Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

con·gress       (kŏng'grĭs)  Pronunciation Key  n.   A formal assembly of representatives, as of various nations, to discuss problems. The national legislative body of a nation, especially a republic. Congress The national legislative body of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The two-year session of this legislature between elections of the House of Representatives. The act of coming together or meeting. A single meeting, as of a political party or other group. The act of coming together or meeting. A single meeting, as of a political party or other group. Sexual intercourse. [Middle English congresse, body of attendants, from Latin congressus, meeting, from past participle of congredī, to meet : com-, com- + gradī, to go; see ghredh- in Indo-European roots.] con·gres'sion·al (kən-grěsh'ə-nəl, kəng-) adj., con·gres'sion·al·ly adv.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
congress 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

congress
noun
1.	the legislature of the United States government
2.	a meeting of elected or appointed representatives
3.	a national legislative assembly
4.	the act of sexual procreation between a man and a woman; the man's penis is inserted into the woman's vagina and excited until orgasm and ejaculation occur

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
Congress

The legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Popularly elected, senators and representatives are responsible for advocating the interests of the constituents they represent. Numerous congressional committees are organized to study issues of public policy, recommend action, and, ultimately, pass laws. Congress plays an important role in the system of checks and balances; in fact, the two-house (bicameral) organization of Congress acts as an internal check, for each house must separately vote to pass a bill for it to become a law. In addition to lawmaking, Congress has a variety of functions, including appropriation of funds for executive and judicial activities; instituting taxes and regulating commerce; declaring war and raising and supporting a military; setting up federal courts and conducting impeachment proceedings; and approving presidential appointments.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: con·gress
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin congressus meeting, encounter, from congredi to approach, meet
1 : a formal meeting of delegates
2 a : the supreme legislative body of a nation and esp. a republic b cap : the legislative branch of the United States government; specifically : the U.S. House of Representatives
3 cap a : the U.S. legislature as it is composed for an enumerated two-year period Congress> b : a single session of the U.S. legislature —see also HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE Article I of the CONSTITUTION in the back matter —con·gres·sion·al adjective —con·gres·sion·al·ly adverb

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Congress, AZ Zip code(s): 85332

Congress, OH (village, FIPS 18308) Location: 40.92630 N, 82.05529 W
Population (1990): 162 (61 housing units)
Area: 0.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Congress

Con"gress\, n.; pl. Congresses. [L. congressus, fr. congredi, p. p. -gressus, to go or come together; con- + grati to go or step, gradus step: cf. F. congr?s. See Grade.]

1. A meeting of individuals, whether friendly or hostile; an encounter. [Obs.]

Here Pallas urges on, and Lausus there; Their congress in the field great Jove withstands. --Dryden.

2. A sudden encounter; a collision; a shock; -- said of things. [Obs.]

From these laws may be deduced the rules of the congresses and reflections of two bodies. --Cheyne.

3. The coming together of a male and female in sexual commerce; the act of coition. --Pennant.

4. A gathering or assembly; a conference.

5. A formal assembly, as of princes, deputies, representatives, envoys, or commissioners; esp., a meeting of the representatives of several governments or societies to consider and determine matters of common interest.

The European powers strove to . . . accommodate their differences at the congress of Vienna. --Alison.

6. The collective body of senators and representatives of the people of a nation, esp. of a republic, constituting the chief legislative body of the nation.

Note: In the Congress of the United States (which took the place of the Federal Congress, March 4, 1789), the Senate consists of two Senators from each State, chosen by the State legislature for a term of six years, in such a way that the terms of one third of the whole number expire every year; the House of Representatives consists of members elected by the people of the several Congressional districts, for a term of two years, the term of all ending at the same time. The united body of Senators and Representatives for any term of two years for which the whole body of Representatives is chosen is called one Congress. Thus the session which began in December, 1887, was the first (or long) session, and that which began in December, 1888, was the second (or short) session, of the Fiftieth Congress. When an extra session is had before the date of the first regular meeting of a Congress, that is called the first session, and the following regular session is called the second session.

7. The lower house of the Spanish Cortes, the members of which are elected for three years.

The Continental Congress, an assembly of deputies from the thirteen British colonies in America, appointed to deliberate in respect to their common interests. They first met in 1774, and from time thereafter until near the close of the Revolution.

The Federal Congress, the assembly of representatives of the original States of the American Union, who met under the Articles of Confederation from 1781 till 1789.

Congress boot or gaiter, a high shoe or half-boot, coming above the ankle, and having the sides made in part of some elastic material which stretches to allow the boot to be drawn on and off. [U.S.]

Congress water, a saline mineral water from the Congress spring at Saratoga, in the State of New York.

Syn: Assembly; meeting; convention; convocation; council; diet; conclave; parliament; legislature.