Definition

1. Noun:
   • A formal meeting or conference for the public discussion of a specific topic: A "symposium" is an event where experts or participants gather to present and discuss papers, ideas, or research on a particular subject. The participants typically form an audience for these presentations.
   • A collection of essays or articles on a particular subject: "Symposium" can also refer to a published volume containing a series of contributions from different authors concerning a single theme or topic.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The university is hosting an international symposium on climate change next month.
  • Her research was presented at a medical symposium and was very well received.
  • The journal published a symposium featuring essays from ten leading philosophers.

Advanced Usage

• "to hold/organize a symposium": to arrange and conduct a formal meeting for discussion.
  • The institute will hold a symposium on artificial intelligence ethics.
• "proceedings of a symposium": the official published record of the papers and discussions from such a meeting.
  • He contributed a chapter to the proceedings of the annual symposium.

Variants and Related Words

• Symposia (n): The standard plural form of "symposium."
  • Several important symposia were scheduled for the conference week.
• Symposiast (n): A participant in a symposium. (This is a less common, more formal term).
  • The symposiasts engaged in a lively debate after the presentations.

Synonyms

• Conference: A formal meeting for discussion.
• Colloquium: An academic seminar or conference.
• Forum: A meeting or medium for open discussion.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Symposium format": Refers to the specific structure of an event involving sequential presentations followed by discussion.
  • The event will follow a symposium format, with four keynote speakers.

Noun

1. a meeting or conference for the public discussion of some topic especially one in which the participants form an audience and make presentations