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Definition of amass verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

amass

verb
 
/əˈmæs/
 
/əˈmæs/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they amass
 
/əˈmæs/
 
/əˈmæs/
he / she / it amasses
 
/əˈmæsɪz/
 
/əˈmæsɪz/
past simple amassed
 
/əˈmæst/
 
/əˈmæst/
past participle amassed
 
/əˈmæst/
 
/əˈmæst/
-ing form amassing
 
/əˈmæsɪŋ/
 
/əˈmæsɪŋ/
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  1. amass something to collect something, especially in large quantities over a period of time synonym accumulate
    • He amassed a fortune from silver mining.
    • They amassed enough evidence to convict her.
    Synonyms collectcollectgather accumulate amassThese words all mean to get more of something over a period of time, or to increase in quantity over a period of time.collect to bring things or information together from different people or places; to gradually increase in amount in a place:
    • We’ve been collecting data from various sources.
    • Dirt had collected in the corners of the room.
    People sometimes collect things of a particular type as a hobby: to collect stamps.
    gather to bring things together that have been spread around; to collect information from different sources:
    • I waited while he gathered up his papers.
    • Detectives have spent months gathering evidence.
    collect or gather?Both collect and gather can be used in the same way to talk about bringing together data, information or evidence. When talking about things, gather is used with words like things, belongings or papers when the things are spread around within a short distance. Collect is used for getting examples of something from different people or places that are physically separated.accumulate (rather formal) to gradually get more and more of something over a period of time; to gradually increase in number or quantity over a period of time:
    • I seem to have accumulated a lot of books.
    • Debts began to accumulate.
    amass (rather formal) to collect something in large quantities, especially money, debts or information:
    • He amassed a fortune from silver mining.
    Patterns
    • to collect/​gather/​accumulate/​amass data/​evidence/​information
    • to accumulate/​amass a fortune/​debts
    • dirt/​dust/​debris collects/​accumulates
    • to gradually/​slowly collect/​gather/​accumulate (something)
    Oxford Collocations DictionaryAmass is used with these nouns as the object:
    • army
    • capital
    • collection
    See full entry
    Word Originlate 15th cent.: from French amasser or medieval Latin amassare, based on Latin massa ‘lump’, from Greek maza ‘barley cake’; perhaps related to massein ‘knead’.
See amass in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
trait
noun
 
 
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