2 encounter
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural encountersMeaning:
[count] 1 a : a meeting that is not planned or expected ▪ an accidental encounter ▪ a chance encounter with a famous writer b : a usually brief experience with another person ▪ a brief/painful encounter ▪ He's accused of having had sexual encounters with several young women. ▪ They had a romantic encounter [=a brief romantic relationship] several years ago. c : a violent or very unfriendly meeting ▪ Two protesters were arrested during an encounter [=clash] with police. ▪ There was a violent encounter between fans of the opposing teams.
2 : an occasion when you deal with or experience something ▪ It was her first encounter with cigarettes. ◊To have a close encounter with something is to come very close to being hurt or damaged by it. ▪ The island has had several close encounters with major hurricanes in recent years.
2 : an occasion when you deal with or experience something ▪ It was her first encounter with cigarettes. ◊To have a close encounter with something is to come very close to being hurt or damaged by it. ▪ The island has had several close encounters with major hurricanes in recent years.