kənˈvenʃən n. 1 a
general agreement,
esp. agreement on
social behaviour etc. by
implicit consent of
the majority. b a
custom or
customary practice, esp. an
artificial or
formal one. 2 a a formal
assembly or
conference for a
common purpose. b US an assembly of the delegates of a
political party to
select candidates for
office. c
hist. a
meeting of
Parliament without a
summons from the
sovereign. 3 a a formal agreement. b an agreement
between States, esp. one
less formal
than a
treaty. 4 Cards an accepted
method of
play (in leading,
bidding, etc.) used to
convey information to a
partner. 5 the
act of convening. [ME f. OF f. L conventio -onis (as CONVENE)]