1. grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right): "moves were made to confer an honorary degree on her"Similarbestow onpresent with/togrant toaward todecorate withhonor withgive togive out togift withendow withvest inhand out toextend tovouchsafe toaccord toOppositewithholdremove
2. have discussions; exchange opinions:"the officials were conferring with allies"Similarconsulthave discussionsdiscuss thingsexchange viewstalkhave a talkspeakconversecommunicatehave a chathave a tête-à-têtenegotiatehave negotiationshave talksparleypalaverinformal:have a confabchew the fat/ragjawrappowwowformal:confabulate
Word Originlate Middle English (in the general sense ‘bring together’, also in confer (sense 2)): from Latin conferre, from con- ‘together’ + ferre ‘bring’.
