glean
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
gleans;gleaned;gleaning
gleans;gleaned;gleaning
Britannica Dictionary definition of GLEAN
1
[+ object]
a :to gather or collect (something) in a gradual way
- Shegleaned her data from various studies.
- He has a collection of antique toolsgleaned from flea markets and garage sales.
b :to search (something) carefully
- They spent daysgleaning the files for information.
2
:to gather grain or other material that is left after the main crop has been gathered
[no object]
- They spent hoursgleaning in the wheat fields.
[+ object]
- gleaning stray ears of corn
- gleaning a vineyard
— gleaner
noun,pluralgleaners[count]
© 2025 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.