meeting – the different kinds

Today I happen to search for a synonym for the word “meeting”, for a group description in facebook and I wanted a really catching word for meeting. When I looked through the synonyms at dictionary I found there are lots of options but each one was unique. I remember those days of being a copy editor, when we used to find people just replacing a word with its synonym but not worrying to check whether the meaning remains appropriate. Hence, in addition to “words of the day” which I have been posting in this blog for long, I wanted to add another category “the different kinds” under “Learning English“. Here comes my first post, different kinds of “meetings”,

assemblage, noun – a group of persons gathered or collected in one place; the social act of assembling.

assembly, noun – coming together of number of persons for a particular purpose, mostly religious, social or political.

clambake, noun – a picnic or social gathering at the seashore at which clams and other sea foods are baked; a very noisy social gathering.

conclave, noun – a private or secret meeting; a gathering that has special authority, power or influence; the body of cardinals.

concourse, noun – assembling in a huge open ground; an area for sports or related gathering; an act of running or coming together.

conference, noun – a meeting for consultation and discussion; exchange of views among a large gathering; an assembly of consultation mostly with a formal agenda.

confluence, noun - a coming together of people, thronging, similar to flowing together of two or more streams.

confrontation, noun – a meeting of persons face to face; an open conflict of opposing ideas; a clash of groups with opposing interests or beliefs.

congregation, noun – an assembly of people brought together for common religious worship.

congress, noun – a formal meeting or assembly of representatives, for the discussion on matters of common interest.

conjunction, noun – the state of being conjoined or united; a combination of events or circumstances.

convergence, noun – two or more groups coming together at a point.

convention, noun – a formal assembly for deciding action on something or for making agreements; a general agreement generally accepted as a standard by all related parties;

encounter, noun – to come upon or meet unexpectedly; unexpected meeting of conflicting parties; to meet with or content against.

engagement, noun – an appointment; an arrangement to meet; betrothal; getting occupied with something.

get-together, noun – an informal, small social gathering.

huddle, verb – to gather in close mass; ,noun – a closely gathered group.

juxtaposition, noun - the state of being close together, side by side.

nooner, noun – an activity undertaken during lunch hour, mostly a sexual encounter.

parley, noun – an informal conference between enemies under a truce.

quickie, noun – a short time encounter, mostly for a drink or a hurried sexual activity.

rendezvous, noun – an agreement between a few people to meet at a certain time and place; meeting of two or more space crafts in the outer space; ,verb – to assemble at an agreed time and place.

reunion, noun – a gathering of relatives, friends or associates at a location, after a separation.

tryst, noun – an appointment to meet someone at a certain place and time, mostly secretly by lovers.

sit-in, noun - an organized passive protest, where a group of people peacefully occupy a premises and refuse to leave.

turnout ,noun – the gathering of persons who come to an exhibition or party.

union, noun – a number of persons joined or associated together for some common purpose.