collect

Compared meaning: to bring people or things together (verb).

比较义项：把（人或物）聚集到一起（动词）。

• collect 本词

  Collect is transitive and used for physical items brought together on purpose, often as a hobby or task; the subject is an active collector, not a naturally forming group.

  collect是及物动词，指有意识、系统地把实物聚集起来，常用于收藏爱好或任务；主语是主动的收集者，而不是自然聚集的群体。

  My son loves collecting bottle caps from every country he visits.

  我儿子喜欢收集他去过的每个国家的瓶盖。

• gather

  Gather here is intransitive, describing people coming together as a group in one place, especially routinely or for a shared purpose like a meal; it does not fit collecting objects.

  这里的gather是不及物动词，指人们聚在一起形成一个群体，尤指有规律地或为共同目的聚集，比如吃饭；它不适合用来表示收集物品。

  Our whole family gathers in the kitchen before we eat.

  我们全家在吃饭前都会聚集在厨房里。

• garner

  Garner is transitive and formal, used for abstract, valued things earned gradually through effort or reputation, such as praise or support, not physical objects or people assembling.

  garner是及物动词，且较为正式，用于经过努力或凭借声誉逐渐获得的、有价值的抽象事物，如称赞或支持，而不是实物或人群聚集。

  Her debut novel managed to garner glowing reviews from critics.

  她的处女作小说赢得了评论家们的热情好评。

Collect, gather, and garner all relate to bringing things together, but differ. Collect means deliberately bringing physical items together, as a hobby. Gather describes people coming together naturally. Garner is formal, meaning to earn abstract things like praise or support. Other senses are not compared.

这三个词都有“聚集”的意思，但用法不同：collect强调有意识地把物品聚在一起，gather指人自然聚在一处，garner则较正式，指经过努力逐渐赢得抽象的东西（如称赞、支持）。这里不比较collect表示“使镇定”（collect oneself）以及gather表示“推断、认为”（I gather that...）等其他义项。

Compared meaning: to gather things together over time (verb).

比较义项：收集、聚集（物品或信息）（动词）。

• collect 本词

  The neutral, general word for gathering things over time, often as a hobby; used mainly for concrete objects like stones, stamps, or coins, without implying storage or organization.

  中性、通用的说法，指长期陆续收集东西，常出于兴趣爱好；主要用于石头、邮票、硬币等实物，不强调储存或整理。

  Many children enjoy collecting colorful stones from the beach.

  许多孩子喜欢从海滩上收集五颜六色的石头。

• compile

  Used specifically for gathering information, data, or documents from different sources and organizing them into one list, report, or book; not used for physical objects.

  专指从不同来源收集信息、数据或文件，并把它们整理成一份清单、报告或书籍；不用于实物。

  She will compile all the reports into one file.

  她将把所有报告汇编成一份文件。

• hoard

  Means to gather and store a large amount, often secretly or excessively, out of fear of future scarcity; frequently used for animals or people stockpiling food or supplies, usually with a negative connotation.

  指大量收集并囤积储存，往往出于对未来短缺的担忧，有时还带有隐秘或过度的意味；常用于动物或人囤积食物、物资，通常带贬义。

  Squirrels hoard nuts underground to eat during the winter months.

  松鼠把坚果囤积在地下，留着冬天吃。

Collect, compile, and hoard all mean to gather things, but differ. Collect is neutral, usually gathering physical objects over time, like stamps or coins. Compile means gathering information from different sources into one list or report. Hoard means storing a large amount, often secretly.

这三个词都表示把东西聚集在一起，但侧重点不同：collect 是中性说法，多指出于兴趣长期收集实物；compile 专指把信息或资料整理编成一份清单或文件；hoard 则强调大量囤积并妥善（甚至秘密）储存，常带负面色彩。这里只比较给出的义项，不涉及其他用法。