gathering
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a meeting of people for a specific reason, like a party or a family event.
a social assembly or meeting of people, often for a specific purpose or occasion.
Simple“The family gathering at Christmas was the first time they had all been together in years.”
In context“The annual gathering of shareholders provided a platform for the board to address concerns regarding the recent merger.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of collecting things together, such as information, food, or wood.
the act or process of collecting or accumulating items, information, or natural resources.
Simple“The gathering of data for the report took several months of hard work.”
In context“In many ancient cultures, the gathering of wild grains was a communal activity essential for winter survival.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
a painful, swollen area on the body that is filled with fluid.
a localized collection of pus in a cavity; a suppurating tumor or boil.
Simple“The old doctor described the painful lump on his arm as a gathering.”
In context“The patient presented with a significant gathering in the lower jaw, necessitating immediate drainage and antibiotic treatment.”
UsageIn modern medicine, 'abscess' is preferred; 'gathering' is largely found in older texts or specific dialects.
- 04 C1 Advanced
a group of pages in a book that are folded and sewn together.
a set of leaves which are held together by a thread; a section of a book consisting of a folded sheet.
Simple“The binder checked each gathering to make sure the pages were in the right order.”
In context“The conservator noted that the third gathering of the manuscript had become detached from the spine due to the degradation of the original adhesive.”
Usage gathering places
“Here is where I believe concerts differ subtly from sports events or religious gatherings.”
“Instead, she remembers the songs, the clusters of women gathering in the family compound and the rhythm of dozens of dancing feet.”
From Middle English gadering, from Old English gaderung (“gathering, assembly”), equivalent to gather + -ing (verbal noun ending).
From Middle English gaderynge, equivalent to gather + -ing (present participle ending).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.