gathering

[ gath-er-ing ]

noun

1. an assembly or meeting.

   Synonyms: assemblage

2. an assemblage of people; group or crowd.

   Synonyms: throng, company, concourse, congregation

3. a collection, assemblage, or compilation of anything.
4. the act of a person or thing that gathers.
5. something that is gathered together.
6. a gather or a series of gathers in cloth.
7. an inflamed and suppurating swelling.

   Synonyms: carbuncle, abscess, boil

8. (in a flue, duct, or the like) a tapered section forming a transition between two sections, one of which has a greater area than the other.
9. Bookbinding. a section in a book, usually a sheet cut into several leaves.

gathering

/ ˈɡæðərɪŋ /

noun

1. a group of people, things, etc, that are gathered together; assembly
2. sewing a gather or series of gathers in material
3. 1. the formation of pus in a boil
   2. the pus so formed
4. printing an informal name for section

Word History and Origins

Origin of gathering¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English gaderinge, Old English gaderunge; equivalent to gather + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the case or explain how Puente and Marquez are accused of gathering private personal identifying information such as Social Security numbers.

From Los Angeles Times

It is also not surprising to see authorities in the two cities pushing back as Chinese authorities have always cracked down on big gatherings to ensure stability.

From BBC

He denies gathering information useful to an enemy, collecting a list of Special Forces soldiers that would be useful for terrorism, and perpetrating a bomb hoax.

From BBC

Services will be held in almost every town and city across the UK - with some of the biggest gatherings expected in Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Plymouth, Liverpool and Manchester.

From BBC

It is led by the UN, and this year's event, the 29th such gathering, will run from 11-22 November.

From BBC

Related Words

• association
• caucus
• collection
• conclave
• conference
• congregation
• convention
• crowd
• function
• group
• mass
• meeting
• party
• throng