1) a bringing together, gathering (as of fruits), a contracting
 2) in the NT, an assembling together of men, an assembly of men
 3) a synagogue
    3a) an assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer
        prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the
        scriptures; assemblies of that sort were held every sabbath
        and feast day, afterwards also on the second and fifth days of
        every week; name transferred to an assembly of Christians
        formally gathered together for religious purposes
    3b) the buildings where those solemn Jewish assemblies are held.
        Synagogues seem to date their origin from the Babylonian
        exile. In the times of Jesus and the apostles every town, not
        only in Palestine, but also among the Gentiles if it contained
        a considerable number of Jewish inhabitants, had at least one
        synagogue, the larger towns several or even many. These were
        also used for trials and inflicting punishment.