As verbs the difference between collocate and gather
is that
collocate is (linguistics|translation studies) (said of certain words) to be often used together, form a collocation; for example
strong'' collocates with ''tea while
gather is to collect; normally separate things.
As nouns the difference between collocate and gather
is that
collocate is (linguistics) a component word of a collocation while
gather is a plait or fold in cloth, made by drawing a thread through it; a pucker.
As an adjective collocate
is (obsolete) set; placed.