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Retreat vs Conference - What's the difference?

retreat | conference |

As a noun retreat

is the act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.

As a verb retreat

is to withdraw military forces.

retreat

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.
  • * Shakespeare
    • In a retreat he outruns any lackey.
  • The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position.
  • A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security.
  • * L'Estrange
    • He built his son a house of pleasure, and spared no cost to make a delicious retreat .
  • * Dryden
    • That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat / From sudden April showers, a shelter from the heat.
  • A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude.
  • A period of meditation, prayer or study.
  • Withdrawal by military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack.
  • A signal for a military withdrawal.
  • A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base.
  • A military ceremony to lower the flag.
  • (chess) The move of a piece from a threatened position.

    • See also

    * religious retreat

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To withdraw military forces.

    • Anagrams

    * *

    conference

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or discussion; interchange of views.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Nor with such free and friendly conference / As he hath used of old.
  • (politics) A multilateral diplomatic negotiation.
  • (science) A formalized event where scientists present their research results in speeches, workshops, posters or by other means.
  • (business) An event organized by a for-profit or non-profit organization to discuss a pressing issue, such as a new product, market trend or government regulation, with a range of speakers.
  • (sports) A group of sports teams that play each other on a regular basis.
  • (obsolete) The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison.
  • * Hooker
    • helps and furtherances which the mutual conference of all men's collections and observations may afford
  • (Methodist Church) A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters.
  • A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district; the district in which such churches are.

    • Derived terms

    * conference table * news conference * press conference * conference room

    See also

    * discussant, lecturer, parleyer, prelector, speaker. The Writing-Rich High School Classroom: Engaging Students in ...

    Verb

    (conferenc)
  • (education) To assess (a student) by one-on-one conversation, rather than an examination.
  • * 2009 , Jennifer Berne, The Writing-Rich High School Classroom
    • The students who were conferenced on paper 1 will get a written response to paper 2, and those who received a written response to paper 1 will be conferenced on paper 2.