Conference

//ˈkɒnf(ə)ɹəns// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    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."

  2. 2
    An autumn cultivar of the European pear Pyrus communis.
  3. 3
    a discussion among participants who have an agreed (serious) topic wordnet
  4. 4
    The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison. obsolete

    "helps and furtherances which […] the mutual conference of all men's collections and observations may afford"

  5. 5
    an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members wordnet
Show 9 more definitions
  1. 6
    A multilateral diplomatic negotiation.
  2. 7
    a prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda) wordnet
  3. 8
    A formal event where scientists or other scholars present their research results in speeches, workshops, posters or by other means.
  4. 9
    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.
  5. 10
    A group of sports teams that play each other on a regular basis.
  6. 11
    A constituent tournament of a sports league in a given season. Philippines
  7. 12
    A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters.
  8. 13
    A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district; the district in which such churches are.
  9. 14
    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.[…]”"

Verb
  1. 1
    To assess (a student) by one-on-one conversation, rather than an examination. ambitransitive

    "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."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle French conférence, from Medieval Latin cōnferentia, from Latin cōnferēns, several steps omitting 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.

Etymology 2

From Middle French conférence, from Medieval Latin cōnferentia, from Latin cōnferēns, several steps omitting 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.

Etymology 3

After the National British Pear Conference in London in 1885, at which this cultivar won the first prize.

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