1 the act or an instance of collating.
2 RC Ch. a light meal allowed during a fast.
3 a light informal meal.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L collatio -onis (see COLLATE): sense 2 f. Cassian's Collationes Patrum (= Lives of the Fathers) read by Benedictines and followed by a light meal
Useful english dictionary. 2012.