cluster

cluster — noun

1. many items, people, or objects of a single kind placed very near one another, fr

1.nounB2
Definition

many items, people, or objects of a single kind placed very near one another, frequently forming a compact unit

Example

A small cluster of wildflowers grew near the fence at the edge of the field.

cluster of [wildflowers/people/houses] — tight grouping of similar items

Ravi noticed a cluster of young fans waiting outside the stadium after the match.

cluster of + plural noun — group of people close together

Common collocations
  • cluster of stars
  • cluster of houses
  • cluster of cells
  • dense cluster
  • small cluster
  • tight cluster
Synonyms
  • bunch

    more informal; often used for things fastened or growing together (a bunch of flowers)

  • group

    more general and neutral; does not imply being physically close together

  • clump

    used for a dense mass, especially of plants or earth

Grammar Patterns

cluster + of + plural noun + verb

Usage Note

Often followed by 'of' + plural noun (e.g. a cluster of stars, a cluster of houses). The verb that follows can be singular or plural depending on whether the group is seen as one unit or as individual members.

Common Mistakes

a cluster of people was waiting
A cluster of people were waiting.
British English often uses a plural verb with 'cluster of' when the focus is on the individuals.

2. a sequence of multiple consonant sounds spoken without any vowel coming between

2.nounB2
Definition

a sequence of multiple consonant sounds spoken without any vowel coming between neighbouring members — for instance, /spl/ at the start of 'splash'

Example

In phonics class, Amara pointed to 'spring' on the board and asked classmates to find the /spr/ cluster.

consonant cluster — multiple consonants without an intervening vowel

Leila practised saying the cluster /ksθ/ until she could pronounce 'sixth' smoothly.

difficult consonant cluster — common pronunciation challenge for learners

Common collocations
  • consonant cluster
  • initial cluster
  • final cluster
  • complex cluster
  • cluster reduction
Synonyms
  • consonant blend

    sometimes used interchangeably, though 'blend' can imply that each sound is still heard clearly

Grammar Patterns

consonant cluster + verb

Usage Note

Common in phonetics and language teaching. Languages differ greatly in which consonant clusters they allow; English permits clusters of up to three sounds at the start of a syllable (e.g. /str/ in 'strong') and up to four at the end (e.g. /ksθs/ in 'sixths').

Common Mistakes

I added a vowel between the consonants.
I dropped a vowel between the consonants.
A cluster has no vowel between the consonants by definition.

cluster — verb

Word family

  • clustered
    adjectiveB2
  • clustering
    nounC1
  • clustering
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Cluster, bunch, group, clump, and batch all describe collections of things, but they differ in shape, formality, and usage. 'Cluster' emphasises items that are physically close together — often naturally or organically arranged (a cluster of stars, a cluster of houses). 'Bunch' is more informal and often implies things fastened or growing together (a bunch of bananas, a bunch of flowers). 'Group' is the most general term and can refer to any collection regardless of arrangement or physical closeness (a group of students, a group of buildings). 'Clump' suggests a dense, shapeless mass, especially of plants, earth, or hair (a clump of grass, a clump of dirt). 'Batch' refers to items produced or processed together as a set (a batch of cookies, a batch of emails). For describing tight, organic groupings of similar things, 'cluster' is the most precise choice; for general-purpose use, 'group' works in almost any context.

bunch ↗group ↗clumpbatch ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • cluster of stars
  • cluster of houses
  • cluster of cells
  • cluster of people
  • cluster of trees
  • cluster of cases
  • cluster analysis
  • cluster headache

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in a cluster
  • form a cluster
  • cluster together
  • break into clusters

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishGermanicEnglish

Cluster comes from the Old English word 'clyster', meaning a bunch or a group of things growing together. It belongs to a family of Germanic words that share the idea of things sticking or clumping together, including 'clot' and 'clod'. The verb form appeared in the 1500s, and by the 1800s the word was also being used in phonetics to describe groups of consonant sounds.