1. accumulate原意是 “堆积”，侧重连续不断地，一点一滴，长期的积累，数量逐渐增加的意思。

1）The ground is covered with heavy snow which accumulated during the whole night.

      地上覆盖着昨晚堆积起来的大雪。

2）Dust and dirt soon accumulate if a house is not cleaned regularly.

      房屋不经常打扫，尘土很快就越积越多。

3）If we don't clear away the rubbish regularly, it will just accumulate.

      如果我们不定期清除这些垃圾,它会越积越多。

4）In case there is a shortage, it is a wise policy to accumulate reserves of certain raw materials.

      为防万一出现短缺，明智的做法是积累某些原料储备。

5）He has accumulated much experience in dealing with the tough rivals in negotiation.

      他已积累了丰富的与谈判高手打交道的经验。

6）To prove their theories, scientists must accumulate a certain amount of data as evidence.

      为了证明他们的理论,科学家必须积累了一定数量的资料作为证据。

2. collect   ① “收集”、“采集”。指有目的、有选择地收集，采集某物作某种用途或作为

   兴趣爱好收藏。  ②“聚积” “积存”，指把某物聚积起来。

1）He likes to collect from magazines and newspapers the articles which he thinks are useful.

      他喜欢从杂志和报纸的收集一些他认为有用的文章。

2）Elizabeth had been collecting snails for a school project.

      伊丽莎白一直在为完成学校的一份课题作业收集蜗牛。

3）That's a rare set of coins. How long did it take you to collect them?

      这是一套很罕见的钱币，你用了多长时间收集到的？

4）It is imperative to collect and analyze information of the competitors’ product, price and sales policies throughout the market.

      从市场上收集并分析有关竞争对手的产品、价格、销售策略等信息十分有必要。

5）Like a telescope it has a curved mirror to collect the sunlight.

      和望远镜一样，它有一个曲面镜可以积聚阳光。

6）They mounted a huge water tank to collect rainwater from the house roof.

      他们装了一个大水箱积存屋顶的雨水。

3. gather  用于人时指按要求或自发地“集合”或“聚集”在处。用于物时指分散之物或将分

    散之物汇总、聚集在一起。

1）We will gather at the gate of the auditorium at eight o’clock tomorrow morning.

      明天早晨八点我们将在礼堂门口集合。

2）The captain ordered all the sailors to gather on the deck.

     船长命令所有船员都在甲板上集合。

3）Many applicants gathered outside the office building waiting for the decision.

     许多应聘者聚集在办公大楼等决定。

4）About 100 people aged in their twenties and thirties gathered at a hotel for a blind date.

     大约有100名二三十岁的年轻男女聚在一个酒店参加一场相亲会。

5）Before you begin a research you should gather a large amount of data to the subject you are to work on.

     在你开始做研究之前，你需要收集大量与课题有关的资料。

6）The manager asks me to gather relevant market data，sales information and prepare business reports.

     经理让我收集有关市场和销售信息并准备商务报告。

7）They quickly gathered a passenger list and cross-check it with a list of people treated by emergency workers

     他们还很快收集到了乘客名单，与抢救人员救助的乘客名字进行比对。

8）Happiness is all around us, but it often comes in small grains. When we gather it grain by grain, we soon have a basketful

     幸福就在我们周围，但它往往以小小颗粒的形式出现。只要我们一粒一粒地把它收集 起来，很快就可以装满一篮子。

4. assemble   用于人时，指“集合”、“聚集”，用法同gather，但比gather正式。用于物

    时，指“组装”、“装配”，即将组件汇总成整体。assemble 有时用作“收集”，相当

    于collect 的用法。

1）All the employees are called on to assemble in the cafeteria for an important announcement.

      所有员工被召合在食堂宣布一项重要消息。

2）Thousands of city dwellers assembled at the centre square to celebrate their football team winning the champion of the National League.

      成千上万的市民聚集在中心广场庆祝他们的足球队赢得联赛冠军。

3）Groups of its inhabitants assembled to discuss the matter.

      小区里的居民三五成群地聚一起议论这件事情。

4）The bookcase can easily be assembled with a screwdriver.

      这书柜用一把螺丝刀就可以很容易地安装起来。

5）The workers are busy assembling the new machinery in the workshop.

      工人们在车间忙着组装新机器.

6）In that factory they can assemble a car in less than 15 minutes.

      在那家工厂，工人们不到15分种就装配好一部汽车。

7）He is assembling evidence concerning a murder

      他在收集一宗谋杀案的证据。

8）The new device is used to assemble the sewerage and process it with effective setup to saves water and reduce waste dischange.

      这种新装置用于收集污水，通过有效处理，达节约水资源和减少污水排放的目的。

5. amass   侧重指大量地积聚，尤指对如金钱、珠宝等有价值东西的大量积聚。可引申出

   “积累”、“收集”，相对于accumulate 的用法。

1）Mr. Smith's business was very successful, and he was able to amass a fortune.

      史密斯先生的事业极为成功，所以他积聚了一大笔财富。

2）China's sales of goods to the U.S. have helped it amass the world's biggest pile of foreign-exchange reserves.

      中国对美国的商品出口帮助它积攒了世界上最大的外汇储备。

3）He had no desire to amass wealth. He worked only as much as was necessary to make ends meet.

      他不想敛财，只想干活挣钱能过日子就行。

4）Central banks across Asia have continued to amass foreign exchange reserves at a remarkable pace.

      亚洲各国央行仍在以惊人的速度继续累积外汇。

5）Scientists are continuing to amass data concerning the effects of many other types of toxic pollutants.

      科学家正在继续积累有关其他类型有害污染物影响和危害的数据资料。

6）If you are a lifelong learner you will amass a great treasure of knowledge and keep your mind forever active and young.

     如果你坚持终生学习，你将积累一大笔的知识财富，你的心智将永远保持年青有活力。