Word
gathering
Phoneticsgath·er·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡæðɝɪŋ/
UK/ɡˈæðəɹɪŋ/
Definitions
01social meeting
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a meeting of people for a specific reason, like a party or a family event.
n. a social assembly or meeting of people, often for a specific purpose or occasion.
Español:encuentro
“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.”
Synonyms
02collecting things
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of collecting things together, such as information, food, or wood.
n. 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.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03medical abscess
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Medicine Archaic · Technical
n. a painful, swollen area on the body that is filled with fluid.
n. 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.
04bookbinding section
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technology Technical
n. a group of pages in a book that are folded and sewn together.
n. 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.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “gathering” in context.
Verb
01. attend a gathering
“Delegates from over fifty countries attended the annual gathering in Geneva.”
verb + adj + noun
02. disperse a gathering
“Police were called to disperse a rowdy gathering that was disturbing the neighborhood.”
verb + adj + noun
03. facilitate the gathering of information
“The new software was designed to facilitate the gathering of information from multiple sources.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
04. intimate gathering
“They decided to host an intimate gathering for their closest friends instead of a large party.”
adj + noun
05. social gathering
“The government restricted any social gathering of more than six people during the lockdown.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. family gathering
“The holidays are usually the only time we have a full family gathering.”
noun + noun
07. gathering of data
“The systematic gathering of data is essential for any scientific research project.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. at a gathering
“I first met the CEO at a small gathering organized by the local chamber of commerce.”
prep + noun
09. gathering places
Real-World Examples
“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.” “The cremation of the nuclear family illusion is a cornerstone of literature, especially when it’s hastened by one of those unavoidable core gatherings: weddings, births, funerals.” “Satellites, moored arrays of sensors and research ships are gathering data from the modern ocean too.” Etymology
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.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/gathering
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0