cluster English · revision 10563

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 800|origins=ang clyster}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈklʌs.tə/, US /ˈklʌs.tɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ang|clyster]], cluster, bunch of grapes (before 800),^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) probably from a Germanic base also seen in [[clot]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) and related to Low German kluster.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A bunch of grapes, before 800, where bunch is now the usual word.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Other fruits, flowers and natural growths are from 1382,^(OED 1989) and a number of persons, animals or things gathered closely together from about 1400.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A star cluster is from 1727.^(Etymonline) The verb, to collect into a cluster, is from the late 14th century, and to form a cluster from the 1540s.^(Etymonline) ''Cluster bomb'' is attested by 1950.^(Etymonline) In phonetics, a consonant cluster is a group of consonants in a row, as cl and st in cluster.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 800 – a bunch of grapes.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1382 – a cluster of fruit or flowers.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – a group of people or things.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1727 – a star cluster.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1950 – cluster bomb.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A group of similar things growing or occurring close together; a [[bunch]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A group of people or animals gathered together.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(phonetics)'' Two or more consonants in a row.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To gather or grow into clusters.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[clustery]]

+ * [[clusteringly]]

+ * [[supercluster]]

+ * [[intercluster]]

+ * [[subcluster]]

+ * [[cluster bean]]

+ * [[cluster fly]]

+ * [[cluster headache]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[clot]]

+ * [[clod]]

+ * [[clump]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}