congresses

Noun

congress (countable and uncountable, plural congresses)

1. A formal gathering or assembly of persons; a conference held to discuss or decide on a specific question.
2. (capitalized, often) A legislative body of a state, originally the bicameral legislature of the United States of America.
   • Republicans have their own high stakes in November. Losing control of Congress, they say, could mean a highly politicized impeachment of their president.2018 January 27, Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Nicholas Fandos, “As Gridlock Deepens in Congress, Only Gloom Is Bipartisan”, in The New York Times

   Synonyms:

   assembly, legislature, parliament

3. An association, especially one consisting of other associations or representatives of interest groups.
   • Near-synonyms: federation, confederation

   Synonyms:

   federation, confederation

4. (dated) Coitus: sexual intercourse.
   • Welsh ponies, I learn from a man who has had much experience with these animals, habitually produce erections and emissions in their stalls; they do not bring their hind quarters up during this process, and they close their eyes, which does not take place when they have congress with mares.1927, Havelock Ellis, Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 (of 6)

   Synonyms:

   sexual congress

5. (archaic) A coming together of two or more people; a meeting.
   • After some little repast, he went to see Democritus […]. The multitude stood gazing round about to see the congress., New York Review of Books, 2001, p.48
6. (collective, countable, rare) A group of baboons.
   • […] the council hall stank like a congress of baboons.1966, Philip José Farmer, “Riverworld”, in Down in the Black Gang and Others, Garden City, NY: Nelson Doubleday, published 1971, page 79

   Synonyms:

   flange

See all 15 meanings of congress