A lot to collect (5)
I believe the answer is:
amass
'to collect' is the definition.
('amass' can be a synonym of 'collect')
'a lot' is the wordplay.
'lot' becomes 'mass' (synonyms).
'a'+'mass'='AMASS'
(Other definitions for amass that I've seen before include "Collect, hoard" , "Sodium chloride" , "Stock up on" , "Stockpile" , "Accumulate, heap up" .)