(人或动物)聚集在一起、集合;(人群)围拢、集结。常指从分散到集中到某处。
/ˈkɒŋɡrɪɡeɪtɪŋ/(BrE)
/ˈkɑːŋɡrəɡeɪtɪŋ/(AmE)
People were congregating outside the station.
人们正在车站外聚集。
As dusk fell, neighbors began congregating in the square to listen to the mayor’s announcement.
黄昏降临时,邻居们开始在广场上聚集,聆听市长的公告。
来自拉丁语 congregare,由 *con-*(“一起”)+ *greg-*(“群、群体”,与 gregarious 同源)构成,原意是“把(人)聚成一群”。后进入法语并传入英语,逐渐固定为“聚集、集合”之义。