Meaning & use
cluster
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Meanings
nouncountable
A small group of similar people or things close together.
Grammar: Usually followed by of: a cluster of stars.
Patterns
- a cluster of something
A cluster of tourists gathered at the gate.
The tree bore clusters of small red berries.
A cluster of houses stood by the river.
verbintransitive
To gather or grow close together in a tight group.
Grammar: No object; often with around or together: they clustered around the fire.
Patterns
- cluster around something
- cluster together
Children clustered around the teacher to see the experiment.
Small shops cluster near the station.
The sheep clustered together during the storm.
nouncountabletechnicalmedical
A number of related cases or events occurring close together in place or time, in statistics or medicine.
Grammar: Often followed by of: a cluster of cases.
Patterns
- a cluster of cases
Doctors noticed a cluster of cases in one village.
The data showed a cluster of points near zero.
Scientists studied a cluster of earthquakes.
Word forms
| plural | clusters |
|---|---|
| third person singular | clusters |
| past tense | clustered |
| -ing form | clustering |
Common combinations
- a cluster of
- A cluster of lights glowed on the hill.
- cluster around
- Fans clustered around the singer.
- star cluster
- The star cluster is visible with binoculars.
- cluster bomb
- Cluster bombs release many smaller explosives.
- form a cluster
- The data points form a cluster.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bunch
- Bunch is more casual and often applies to things that grow together, like grapes.
- group
- Group is general and does not require the members to be close.
- bundle
- Bundle suggests items tied together, whereas cluster is only close together.
- crowd
- Crowd means a large number of people, while cluster is smaller and tighter.
Opposites
Word family
- clustered adjective
- grouped closely
- clustering noun
- the act of grouping
- clusterfuck noun
- vulgar slang for a chaotic mess
Commonly confused: cluster or cluster vs. clutter?
cluster vs cluster vs. clutter
Clutter is untidy mess, whereas cluster is a tight group.
Practice
Students ___ around the notice board to check their exam results.
Choose one answer.
Clustered means gathered closely. Scattered and wandered mean spreading out, which is the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cluster”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.