/ əˈtendəns; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U , C ] the act of being present at a place, for example at school :
Attendance at these lectures is not compulsory.
Teachers must keep a record of students' attendances.
2.
[ C , U ] the number of people present at an organized event :
high / low / falling / poor attendances
There was an attendance of 42 at the meeting.
•
IDIOMS
- be in attendance
- be in attendance (on sb)
- take attendance
—more at dance verb
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French , from atendre give one's attention to, from Latin attendere , from ad- to + tendere stretch.