[en-koun-ter] 
| 1. | to come upon or meet with, esp. unexpectedly: to encounter a new situation. |
| 2. | to meet with or contend against (difficulties, opposition, etc.): We encounter so many problems in our work. |
| 3. | to meet (a person, military force, etc.) in conflict: We will encounter the enemy at dawn. |
| 4. | to meet, esp. unexpectedly or in conflict: We were angry when we encountered, but we parted with smiles. |
| 5. | a meeting with a person or thing, esp. a casual, unexpected, or brief meeting: Our running into each other was merely a chance encounter. |
| 6. | a meeting of persons or groups that are in conflict or opposition; combat; battle: Another such encounter and we may lose the war. |
| 7. | Psychology. a meeting of two or more people, as the members of an encounter group or a number of married couples (marriage encounter), conducted to promote direct emotional confrontations among the participants, esp. as a form of therapy (encounter therapy). |
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