n. [ L. collectio: cf. F. collection. ] 1. The act or process of collecting or of gathering; as, the collection of specimens. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. That which is collected; as: (a) A gathering or assemblage of objects or of persons. “A collection of letters.” Macaulay. (b) A gathering of money for charitable or other purposes, as by passing a contribution box for freewill offerings. “The collection for the saints.” 1 Cor. xvi. 1 (c) (Usually in pl.) That which is obtained in payment of demands. (d) An accumulation of any substance. “Collections of moisture.” Whewell. “A purulent collection.” Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. The act of inferring or concluding from premises or observed facts; also, that which is inferred. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
We may safely say thus, that wrong collections have been hitherto made out of those words by modern divines. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. The jurisdiction of a collector of excise. [ Eng. ]
Syn. -- Gathering; assembly; assemblage; group; crowd; congregation; mass; heap; compilation. [ 1913 Webster ]