Collate Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈkɒleɪt/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Verb or Noun

Definition

A collate is a document, list, or data collection compiled by combining, matching, or rearranging separate parts into a coherent or meaningful whole, often used in research, documentation, or reference works.

Examples

1. “She spent hours collating data from multiple sources for her thesis.”

2. “The research team spent days collating the latest information on climate change.”

Synonyms

1. Compile

2. Combine

3. Compile a document or bibliography

Antonyms

1. Scramble

2. Disorganize

3. Scatter

Etymology

The word ‘collate’ originated from the Latin word ‘collare’, meaning ‘to combine or tie together’. This term was adopted into Middle English in the 15th century and has been used since to describe the act of bringing together separate items or ideas.

Additional Information

Collation, in printing, is the process of combining type pieces in a precise sequence for correct layout. The art of collating also applies to librarianship, where librarians are responsible for maintaining metadata, or information in a library or information management system, to aid users in locating and retrieving information from a collection of items, such as books or database entries.

Collating can also be used in transcription and translation to match differing versions or parts of speech to ensure consistency in reproduction, interpretation, or compilation.

An individual can train in data collation, research compilation, or web database development, refining their skills for working with data-heavy applications.

The term can also be associated with proof-reading documentation and publications in visual information flow and development systems.

Word search algorithms or proof-reading may also incorporate collation in large or complex data collection programs.

Collation can be applied in general reference materials used across business or trade, digital business bookkeeping or document production in printing.

It relates to collecting together statistics, figures, definitions, references, or statements dispersed in various locations or scattered throughout a document.

Usage Notes

The word ‘collate’ can be used as a directive or a verb in several contexts:

. The word can describe different methods of combining items or data into an ordered or formatted whole, such as linking related pieces, combining smaller components, aligning documents for coherence, arranging a body of information for clarity, or comparing data.

Collating can refer to bringing separate entities into a group or category, structuring or organizing materials so they can be included, consulted, referenced, classified further, translated, and analyzed; removing ‘unlike’ matters, differences, discrepancies, disparities etc.; in editing and compiling data for a publication, rearranging an alphabetized list, collecting disparate facts for comparison, for document consolidation.

Collation can be carried out in an organized sequence, establishing references supporting assertions.

Examples of ‘collating’ as a verb also include: indexing references for subsequent research, aligning individual sections to assemble the bigger picture, laying out information for more convenient access, consolidating concepts to prevent inconsistencies, harmonizing language variants.

Cultural References

Collation can have various interpretations in different cultures:

The activity of collating data or a manuscript is both specific and broader than general definitions throughout different cultures, disciplines and time perspectives.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Certain idiomatic phrases incorporating ‘collate’ rely heavily on its meaning in the context:

Examples of phrases using ‘collate’, or idiomatic constructions incorporating ‘collation’, colloquially illustrate or offer references to combining, grouping, arranging or coordinating separated or individualized parts.

Some phrases linked to ‘collating’ are: to collate a vast amount of data; collate texts from diverse contexts, data-based collections from new studies.

Related Words or Phrases

The following terms and concepts are closely related in meaning or usage to ‘collate’:

The associated word is data compilation or organizing and documenting these items to an organized bibliography.

Similar words, phrases or near synonymous descriptions for collating (in its different contexts) may include collecting information, documenting and archiving it.

Additional related terms are organizing work, cataloguing items, inventorying assets or research.

It can also involve collection documentation, assemblage, collection methods, grouping methodology.

Term also equivalent for editing your version collation are collecting, selection or presenting a set of material.

Collocations

The following words and phrases frequently combine with ‘collate’ in context:

Collate data files in exact sequence (as per source original), collate a wide range of literature.

Frequency of Use

In academic and professional written communication, the word ‘collate’ is moderately used; especially within research documents and technical language to convey organization requirements or quality-assure established works.

Common Misspellings

The following are common misspellings or variations of the word ‘collate’:

1. Catolite

2. Catollate

3. Collidate

4. Cololate

5. Collatile