conference
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈkɒnf(ə)ɹəns/
ipa: /ˈkɑnf(ə)ɹəns/
ipa: [ˈkʰɑɱ.fɹəns]
ipa: [ˈkʰɑɱ.fɹn̩s]
Forms: form: conferences
Etymology: 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.
Senses: examples: text: Nor with such free and friendly conference / As he hath used of old.
ref: 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
text: 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.
ref: 1850, T. S. Arthur, “Seed Time and Harvest”, in Sketches of Life and Character, Philadelphia: J. W. Bradley, →OCLC, page 129:
glosses: The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or discussion; interchange of views.
topics: government
politics
glosses: A multilateral diplomatic negotiation.
topics: sciences
glosses: A formal event where scientists present their research results in speeches, workshops, posters or by other means.
topics: business
glosses: 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.
topics: hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: A group of sports teams that play each other on a regular basis.
topics: hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: A constituent tournament of a sports league in a given season.
examples: text: helps and furtherances which […] the mutual conference of all men's collections and observations may afford
ref: 1594–1597, Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
glosses: The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison.
qualifier: Methodist Church
glosses: A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters.
glosses: A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district; the district in which such churches are.
Derived terms: audioconference
conference bike
conference call
conferencee
conference-goer
conferencegoer
conference interpreter
conference interpreting
conferencelike
conference matrix
conferencer
conference room
conference table
conferencewide
consensus conference
cyberconference
interconference
intraconference
judicial conference
junk conference
megaconference
multiconference
news conference
nonconference
preconference
predatory conference
press conference
science by press conference
Scoutmaster conference
spamference
status conference
subconference
superconference
teleconference
telephone conference
traffic conference area
unconference
videoconference
video conference
web conference
Related terms: discussant
lecturer
parleyer
prelector
speaker