Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Symposium \Sym*po"si*um\, n.; pl. {Symposia}. [L., fr. Gr.
   sympo`sion a drinking party, feast; sy`n with + po`sis a
   drinking. See {Syn-}, and cf. {Potable}.]
   1. A drinking together; a merry feast. --T. Warton.

   2. A collection of short essays by different authors on a
      common topic; -- so called from the appellation given to
      the philosophical dialogue by the Greeks.

Source : WordNet®

symposium
     n : a meeting or conference for the public discussion of some
         topic especially one in which the participants form an
         audience and make presentations
     [also: {symposia} (pl)]