glean

The definition of glean is to obtain information or to collect grain left behind after harvesting.

(verb)

An example of glean is when you ask questions to try to find out information.
An example of glean is when you collect the grain remaining in the field after the reapers have finished harvesting the field.

See glean in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to collect (grain, etc. left by reapers)
to collect the remaining grain, etc. from (a reaped field)
1. to collect or find out (facts, etc.) gradually or bit by bit
2. to examine or go through (books, etc.) so as to collect certain information

Origin: ME glenen < OFr glener < VL glennare < Celt, as in OIr dīgleinn, he gleans < IE *ĝhlend- < base *ĝhel-: see gleam

Related Forms:

See glean in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb gleaned, glean·ing, gleans

verb, intransitive

To gather grain left behind by reapers.

verb, transitive

To gather (grain) left behind by reapers.
To collect bit by bit: “records from which historians glean their knowledge” (Kemp Malone). See Synonyms at reap.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English glenen

Origin: , from Old French glener

Origin: , from Late Latin glennāre

Origin: , probably of Celtic origin

Related Forms: