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Encounter vs Gathering - What's the difference?

encounter | gathering |

As verbs the difference between encounter and gathering

is that encounter is to meet (someone) or find (something) unexpectedly while gathering is present continuous of gather; collecting or bringing together.

As nouns the difference between encounter and gathering

is that encounter is an unplanned or unexpected meeting while gathering is a meeting or get-together; a party or social function.

encounter

English

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete) * incounter (archaic) * incountre (obsolete)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To meet (someone) or find (something) unexpectedly.
  • To confront (someone or something) face to face.
  • (ambitransitive) To engage in conflict, as with an enemy.
    • Three armies encountered at Waterloo.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I will encounter with Andronicus.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An unplanned or unexpected meeting.
  • :
  • *
  • *:That was Selwyn's first encounter with the Ruthvens. A short time afterward at the opera Gerald dragged him into a parterre to say something amiable to one of the amiable dĂ©butante Craig girls—and Selwyn found himself again facing Alixe.
  • A hostile meeting; a confrontation or skirmish.
  • A sudden, often violent clash, as between combatants.
  • (label) A match between two opposing sides.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 29, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC Sport
    • , title= Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal , passage=Andre Santos equalised and the outstanding Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead for the first time before Juan Mata's spectacular strike set up the finale for an enthralling encounter .}}

    Synonyms

    * (unplanned meeting ): * (hostile meeting ): clash, confrontation, brush, skirmish

    Derived terms

    * close encounter * encounter group

    gathering

    English

    (wikipedia gathering)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A meeting or get-together; a party or social function.
    • I met her at a gathering of engineers and scientists.
  • A group of people or things.
    • A gathering of fruit.
  • ((bookbinding)) A section, a group of bifolios, or sheets of paper, stacked together and folded in half.
    • This gathering machine forms the backbone of a bookbinding operation.
  • A charitable contribution; a collection.
  • A tumor or boil suppurated or maturated; an abscess.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), equivalent to .

    Verb

    (head)
  • present continuous of gather; collecting or bringing together
    • She enjoyed gathering wildflowers.
    Derived terms
    *