Glean, which is a five-letter word, is often used to describe the act of gathering gradually. It is derived from the Middle English word 'glinen, ' which means to collect or pick up. GLEAN is often used in reference to collecting small amounts of food or other items over a period of time. In this context, it can be used to describe the process of gathering gradually, such as collecting a few pieces of fruit from a tree or picking up a few items from the ground.