Words / C1

GLEEN/ɡliːn/

To glean is to collect information in small amounts, often the hard way: glean from footnotes, glean who paid. Gather (already in the dictionary) is everyday and can be one sweep; glean implies scraps. Originally it was leftover grain. Do not glean a fact that was in the title in bold.

Meaning

To collect information slowly, in small amounts, often with effort.

Examples

• “From the footnotes they gleaned who had funded the trial.”
• “From three annual reports they gleaned the real headcount.”
• “Gleaning takes patience; a press release is gathering in one go.”

Good to know

Pick up information bit by bit. Everyday: gather (faster, fuller). Old sense: leftover grain. Not “read the headline”.

Near in meaning

gather

New