# gathering

/ˈɡæðɝɪŋ/ (US) · /ɡˈæðəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gathering
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. social meeting

noun · CEFR B1

a meeting of people for a specific reason, like a party or a family event.

For teachers: a social assembly or meeting of people, often for a specific purpose or occasion.

- The family gathering at Christmas was the first time they had all been together in years.
- The annual gathering of shareholders provided a platform for the board to address concerns regarding the recent merger.

### 2. collecting things

noun · CEFR B2

the act of collecting things together, such as information, food, or wood.

For teachers: the act or process of collecting or accumulating items, information, or natural resources.

- The gathering of data for the report took several months of hard work.
- In many ancient cultures, the gathering of wild grains was a communal activity essential for winter survival.

### 3. medical abscess

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a painful, swollen area on the body that is filled with fluid.

For teachers: a localized collection of pus in a cavity; a suppurating tumor or boil.

- The old doctor described the painful lump on his arm as a gathering.
- The patient presented with a significant gathering in the lower jaw, necessitating immediate drainage and antibiotic treatment.

Usage: In modern medicine, 'abscess' is preferred; 'gathering' is largely found in older texts or specific dialects.

### 4. bookbinding section

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a group of pages in a book that are folded and sewn together.

For teachers: a set of leaves which are held together by a thread; a section of a book consisting of a folded sheet.

- The binder checked each gathering to make sure the pages were in the right order.
- The conservator noted that the third gathering of the manuscript had become detached from the spine due to the degradation of the original adhesive.

## Examples

- We are having a small family gathering this weekend.
- The local community organized a peaceful gathering in the park to discuss the new housing project.
- While the initial gathering was intended as a private celebration, it quickly evolved into a significant networking event for the city's emerging tech entrepreneurs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.