See Also: conference(dictionary)
conference(dictionary)
Pretrial Conference(law)
Potsdam Conference(encyclopedia)
Tehran Conference(encyclopedia)
Wannsee Conference(encyclopedia)
Washington Conference(encyclopedia)
Wormley Conference(encyclopedia)
Yalta Conference(encyclopedia)
American Conference, the(dictionary)

conference (iou)



conference noun & verb. E16.
[French conference, or medieval Latin conferentia, formed as CONFER + -ENCE.]
A. noun.
Orig., conversation, talk. Now, the action of conversing or taking counsel on serious or important matters. E16.
news conference, press conference, etc. in conference engaged in consultation, at a meeting.
Shakespeare Julius Caesar Nor with such free and friendly conference As..of old. S. Lewis There was a conference of four union officials as to whether the..coal-miners..should strike.
b. (The facility for) telephonic conversation among more than two people on separate lines. Usu. attrib. M20.
Bringing together, collection; collation, comparison. M16-M17.
A formal (esp. annual) meeting held by any organization, association, etc., for consultation and discussion. L16.
Lambeth Conference: see LAMBETH 1.
(Conference.) (The annual assembly of) the central governing body of the Methodist Church or of some other religious groups. M18.
= CONFERRENCE. M19.
An association in commerce (esp. of shipping companies) etc.; an association of sports teams or athletic clubs which usually play each other. L19.
(Usu. Conference.) A late variety of pear with a flecked dark green skin. L19.
Comb.: conference centre a building or complex for the holding of conferences; a place where a conference is held.
b. verb intrans. Confer; hold or attend a conference. Freq. as conferencing verbal noun. M19.