council
/ˈkaʊns(ə)l
/noun
1An advisory, deliberative, or administrative body of people formally constituted and meeting regularly: an official human rights council...
- When papers were served on the council, officials took steps to find a place for the boy.
- A report was given on the council meeting which was attended by two members of the guild.
- She is scheduled to formally open the advisory council's standing committee meeting on Thursday.
Synonyms
advisory body, advisory group, board, board of directors, committee, commission, assembly, panel, trustees, delegates, delegation;
synod, convocation, chapter
1.1A body of people elected to manage the affairs of a city, county, or other municipal district: a ban on school buses using the road was imposed by the county council...
- Local government consists of elected county and municipal councils.
- City and district councils are at the forefront of dog control.
- Mayors and municipal councils are elected directly by the local community.
Synonyms
local authority, local government, municipal authority, civic authority, legislative body, legislature, administration, executive, chamber, assembly, ministry, governing body, government, parliament, senate, congress, diet, cabinet;
British corporation
1.2 [as modifier] British Denoting housing provided by a local council at a subsidized rent: a council flat...
- She would like to speak to any youngster, whether living at home, in private rent or council accommodation.
- Without the alternative of new council housing for rent, record numbers are now homeless and in temporary flats and slum hotels.
- It does indeed have an excellent record for providing council housing services.
1.3An ecclesiastical assembly.Before deciding to accept, he conferred with his synod council....
- So it seems the plenary council and synod proposals have been put on a back burner.
- Synod councils can send recommendations to the Church Council before its April meeting.
1.4A meeting for consultation or advice: that evening, she held a family council...
- She has no business in a family council only open to family members.
- Call a family council at some other time to work out such problems.
- Ordinarily, a family council is based on principles and processes set out in a family charter but this is not always the case.
Synonyms
conference, conclave, assembly, convocation;
meeting, gathering
Origin
Old English (in the sense 'ecclesiastical assembly'): from Anglo-Norman French cuncile, from Latin concilium 'convocation, assembly', from con- 'together' + calare 'summon'. Compare with counsel.
Rhymes
- polyembryonate
- polyembryonic
- polyembryony
- polyemia
- polyendocrine
- polyendocrinopathy
- polyene
- polyenergid
- polyenic
- polyenoic
- polyenzymatic
- Polyergus
- polyester
- polyesteramide
- polyesterification
- polyesthesia
- polyestrous
- polyethene
- polyethenoid
- polyether
- polyethism
- polyethnic
- polyethnicity
- polyethylene
- polyethylene glycol