
  • Journalists often work tirelessly to glean information from multiple sources before publishing their articles.
  • glean more information

Examples

  • And just because the old law went away does not mean we cannot glean relevant information from it.

    Blog text (25)

  • The promise of big data is that one could glean lots of information and gain many valuable insights.

    Blog text (12)

  • But what we can glean a bit of information from is the power draw.

  • Members of the court come to visit, trying to glean information about him, and going away with nothing.

    Blog text (24)

  • If you focus on institutional factors rather than individual student outcomes, you glean different information.

    Academic text (2012)

  • There are several learning preference surveys that will allow you to glean information about how your students learn best.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Can we glean further information on this issue from the GOG132 study?

    Academic text (2002)

  • From this snapshot of the group's discussion, the teacher gleaned a bit more information about the students' strategy use and their understanding of the story.

    Academic text (2012)

  • A few indications may be gleaned from the sparse information available.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Posting questions to a newsgroup or listserv is another way to glean information about software-hardware compatibility.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

to glean
vsto glean information
37 4.2

To collect small pieces of information from different sources over time

is about gradual piecing together of small bits
to gather data
vsto glean information
8 2.9

Collect information to study or make decisions

is more gradual and indirect than formal data collection
to gather intel
vsto glean information
  • Jargon
4 5.6

To find information about people and places, often for the military or news reporters

is general gradual collection, not focused on military use
to wring every bit of information
vsto glean information
7.2

Find every fact you can from a person or source by asking and checking

is less exhaustive and focuses on gradual accumulation

How Thorough

to research
300 3.1
to glean information
2 5.2
to pick up
∞ 2.6
to notice
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

glean information infinitive
gleaned information past
gleaned information past participle
gleaning information present participle
gleans information third person singular

Morphology

glean + information

The verb 'glean' already carries the meaning 'to collect gradually or piece together', and combining it with 'information' yields a directly compositional meaning: to collect information bit by bit. This composition is straightforward and mirrors comparable constructions in other languages, so a learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The verb glean information comes from a farming image: people walked through fields after the harvest and would glean tiny grains left on the ground. That's why the phrase means 'to collect information little by little', like picking up small pieces until you have enough.