verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/kəˈleɪt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada, General-American:/ˈkoʊ.leɪt/
Canada, General-American:/kəˈleɪt/
Australian, New-Zealand:/kəˈlæɪt/
rhymes with -eɪt
CMU ARPABET:K AH0 L EY1 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To examine diverse documents and so on, to discover similarities and differences.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
The young attorneys were set the task of collating the contract submitted by the other side with the previous copy.
collate data
collate findings
collate information
collate results
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To assemble something in a logical sequence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To sort multiple copies of printed documents into sequences of individual page order, one sequence for each copy, especially before binding.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Collating was still necessary because they had to insert foldout sheets and index tabs into the documents.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To bestow or confer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To admit a cleric to a benefice; to present and institute in a benefice, when the person presenting is both the patron and the ordinary; followed by to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: Christianity
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
compare critically; of texts
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: compare
7
verb
Meaning 7
to assemble in proper sequence
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
collate the papers
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: order
History
Etymology
From Latin collātus, perfect passive participle of conferō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of confer. See also infer, delate and defer (Etymology 2), relate and refer, as well as prelate and prefer among others. Not related to collateral.
Across languages
Translations
49 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
сравня́вам
(sravnjávam)
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Catalan:
col·lacionar
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Finnish:
vertailla
— examine diverse documents, etc.
French:
collationner
— examine diverse documents, etc.
German:
abgleichen
— examine diverse documents, etc.
German:
kollationieren
— examine diverse documents, etc.
German:
vergleichen
— examine diverse documents, etc.
German:
zuordnen
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Malay:
kumpul semak
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Malay:
mengumpul semak
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Norwegian:
sammenligne
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Portuguese:
cotejar
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Russian:
сопоставля́ть
(sopostavljátʹ)
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Russian:
сопоста́вить
(sopostávitʹ)
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Russian:
сра́внивать
(srávnivatʹ)
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Russian:
сравни́ть
(sravnítʹ)
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Russian:
слича́ть
(sličátʹ)
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Russian:
сличи́ть
(sličítʹ)
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Spanish:
cotejar
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Spanish:
colacionar
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Spanish:
carear
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Swedish:
kollationera
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Turkish:
karşılaştırarak okumak
— examine diverse documents, etc.
Bulgarian:
съпоставям
(sǎpostavjam)
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Dutch:
sorteren
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Esperanto:
ordizi
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Finnish:
järjestää
— assemble something in a logical sequence
German:
ordnen
— assemble something in a logical sequence
German:
anordnen
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Irish:
comhthiomsaigh
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Irish:
cuir i dtoll a chéile
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Irish:
tabhair le chéile
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Māori:
whakahiato
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Russian:
располага́ть
(raspolagátʹ)
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Russian:
расположи́ть
(raspoložítʹ)
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Turkish:
dizmek
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Turkish:
düzenlemek
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Turkish:
harmanlamak
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Turkish:
sıraya koymak
— assemble something in a logical sequence
Dutch:
sorteren
— sort multiple copies of printed documents into sequences of individual page order
Finnish:
järjestää
— sort multiple copies of printed documents into sequences of individual page order
German:
sortieren
— sort multiple copies of printed documents into sequences of individual page order
Hungarian:
leválogat
— sort multiple copies of printed documents into sequences of individual page order
Irish:
cuir in ord
— sort multiple copies of printed documents into sequences of individual page order
Korean:
함께 합치다
(hamkke hapchida)
— sort multiple copies of printed documents into sequences of individual page order
Catalan:
col·lar
— admit a cleric to a benefice
Dutch:
beroepen
— admit a cleric to a benefice
Finnish:
asettaa kirkonmies virkaan
— admit a cleric to a benefice