ENGLISH
REFERENCE

symposium

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //sɪmˈpoʊziəm// UK //sɪmpˈəʊsiəm// sym·po·sium

n. a formal meeting where experts give short talks on a specific subject. It is usually a professional or academic event where people share new ideas.

n. a formal meeting or conference at which several specialists deliver short addresses on a topic or on related topics. Often implies a collaborative or academic environment for intellectual exchange.


SIMPLE

The university is hosting a symposium on climate change next week.

CONTEXTUAL

Medical researchers gathered at the annual symposium to discuss the latest breakthroughs in genetic therapy.

COMPLEX

The international symposium provided a rare platform for historians and sociologists to debate the long-term cultural impacts of the industrial revolution within a multidisciplinary framework.

Origin

Borrowed from Latin symposium, from Ancient Greek συμπόσιον (sumpósion, “drinking party”) from συμπίνω (sumpínō, “drink together”) συν- (sun-, “together-”) + πίνω (pínō, “drink”).

Usage

Commonly takes the preposition 'on' to indicate the subject matter.

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