collecting

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A hobby including seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever items are of interest to the individual collector.

   “The task of data gathering is not a random walk, a sensual search, or the bemused collectings of a beachcomber.”

verb

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present)present participle and gerund of collect