congregation — English Dictionary

congregation
Pronunciations (4)
  • /ˌkɒŋɡɹɪˈɡeɪʃən/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Received-Pronunciation
  • /ˌkɑŋɡɹəˈɡeɪʃən/
    Pronunciation notes
    • General-American
  • ˌkɒŋɡɹɪˈɡeɪʃən
    Pronunciation notes
    • GB
  • ˌkɑŋɡɹəˈɡeɪʃən
    Pronunciation notes
    • US

Noun

  1. The act of congregating or collecting together.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  2. A gathering of faithful in a temple, church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship, especially those present at a devotional service or who regularly attend such services, particularly in contrast to the leadership, choir or others.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Synonyms
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    The critically low level of rainfall in the second half of 2020 – approaching 50% year on year for November – led the religious affairs directorate to instruct imams and their congregations to pray for rain last month.

    In Hebrew, bonai shalom means “builders of peace,” and the congregation welcomes both Jews and non-Jews to participate in all aspects of the community.

  3. A Roman Congregation, a main department of the Vatican administration of the Catholic Church.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  4. A corporate body whose members gather for worship, or the members of such a body.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  5. Any large gathering of people.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    During the wedding ( usually held on a Saturday ) , you and your committee sit on " facing benches ” before the rest of the congregation ( your guests ) . Everyone worships silently until you two feel that it's time to say your vows .

  6. A flock of birds.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
    Synonyms
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    Bald eagles gather in significant numbers along the middle Skagit during the winter to feed on migrating salmon. This congregation of eagles is reported to be the largest wintering group on the contiguous West Coast.

    "Oh! I wasted most of my morning crawling to a murmuration of starlings, which I foolishly mistook for congregation of plover."

    I was excited to ramp up our cave-diving efforts, and to see my first big congregation of penguins.

    More examples (4)

    There was a congregation of pigeons inside the shack, he realized, pushing their beaks through the wooden lattice at the front.

    Dr. C. Hart Merriam, in his 'Birds of Connecticut,' mentions a congregation of hawks as follows: "On the 25th of September, 1875, I saw near New Haven, a flock of twenty-six Red-tailed Hawks, soaring high and sailing slowly southward. The day was clear and cool, and there was little wind."

    A small congregation of plover hove in sight, at first far off toward the bay, yet steadily drawing nearer.

    We are then told how the bailiff fired into a congregation of rooks and killed several of them

  7. A group of alligators or crocodiles.

    Usage
    • collective
    • Countable
    • noun
    • Uncountable
    Synonyms
    Examples

    A congregation of crocodiles will communicate with body language and behavior and are also extremely territorial predators.

    More examples (2)

    a large congregation of crocodiles lazing by the side of a swamp; with their thick, tough skin, coarse and lumpy and always coated in mud, they were the embodiment of hideousness, these creatures as old as time

    One of Bartram's most famous passages, and the one most often used to exemplify his gift for exaggeration, is his account of a congregation of alligators on the upper reaches of the St. Johns River in Florida during what seems to be a run of fish

    This explained what had been a puzzle to the most knowing of the party-that wonderful congregation of crocodiles.

  8. The main body of university staff, comprising academics, administrative staff, heads of colleges, etc.

    Usage
    • UK usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable

Noun

  1. a group of people who adhere to a common faith and habitually attend a given church

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
  2. an assemblage of people or animals or things collected together

    Examples

    a congregation of children pleaded for his autograph

    a great congregation of birds flew over

  3. the act of congregating

    Synonyms
Word forms
congregations

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