congress

[ noun kong-gris; verb kuhn-gres, kuhng- ]

/ noun ˈkɒŋ grɪs; verb kənˈgrɛs, kəŋ- /

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See synonyms for: congress / congressed / congressing on Thesaurus.com

noun

(initial capital letter)

the national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate, or upper house, and the House of Representatives, or lower house, as a continuous institution.
this body as it exists for a period of two years during which it has the same membership: the Ninety-Seventh Congress.
a session of this body: to speak in Congress.

the national legislative body of a nation, especially of a republic.

a formal meeting or assembly of representatives for the discussion, arrangement, or promotion of some matter of common interest.

the act of coming together; an encounter; meeting.

an association, especially one composed of representatives of various organizations.

familiar relations; dealings intercourse.

sexual intercourse; coitus.

verb (used without object)

to assemble together; meet in congress.

SYNONYMS FOR congress

3 conference, council, convention.

See synonyms for congress on Thesaurus.com

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Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!

Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

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Origin of congress

First recorded in 1350–1400 for earlier sense “body of attendants, following”; Middle English, from Latin congressus “assembly, intercourse, meeting,” equivalent to congred(ī) “to approach, meet” (con- “with, together” + -gredī, combining form of gradī “to step”) + -tus suffix of verbal action; see con-; cf. grade

OTHER WORDS FROM congress

pre-Congress, noun

Words nearby congress

congregation, congregational, Congregational Church, congregationalism, Congregationalists, congress, congress boot, congressional, congressional district, Congressional Medal of Honor, Congressional Record

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for congress

Pauli wrote to Jung reporting a dream he had about a physics congress with many participants.
The Synchronicity of Wolfgang Pauli and Carl Jung - Issue 93: Forerunners|Paul Halpern|November 18, 2020|Nautilus
Historically the reelection rate for members of Congress is in the area of 95 percent.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The breakdown of the 114th Congress is 80 percent white, 80 percent male, and 92 percent Christian.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
With all that said, representation of each of these respective communities has increased in the new Congress.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

This Congress will welcome more women than ever before at 19 percent of the House and 20 percent of the Senate.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
How far has Congress really evolved on race when in 50 years it has gone from one black senator to two?
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In nine days he returned, bringing us the thanks of congress, and fresh orders.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
He was a member of the first provincial congress, and eighteen years lieutenant governor of the state of New York.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Our army, under the command of General Houston, was in front of Harrisburg, to which place the congress had retreated.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
Congress declared the authority of England over the thirteen colonies abolished.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
During the revolutionary war he was commissary-general to the Pennsylvania division, and printer to congress.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell

British Dictionary definitions for congress (1 of 2)

congress

/ (ˈkɒŋɡrɛs) /

noun

a meeting or conference, esp of representatives of a number of sovereign states

a national legislative assembly

a society or association

sexual intercourse

Word Origin for congress

C16: from Latin congressus from congredī to meet with, from com- together + gradī to walk, step

British Dictionary definitions for congress (2 of 2)

Congress

/ (ˈkɒŋɡrɛs) /

noun

the bicameral federal legislature of the US, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate

this body during any two-year term

Also called: Congress Party (in India) a major political party, which controlled the Union government from 1947 to 1977Official name: Indian National Congress

Derived forms of Congress

Congressional, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for congress

Congress

The legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Popularly elected, senators and representatives are responsible for advocating the interests of the constituents they represent. Numerous congressional committees are organized to study issues of public policy, recommend action, and, ultimately, pass laws. Congress plays an important role in the system of checks and balances; in fact, the two-house (bicameral) organization of Congress acts as an internal check, for each house must separately vote to pass a bill for it to become a law. In addition to lawmaking, Congress has a variety of functions, including appropriation of funds for executive and judicial activities; instituting taxes and regulating commerce; declaring war and raising and supporting a military; setting up federal courts and conducting impeachment proceedings; and approving presidential appointments.

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congress

noun

verb (used without object)

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British Dictionary definitions for congress (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for congress

British Dictionary definitions for congress (2 of 2)

noun

Derived forms of Congress

Cultural definitions for congress

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

congress

noun

verb (used without object)

SYNONYMS FOR congress

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

Origin of congress

OTHER WORDS FROM congress

Words nearby congress

Words related to congress

Example sentences from the Web for congress

British Dictionary definitions for congress (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for congress

British Dictionary definitions for congress (2 of 2)

noun

Derived forms of Congress

Cultural definitions for congress