congregation

[ kong-gri-gey-shuhn ]

1. an assembly of persons brought together for common religious worship.
2. the act of congregating or the state of being congregated.
3. a gathered or assembled body; assemblage.
4. an organization formed for the purpose of providing for worship of God, for religious education, and for other church activities; a local church society.
5. (in the Bible) the people of Israel.
6. New Testament.the Christian church in general.
7. Roman Catholic Church.
   1. a committee of cardinals or other ecclesiastics.
   2. a community of men or women, either with or without vows, observing a common rule.
8. (at English universities) the general assembly of the doctors, fellows, etc.
9. (in colonial North America) a parish, town, plantation, or other settlement.

congregation

/ ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən /

1. a group of persons gathered for worship, prayer, etc, esp in a church or chapel
2. the act of congregating or collecting together
3. a group of people, objects, etc, collected together; assemblage
4. the group of persons habitually attending a given church, chapel, etc
5. RC Church
   1. a society of persons who follow a common rule of life but who are bound only by simple vows
   2. Also calleddicastery an administrative subdivision of the papal curia
   3. an administrative committee of bishops for arranging the business of a general council
6. an assembly of senior members of a university