: a number of similar things that occur together: such as
a
: two or more consecutive consonants or vowels in a segment of speech
b
: a group of buildings and especially houses built close together on a sizable tract in order to preserve open spaces larger than the individual yard for common recreation
c
: an aggregation of stars or galaxies that appear close together in the sky and are gravitationally associated
the Perseus cluster of galaxies
d
: a larger than expected number of cases of disease (such as leukemia) occurring in a particular locality, group of people, or period of time
e
: a number of computers networked together in order to function as a single computing system
Consisting of groups of inexpensive machines cobbled together, clusters in many ways have supplanted traditional supercomputers.—
Elizabeth K. Wilson
Elizabeth K. Wilson
clustered; clustering
ˈklə-st(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to collect into a cluster
cluster the tents together
2
: to furnish with clusters
the bridge was clustered with men and officers—Herman Wouk
Herman Wouk
: to grow, assemble, or occur in a cluster
they clustered around the fire
Synonyms
Examples of cluster in a Sentence
Noun
a cluster of cottages along the shore
A small cluster of people had gathered at the scene of the accident.
Verb
The children clustered around the storyteller.
the mice clustered together into a small burrow
Recent Examples on the Web
Carisa Brewster, Verywell Health, 14 Jan. 2025
Roatán Island is part of a cluster of island archipelagos 10 to 40 miles off the northern coast of Honduras.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
Up in the press section of the cathedral, in the south balcony, photographers and reporters clustered around one end of the seating area that had a sliver of an unobstructed view.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cluster 
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Noun
In addition, people who develop type 2 diabetes are more likely to have a cluster of factors, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and abdominal adiposity (excess fat in the abdomen).5
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
Type 2 diabetes develops gradually.
—Carisa Brewster, Verywell Health, 14 Jan. 2025
Roatán Island is part of a cluster of island archipelagos 10 to 40 miles off the northern coast of Honduras.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
Molecules of soap also cluster up in little balls that can surround and trap some germy grime before it’s flushed away beneath the tap.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
Up in the press section of the cathedral, in the south balcony, photographers and reporters clustered around one end of the seating area that had a sliver of an unobstructed view.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cluster
Dictionary Entries Near cluster
Cite this Entry
“Cluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cluster. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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Medical Definition
cluster
noun
clus·ter
ˈkləs-tər
: a larger than expected number of cases of disease (as leukemia) occurring in a particular locality, group of people, or period of time
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