\Col*lec"tion\, n. [L. collectio: cf. F. collection.]
1. The act or process of collecting or of gathering; as, the
   collection of specimens.
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.
3. The act of inferring or concluding from premises or
   observed facts; also, that which is inferred. [Obs.]
         We may safely say thus, that wrong collections have
         been hitherto made out of those words by modern
         divines.                              --Milton.
4. The jurisdiction of a collector of excise. [Eng.]
Syn: Gathering; assembly; assemblage; group; crowd;
     congregation; mass; heap; compilation.