collective

1. not comparableFormed by gathering or collecting; gathered into a mass, sum, or body.

   the collective body of a nation

   Synonyms: congregated, aggregated

2. not comparableTending to collect; forming a collection.

   Local is his throne […] to fix a point, / A central point, collective of his sons.

   1743, [Edward Young], “Night the Fourth. The Christian Triumph.”, in The Complaint: Or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […]; [a]nd sold by M[ary] Cooper, […], →OCLC, page 18

3. not comparableHaving plurality of origin or authority.
4. not comparablegrammarExpressing a collection or aggregate of individuals, by a singular form.
5. not comparableobsoleteDeducing consequences; reasoning; inferring.

   critical and collective reason

   1642, [Thomas Browne], “(please specify the page)”, in Religio Medici, London: […] Andrew Crooke, →OCLC

plural collectives

1. A farm owned by a collection of people.
2. especiallyOne of more farms managed and owned, through the state, by the community.
3. grammarA collective noun or name.
4. broadlyA group dedicated to a particular cause or interest.

   There are, however, a number of contemporary artists and art collectives that have defined their practice precisely around the facilitation of dialogue among diverse communities.

   2005, Zoya Kocur, Simon Leung, Theory in contemporary art since 1985, page 76

   2 more examples

   Critical Art Ensemble is one of many art collectives operating on the principle that information is power and that it is most effectively made available through a combination of science and aesthetics.

   2006 March 5, Holland Cotter, “The Collective Conscious”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Today’s collectives create together, tour together, exhibit together, live together, survive together, eat together, sleep together, march together, fight together and party together, too.

   2021 October 13, Adam Bradley, “The Creative Collectives Finding Strength in Numbers”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

5. The flight control used to control a helicopter's ascent or descent.

   Hover height, rate of ascent, and the rate of descent are controlled by using the collective. Helicopter position and the direction of travel are controlled by the cyclic.

   2021 July 27, Federal Aviation Administration, Helicopter Flying Handbook: FAA-H-8083-21B, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN

   1 more example

   A pilot normally holds the collective stationary until the helicopter stops; however, to get more braking action, lower the collective slightly. Keep in mind that, due to the increased ground friction when the collective is lowered or[…]

   2012, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Helicopter Flying Handbook: FAA-H-8083-21A, Ravenio Books