To gather together; to assemble. She collects stamps from all over the world.
To receive or take in (money, payments, etc.). He collects rent from his tenants every month.
To accumulate or gather as a hobby or for study. He collects rare coins as a hobby.
To regain control or composure. She took a moment to collect herself before speaking.
To call for and take away; to fetch. He went to collect his daughter from school.
To assemble or gather together in one place (intransitive). By evening, a crowd had collected outside the theater.