/ ˈpɑːləmənt; NAmE ˈpɑːrl-/ noun
1.
[ C , sing.+ sing./pl. v . ] the group of people who are elected to make and change the laws of a country :
The German parliament is called the 'Bundestag'.
2.
Parliament [ U+sing./pl. v . ] the parliament of the United Kingdom, consisting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords :
a Member of Parliament
the issue was debated in Parliament
an Act of Parliament
to win a seat in Parliament
to be elected to Parliament
3.
(also Parliament ) [ C , U ] a particular period during which a parliament is working; Parliament as it exists between one general election and the next :
We are now into the second half of the parliament.
to dissolve Parliament (= formally end its activities) and call an election
—see also Houses of Parliament , hung
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French parlement speaking, from the verb parler .