Cluster Meaning

UK /ˈklʌstər/
US /ˈklʌstər/
Word Definition
cluster meaning

Cluster Definition & Usage

noun

A group or bunch of similar things or people that are located close together.

Examples

  • "A cluster of stars lit up the night sky."
  • "There was a cluster of tourists gathered around the monument."
  • "She placed a cluster of flowers in the vase."
  • "The data points form a tight cluster on the graph."
  • "A small cluster of houses stood at the foot of the hill."
noun

In computing, a cluster refers to a set of computers or servers that work together to perform a task, often used for improving performance or reliability.

Examples

  • "The company's database is hosted on a cluster of servers."
  • "The web application runs efficiently on a server cluster."
  • "Our tech team is setting up a new cluster to handle the increased load."
  • "Cloud providers often use clusters to balance heavy traffic."
  • "The cluster's configuration allows for quick data retrieval and backup."
verb

To gather or form into a cluster or group.

Examples

  • "The children clustered around the teacher to hear the story."
  • "Birds clustered on the power lines at dusk."
  • "The students clustered together for warmth in the cold wind."
  • "People clustered at the entrance, waiting to be let in."
  • "The flowers clustered together, forming a beautiful display."

Cultural Context

The word 'cluster' has evolved from its use in physical grouping of objects to more abstract applications, including in fields like technology and data analysis. It is widely used in both everyday language and specialized fields such as computing, astronomy, and statistics.

The Cluster at the Edge of the Field

Story

The Cluster at the Edge of the Field

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the small village of Greenbrook buzzed with activity. At the far edge of the field, a cluster of children huddled together, their laughter echoing through the air. They had been playing tag all afternoon, and now, as the evening grew colder, they formed a tight group near the tree for warmth. 'Let's not break up the cluster just yet,' cried Emily, trying to keep the group together. The word 'cluster' had taken on a new meaning for her—it wasn’t just a group of people but a safety net, a comforting sense of togetherness. Meanwhile, just a few miles away, a team of engineers in a brightly lit room were gathered around their computer screens. 'We need to get this cluster of servers working perfectly,' said Mark, pointing at the display of interconnected systems on the monitor. 'Once this is up and running, we can handle more traffic than ever.' Their 'cluster' was a technical marvel, a network of machines designed to ensure reliability and efficiency. Back in Greenbrook, as the children’s game came to a close, they scattered, breaking the cluster into smaller groups, each heading home for the night. But the sense of connection remained. In the world of technology, it was all about finding ways to keep clusters of servers and systems in sync, just as the children had found a way to stay warm and close in the fading light. Later that night, as Emily lay in bed, she thought about the different meanings of 'cluster'—how it had been a word of comfort, a word of technology, and a word that bridged the gap between the two worlds. In a way, it was a perfect symbol of how everything in the universe, from the smallest group of people to the largest collections of stars, could come together to form something greater than the sum of its parts.

The Cluster at the Edge of the Field