session

[ sesh-uhn ]

noun

1. the sitting together of a court, council, legislature, or the like, for conference or the transaction of business:

   Congress is now in session.

2. a single continuous sitting, or period of sitting, of persons so assembled.
3. a continuous series of sittings or meetings of a court, legislature, or the like.
4. the period or term during which such a series is held.
5. sessions, (in English law) the sittings or a sitting of justices in court, usually to deal with minor offenses, grant licenses, etc.
6. a single continuous course or period of lessons, study, etc., in the work of a day at school:

   Through a mixture of both lectures and lab sessions, you will develop a broad engineering skill base.

7. a portion of the year into which instruction is organized at a college or other educational institution:

   She’s enrolled in a six-week summer session.

8. the governing body of a local Presbyterian church, composed of the pastor who moderates and the elders.
9. a period of time during which a group of persons meets to pursue a particular activity:

   It was the last show before their recording sessions this week where they will produce their first album.

session

/ ˈsɛʃən /

noun

1. the meeting of a court, legislature, judicial body, etc, for the execution of its function or the transaction of business
2. a single continuous meeting of such a body
3. a series or period of such meetings
4. education
   1. the time during which classes are held
   2. a school or university term or year
5. Presbyterian Church the judicial and administrative body presiding over a local congregation and consisting of the minister and elders
6. a meeting of a group of musicians to record in a studio
7. a meeting of a group of people to pursue an activity
8. any period devoted to an activity
9. See Court of Session

Derived Forms

• ˈsessional, adjective
• ˈsessionally, adverb

Other Words From

• ses·sion·al adjective
• pre·ses·sion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of session¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English sessio(u)n, cessio(u)n, from Anglo-French, Middle French session, from Latin sessiōn- (stem of sessiō ) “sitting, bench, law-court sitting,” equivalent to sess(us) (past participle of sedēre to sit ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of session¹

C14: from Latin sessiō a sitting, from sedēre to sit

Idioms and Phrases

see bull session .

Example Sentences

When they could not leave their hotel on Wednesday because of heavy rain and flash flooding in the Andalusian city, spirits were kept high with games of spikeball and a yoga session.

From BBC

Health trusts in Northern Ireland each set their own criteria for when they will offer cardiac rehab sessions.

From BBC

"It was a decent sparring session between a tough, young novice and a very old but once great man, Mike Tyson," Bunce said.

From BBC

The four sessions I attended were unsurprisingly partisan but surprisingly thoughtful and open-minded.

From Los Angeles Times

Each session was four hours long and led by professional art educators.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• conference
• discussion
• hearing
• period
• term