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

Emma moved away to be with family in rural Wales - and then by chance during a therapy session, she said someone spotted she might have autism instead.

From BBC

The ride turns into a giant jam session.

From Los Angeles Times

Near the end of the session someone in the audience asked why the center was publishing reports about climate change if it was a hoax?

From Salon

McMillion allegedly said the unit’s members had turned their Internal Affairs interviews into a “couch session” to air out their grievances.

From Los Angeles Times

But staff sickness meant face-to-face sessions were replaced with phone calls and her condition deteriorated.

From BBC

Related Words

• conference
• discussion
• hearing
• period
• term