congregation
/ˌkɒŋgrɪˈgeɪʃən/noun
1
- a group of people assembled for religious worship宗教团体。
1.1
- a group of people regularly attending a particular place of worship礼拜会会众; 教堂会众：
he was a member of the Emmanuel Chapel congregation.
他是以马内利礼拜会会员。
2
- a gathering or collection of people, animals, or things（人或物的）一群, 聚集的人（或物）：
large congregations of birds may cause public harm.
庞大的鸟群可能会成为公害。
2.1
- mass noun the action of gathering together in a crowd集合, 聚集：
drought conditions lead to congregation of animals around watering points.
干旱的环境促使动物聚集在饮水处四周。
3
- （常作Congregation）a council or deliberative body理事会, 委员会; 审议机构。
3.1
- (in the Roman Catholic Church) a permanent committee of the College of Cardinals（天主教）红衣主教委员会：
the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
宗教正统教义委员会。
3.2
- Brit. (in some universities) a general assembly of resident senior members〈英〉（一些大学中的）住校高级教职员大会。
4
- a group of people obeying a common religious rule but under less solemn vows than members of the older religious orders圣会会众：
the sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady.
圣母会的女会员。
4.1
- a group of communities within a religious order sharing particular historical or regional links修道会区。
词源
late Middle English （in senses 2, 3, and 4）： from Latin congregatio（n-）, from congregare 'collect (into a flock)' （see CONGREGATE）.