glean

UK: /ˈgliːn/ US: /glin/ ,(glēn)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

glean /glin/   v. [~ + object]

1. to gather or find out, usually bit by bit and with hard work:
   to glean information.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

glean  (glēn), v.t. 

1. to gather slowly and laboriously, bit by bit.
2. to gather (grain or the like) after the reapers or regular gatherers.
3. to learn, discover, or find out, usually little by little or slowly.

v.i. 

4. to collect or gather anything little by little or slowly.
5. to gather what is left by reapers.

• Late Latin glennāre Celtic
• Old French glener
• Middle English glenen 1350–1400

glean′a•ble, adj. 
glean′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 3. garner, deduce, infer.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

glean / ɡliːn/ verb

1. to gather (something) slowly and carefully in small pieces: to glean information from the newspapers
2. to gather (the useful remnants of a crop) from the field after harvesting

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French glener, from Late Latin glennāre, probably of Celtic origin

ˈgleaner noun