conference
noun
- Meeting; convention
- meet with, have a conference with
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈkɒn.f(ə.)ɹəns/ / /ˈkɑn.f(ə.)ɹəns/ / [ˈkʰɑɱ.fɹəns]
noun
Etymology: From Middle French conférence, from Medieval Latin cōnferentia, from Latin cōnferēns, omitting several steps, from con- + ferō. Compare parallel Russian собра́ние (sobránije), Russian сбо́рище (sbórišče), akin to с- (s-), со- (so-) + брать (bratʹ), ultimately from the same Indo-European prefix and root. Also compare congress, convention.
- The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or discussion; interchange of views.
“Nor with such free and friendly conference / As he hath used of old.”
“Mr. Wiley, a lawyer of some ability, was sitting in his office one day, when an elderly gentleman came in and asked to have a few words of conference with him.”
- The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison.
“helps and furtherances which […] the mutual conference of all men's collections and observations may afford”
- A multilateral diplomatic negotiation.
- A formal event where scientists or other scholars present their research results in speeches, workshops, posters or by other means.
- An event organized by a for-profit or non-profit organization to discuss a pressing issue, such as a new product, market trend or government regulation, with a range of speakers.
- A group of sports teams that play each other on a regular basis.
- A constituent tournament of a sports league in a given season.
- A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters.
- A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district; the district in which such churches are.
- A talk or lecture, (Catholicism) especially when given as part of a retreat.
““[…]But I do know of a man who is an expert on the topic. In fact, he gave a conference here in our church not very long ago.[…]””
“She gave a conference each evening during the retreat while Fr Dubas gave two talks during the day.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle French conférence, from Medieval Latin cōnferentia, from Latin cōnferēns, omitting several steps, from con- + ferō. Compare parallel Russian собра́ние (sobránije), Russian сбо́рище (sbórišče), akin to с- (s-), со- (so-) + брать (bratʹ), ultimately from the same Indo-European prefix and root. Also compare congress, convention.
- To assess (a student) by one-on-one conversation, rather than an examination.
“The students who were conferenced on paper 1 will get a written response to paper 2, and those who received a written response to paper 1 will be conferenced on paper 2.”