SYMPOSIUM
symposium
(noun) a meeting or conference for the public discussion of some topic especially one in which the participants form an audience and make presentations
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
symposium (plural symposiums or symposia)
A conference or other meeting for discussion of a topic, especially one in which the participants make presentations.
A drinking party in Ancient Greece, especially one with intellectual discussion.
Source: Wiktionary
Sym*po"si*um, n.; pl. Symposia. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. sympo`sion a
drinking party, feast; sy`n with + po`sis a drinking. See Syn-, and
cf. Potable.]
1. A drinking together; a merry feast. T. Warton.
2. A collection of short essays by different authors on a common
topic; -- so called from the appellation given to the philosophical
dialogue by the Greeks.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition