Entry Word: gathering

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 a body of people come together in one place <the President spoke before the gathering of student leaders>

Synonyms assemblage, assembly, conference, congregation, convocation, meeting, muster

Related Words aggregation, collection, conglomeration; company, coterie, gang, pack; caucus, forum, market, panel, rally, symposium, synod; crowd, flock, horde, legion, multitude, press, swarm, throng; crush, mob, rabble

2 a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose <attended a gathering for descendants of people who came to America on the Mayflower> — see meeting 1
3 a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered <a great gathering of dust under the bed> — see accumulation 1