Definition of: conference

(kon′fər·əns, -frəns) noun
1. A formal meeting for counsel or discussion; an official council, as of two branches of a legislature.
2. Conversation; discourse.
3. U.S. One of several orders of assemblies of preachers and laymen of the Methodist Episcopal Church: the Annual Conference; the General Conference; the District Conference.
4. A local organization representing the Congregational churches of a district.
5. The act of bestowing; conferment.
6. A league or association, as of athletic teams. See synonyms under ASSEMBLY, COMPANY, CONVERSATION. [<MF conférence <Med. L conferenţia <L conferre. See CONFER.]
—con·fer·en·tial (kon′fə·ren′shəl) adjective