1a : a convivial party (as after a banquet in ancient Greece) with music and conversation. b : a social gathering at which there is free interchange of ideas. 2a : a formal meeting at which several specialists deliver short addresses on a topic or on related topics — compare colloquium.

What does the word symposium literally mean?

A symposium is a ritualized drinking event in ancient Greece. Its name, "symposium," literally refers to a "drinking together," a hint for the defining activity shared by participants of the symposium: the consumption of wine. ... Symposia in ancient Greece were hosted by aristocratic men for their peers.

What is symposium example?

The definition of a symposium is a meeting, discussion or conference about a particular topic. An example of a symposium is a discussion on Shakespeare's later comedies. ... A meeting or conference for discussion of a topic, especially one in which the participants form an audience and make presentations.