A compilation is a collection of things, such as songs, texts, or data, that have been gathered from different sources into one place. It can also refer to the act of putting such a collection together.
From Late Latin *compilatio* “plundering, collection,” from *compilare* “to pillage, gather up,” from *com-* “together” + *pilare* “to pluck.” The negative sense of plundering faded, leaving mainly the idea of gathering materials.
Every playlist, “best of” album, or blooper reel is a modern compilation—someone has curated pieces into a new whole. The power of a compilation often lies less in the items themselves and more in the choices about what to include and how to order them.
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