Definition

1. Noun:
   • A formally arranged gathering of people for discussion or decision-making: A meeting is an event where people come together, typically by prior arrangement, to discuss specific topics, make decisions, or share information.
   • A casual or unexpected coming together of people: A meeting can also refer to an unplanned or chance encounter between individuals.
   • The act of coming together or assembling: The term can describe the action or process of people or things joining or converging in one place.
   • A place where two or more things, especially rivers, join: In a geographical context, a meeting point, particularly of waterways.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The board of directors scheduled a meeting to discuss the quarterly results.
  • Their chance meeting at the coffee shop led to a lifelong friendship.
  • The meeting of the two rivers creates a powerful current.
  • The annual shareholder meeting will be held in June.

Advanced Usage

• "To call a meeting": to formally request or arrange for a gathering to take place.
  • The manager called a meeting to address the new project deadlines.
• "To chair a meeting": to be the person in charge of leading and directing the proceedings of a formal gathering.
  • She will chair the meeting to ensure all agenda items are covered.
• "A meeting of minds": an instance of people reaching an agreement or mutual understanding.
  • After hours of negotiation, there was finally a meeting of minds on the contract terms.

Variants and Related Words

• Meet (verb): to come into the presence or company of someone by arrangement or chance.
  • Let's meet for lunch tomorrow.
• Meeting room (noun): a room designated for holding gatherings or conferences.
  • Please reserve the large meeting room for the presentation.

Synonyms

• Conference: A formal meeting for discussion, typically lasting several days.
• Assembly: A group of people gathered together for a common purpose.
• Encounter: A casual or unexpected meeting.
• Confluence: A flowing together, especially of rivers (a more specific, geographical synonym).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Meet up: to come together with someone, often informally.
  • We should meet up for coffee sometime next week.
• Meet with: to have a meeting with someone, often for a specific purpose like discussion or approval.
  • The proposal will meet with the committee for review.

Related Idioms

• Meeting halfway: compromising with someone to reach an agreement.
  • To resolve the dispute, both parties agreed to meet halfway.
• A meeting of the ways: a point where paths, ideas, or options converge.
  • Their different strategies found a meeting of the ways in the final plan.

Noun

1. a place where things merge or flow together (especially rivers)
   • Pittsburgh is located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers
2. the act of joining together as one
   • the merging of the two groups occurred quickly
   • there was no meeting of minds
3. the social act of assembling for some common purpose
   • his meeting with the salesmen was the high point of his day
4. a casual or unexpected convergence
   • he still remembers their meeting in Paris
   • there was a brief encounter in the hallway
5. a small informal social gathering
   • there was an informal meeting in my living room
6. a formally arranged gathering
   • next year the meeting will be in Chicago
   • the meeting elected a chairperson