[kluhs-ter] 
| 1. | a number of things of the same kind, growing or held together; a bunch: a cluster of grapes. |
| 2. | a group of things or persons close together: There was a cluster of tourists at the gate. |
| 3. | U.S. Army. a small metal design placed on a ribbon representing an awarded medal to indicate that the same medal has been awarded again: oak-leaf cluster. |
| 4. | Phonetics. a succession of two or more contiguous consonants in an utterance, as the str- cluster of strap. |
| 5. | Astronomy. a group of neighboring stars, held together by mutual gravitation, that have essentially the same age and composition and thus supposedly a common origin. Compare globular cluster, open cluster, stellar association. |
| 6. | to gather into a cluster or clusters. |
| 7. | to furnish or cover with clusters. |
| 8. | to form a cluster or clusters: The people clustered around to watch. |
| clus·ter (klŭs'tər) n.
v. intr. To gather or grow into bunches. v. tr. To cause to grow or form into bunches. [Middle English, from Old English clyster.] |