meeting； conference； gathering； party

meeting； conference； gathering； party

  meeting可以用于两人或多人，表示偶然的或拟定的，短暂的或持续的聚会。它的用途很广，可用于日常普通场合，也可用于特殊的或官方的正式场合。如：

The students had a class meeting last Friday．

The summit meeting of the state heads came to an end two days later．

  conference指专门性的正式会议，常用于就某个重大问题进行专门研究或交换意见的讨论会、协商会等。如：

Many reporters came to attend the press conference．

The annual conference of geologists will be held in Chicago this year．

  gathering一般指非正式的集会，常用于群众性的活动（像联欢会等）。如：

A public gathering was held in Zhongshan Park on May Day．

  party指社交性或娱乐性的集会。如：

Mary and I were invited to Jane’s birthday party the other day．

Mr．Brown gave a dinner party last Thursday．