1
        encounter    
    
    
    
                        
            
                            /ɪnˈkaʊntɚ/
                        
                        
                            
                        
    
            verb
     
    
                    
    encounters;
                    
    encountered;
                    
    encountering
            
    
    
            
    
                    
    encounters;
                    
    encountered;
                    
    encountering
            
    
    
    
        Britannica Dictionary definition of ENCOUNTER
    
    
    
    
        
    
        
    
            
            
            
            
                            [+ object]
            
            
                    
    
    
            
                            
    
    
        
        
                    1 
                
        
                    
                
                
                
                    
                   
                               
                   
                               
                   
                               
                   
                               
                   
                                      
                   
                               
                   
                               
                   
                                   
                
                                    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
            
    
        
    
            :
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
        
        
    
        
    
        
    
            to have or experience (problems, difficulties, etc.)
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
        
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
            
            
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We encountered problems early in the project.
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The pilot told us that we might encounter turbulence during the flight.
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Her suggestion has encountered a lot of opposition.
                                 
            
         
        
    
                                  
             
                             
    
    
        
        
                    2 
                
        
                    
                
                
                
                    
                   
                               
                   
                               
                   
                               
                   
                               
                   
                                      
                   
                               
                   
                               
                   
                                   
                
                                    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
            formal
    
    
    
    
    
    
            
    
        
    
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            to meet (someone) without expecting or intending to
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
        
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
            
        
    
                                  
             
                      
     
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
                 
    
            
    
            
    
    
        2
        encounter    
    
    
    
                        
            
                            /ɪnˈkaʊntɚ/
                        
                        
                        
    
            noun
    
    
                    
    plural
    encounters
            
    
    
            
    
    
        
        
            2
            encounter        
        
        
        
                                
    
            
                            
                                    /ɪnˈkaʊntɚ/
                                
                                    
    
    
            noun
     
    
                    
    plural
    encounters
            
    
    
    
        Britannica Dictionary definition of ENCOUNTER
    
    
    
    
        
    
        
    
            
            
            
            
                            [count]
            
            
                    
    
    
            
                            
    
    
        
        
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            a 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
            
    
        
    
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            a meeting that is not planned or expected
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
        
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
            
        
    
                                         
    
            b 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
            
    
        
    
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            a usually brief experience with another person
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
        
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
            
            
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a brief/painful encounter
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He's accused of having had sexual encounters with several young women.
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They had a romantic encounter [=a brief romantic relationship] several years ago.
                                 
            
         
        
    
                                         
    
            c 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
            
    
        
    
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            a violent or very unfriendly meeting
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
        
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
            
        
    
                                  
             
                             
    
    
        
        
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            an occasion when you deal with or experience something
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
        
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
    
    
        
    
            
        
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
                
        
                    
                ◊ To have a close encounter with something is to come very close to being hurt or damaged by it.