gugus

Gugus is a common noun in Indonesian and Malay that denotes a cluster, group, or set of related items. The term is used to describe collections of objects that are physically close or conceptually linked, such as a cluster of stars, a group of islands, or a formation of related geographic or scientific features. In everyday language it can also refer to a team or organized group charged with a specific purpose, for example in government or business contexts.

Etymologically, gugus comes from the Austronesian language family and functions as a generic descriptor in Indonesian and Malay. It is widely used across formal and informal registers, and appears in a range of technical terms as well as everyday speech. In modern usage, it often forms part of compounds that emphasize collective grouping rather than a single item.

Common expressions include gugus bintang (star cluster) in astronomy and gugus kepulauan (archipelago) in geography, illustrating its role in describing natural or spatial groupings. The phrase gugus tugas (task force) is a well-known administrative term used to designate a coordinated group formed to handle a particular issue or operation. While gugus is typically a descriptive noun, it can also appear in place names or organizational titles when a sense of grouping is central to meaning.

See also: archipelago, star cluster, task force, grouping, linguistics.