Symposium
Scholarly discussion meeting
A symposium is a formal meeting where experts present and discuss a topic, more focused than a conference but less interactive than a workshop.
The original Greek symposium was a drinking party with philosophical conversation—Plato's *Symposium* depicts one such gathering.
Modern symposiums (or symposia) tend toward the academic: a symposium on climate policy, The university hosted a symposium on artificial intelligence.
Organized meeting for discussion
- seminarGroup discussion for learning
- colloquiumAcademic discussion meeting
- proceedingsSequence of formal events
- keynoteCentral theme or speech
panel · presentation · paper · lecturer · moderator · Q&A · abstract · session
Greek philosopher, academy founder
- banquetFormal celebratory meal
- drinkingLiquid consumption act
- recliningLeaning backward at rest
- GreekOf Athenian origin
philosophical · dialogue · Socrates · wine · couches · libation · oration · Athenian
Spoken exchange between parties
- debateFormal argument on issues
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- discussionExchange of ideas
ideas · thinkers · perspectives · inquiry · viewpoints · conversation · deliberation · engagement
Peak or diplomatic gathering
- forumGathering place for discourse
- roundtableLeaderless group discussion
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- industryEconomic production sector
stakeholder · executive · sponsor · breakout · exhibition · delegate · agenda · luncheon
conference
Organized meeting for discussion
- seminarGroup discussion for learning
- colloquiumAcademic discussion meeting
- proceedingsSequence of formal events
keynote · panel · presentation · paper · lecturer · moderator · Q&A · abstract · session · plenary
Plato
Greek philosopher, academy founder
Greek · philosophical · dialogue · Socrates · wine · couches · libation · oration · Athenian · toga
dialogue
Spoken exchange between parties
- debateFormal argument on issues
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
discussion · ideas · thinkers · perspectives · inquiry · viewpoints · conversation · deliberation · engagement · exploration
summit
Peak or diplomatic gathering
- forumGathering place for discourse
- roundtableLeaderless group discussion
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
industry · stakeholder · executive · sponsor · breakout · exhibition · delegate · agenda · luncheon · mixer
- Plato DialoguesRepublic, Minos
- LucianTimon, Charon, The Runaways, The Dream, Prometheus
- ancient GreeceAthens, Sparta, Zeus, Parthenon, Acropolis
- Ancient Greek literatureIliad, Odyssey, Oedipus Rex, Antigone, Medea
- philosophyethics, logic, metaphysics, ontology, epistemology
- Ancient Greek WorksRepublic, Nicomachean Ethics, Theogony
Symposiumcasual conversation
Informal spoken exchange
chitchat · small talk · idle chatter · gossip · banter
Symposiummonologue
Uninterrupted solo address
silent reading · solo work · lecture · isolation · self-study
Symposiumparty
Gathering for celebration
cocktail hour · kegger · rave · tailgate · happy hour