1. Public Space for Discussion: This is the most common meaning. A forum is an online or offline platform where people can share their views, engage in discussions, and exchange information on a specific topic or subject. Examples include online forums, message boards, and public squares where people gather to debate.
2. Ancient Roman Public Space: In ancient Rome, a forum was a public space in the center of a city, used for gatherings, political debates, and legal proceedings.
3. Legal or Administrative Body: In some cases, "forum" can refer to a court or tribunal where legal matters are discussed and decided.
4. Other Meanings:
* A gathering of people: In general, "forum" can also refer to any meeting or assembly where people discuss a topic.
* A platform for presenting ideas: It can be used to describe a platform for sharing and discussing ideas, like a conference or seminar.
To understand the exact meaning of "forum" in a specific context, you need to consider the sentence it's used in and the surrounding information.