bring or gather together (a number of things)

he went round the office collecting old coffee cups

call for and take away; fetch

the children were collected from school

regain control of oneself, typically after a shock

he paused for a moment to take a breath, to collect himself

conclude; infer

by all best conjectures, I collect Thou art to be my fatal enemy

cause (a horse) to bring its hind legs further forward as it moves

a rider should want to be able to collect a horse when hacking

collide with

he lost control of the truck and collected two cats

(of a person) calm and self-controlled

outwardly they are cool, calm, and collected

(of individual works) brought together in one volume or edition

the collected works of Shakespeare

(of a horse) moving with a shortened stride and with its hind legs correctly placed to achieve balance and impulsion

many top riders that instinctively ride a horse collected cannot explain the theory