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

The Associated Press reported that the funeral location was not made public in advance to prevent a large crowd from gathering.

From Los Angeles Times

This allows them to learn essential skills, including caring for infants and cooking as well as hunting and gathering, through a process that is often subtle and nonverbal.

From Science Daily

Maybe you’re planning a wedding, a large family gathering or just want to go all-out for the holidays.

From Los Angeles Times

This gathering of farmers left me with three thoughts:

From BBC

In 2017, Hegseth was famous enough as a figure who appeared frequently on Fox News that he was invited to address a gathering of conservative Republican women in Monterey, California.

From Salon

Related Words

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