societies - clubs and organizations

club

club [club clubs clubbed clubbing] noun, verb   [klʌb]    [klʌb] 

noun  

FOR ACTIVITY/SPORT
1. countable + singular or plural verb (especially in compounds) a group of people who meet together regularly, for a particular activity, sport, etc
• a golf/tennis, etc. club
• a chess/film/movie, etc. club
• to join/belong to a club
• The club has/have voted to admit new members.

see also  fan club, youth club

2. countable the building or rooms that a particular club uses
• We had lunch at the golf club.
• the club bar

see also  country club, health club

3. countable + singular or plural verb (BrE) a professional sports organization that includes the players, managers, owners and members

• Manchester United Football Club  

MUSIC/DANCING

4. countable a place where people, especially young people, go and listen to music, dance, etc
• a jazz club
• the club scene in Newcastle

see also  clubbing, nightclub, strip club  

SOCIAL

5. countable + singular or plural verb (especially in Britain) an organization and a place where people, usually men only, can meet together socially or stay

• He's a member of several London clubs.  

SELLING BOOKS/CDS

6. countable an organization that sells books, CDs, etc. cheaply to its members
• a music club

see also  book club  

WEAPON

7. countable a heavy stick with one end thicker than the other, that is used as a weapon

see also  billy club  

IN GOLF

8. countable =  golf club  

IN CARD GAMES
9. clubs plural, uncountable one of the four sets of cards (called suits) in a pack of cards. The clubs have a black design shaped like three black leaves on a short stem

• the five/queen/ace of clubs

10. countable one card from the suit called clubs
• I played a club.
more at join the club at  join  _v.  
Word Origin:
n. senses 1 to 6 and v. sense 2 early 17th cent. club
n. senses 7 to 10 and v. sense 1 Middle English Old Norse clubba klumba clump
 
Culture:
clubs and societies
Many people in Britain and the US belong to at least one club or society. Club is often used to refer to a group of people who regularly meet together socially or take part in sports. Most young people’s groups are called clubs. A society is usually concerned with a special interest, e.g. birdwatching or local history, and sends newsletters or magazines to its members. National societies, such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, usually have local branches.
Social clubs have a bar where members can sit and talk to each other. Members of the upper class or business people may belong to a gentlemen's club. Most of these are in London and even today only some of them allow women to be members. They are places to relax in, but also to make business contacts and take clients. Freemasonary attracts business and professional men who may join a lodge (= branch) in their home town. Masons are sometimes accused of giving unfair advantages to other Masons in business, etc.
Some clubs combine social events with community service. Members of the Rotary Club, the Round Table, the Kiwanis and the Lions Club are usually professional or business people. In the US these organizations are called service clubs. Some are open only to men. They hold events to raise money for good causes, e.g. to provide scholarships for university students or to raise money for a hospital.
In Britain, working men’s clubs were set up for men doing manual jobs. The clubs offer a range of entertainment, such as comedians or darts matches, as well as a bar. In recent years some clubs have decided to admit women. In the US there are clubs based on ethnic origin, religion or military background. For example, the Knights of Columbus is a club for Roman Catholic men. People who have served in the armed forces join the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the American Legion. The British Legion is a similar organization for former British servicemen.
In Britain, the Women's Institute and the Townswomen’s Guild began with the aim of improving women’s education. Both now organize social and cultural activities.
Nightclubs, often called simply clubs, are places where mainly young people meet to drink and dance. They charge admission fees rather than a subscription. Fees are higher at weekends and in large cities, especially London.
Many sports clubs hold parties and arrange social events, as well as providing facilities for various sports. Golf clubs are often expensive to join, and there is often a long waiting list. Other sports clubs include those for squash, tennis, cricket, bowls, snooker and cycling. Many clubs own their own sports ground and clubhouse with a bar. Most towns also have gyms or fitness clubs. In Britain, sports and social clubs are run by some big companies for their employees and in the US most sports clubs are associated with companies. Softball and basketball teams play against teams from other companies in the same city.
Country clubs are found in green areas near cities all over the US. They offer sports like swimming, golf and tennis, and hold dances and other social events in the restaurants and bars. The oldest and most famous country club was established in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1882.
Many Americans belong to the alumni club of the college or university they attended. Members take part in social activities and raise money for the university.
Some students join Greek societies, societies named with Greek letters, e.g. Alpha Epsilon Pi. Fraternities are for men, and sororities are for women. Most Greek societies are social organizations and their members, who usually come from rich families, live in a fraternity or sorority house. After they leave university, many members continue to be active in the organization. There are also honor societies for outstanding students, which also have Greek letters in their names. Phi Beta Kappa is the most famous of these. Some are for students in a particular subject, for example Psi Chi is for students in psychology. In Britain, schools, colleges and universities have societies for former students, often called old boys’ or old girls’ associations.
In most towns there are local societies for many interests, including singing, drama, film, folk music, archaeology, natural and local history and photography. Local branches of national societies, such as the National Trust in Britain and the Audubon Society in the US, organize events in their area. Only a small proportion of members attend local events, and most people join these societies because they support their aims.
Clubs are an important feature of school life, especially in the US. They include clubs for science, drama and music, as well as language clubs. Outside school, children can join a local youth club, Scouts or Girl Guides, or another youth organization. 
Thesaurus:
club noun
1. C+sing./pl. v.
• He joined the local drama club.
society • • association • • organization •
form/set up/belong to/join a/an club/society/association/organization
a/an club/society/association/organization meets
a member of a/an club/society/association/organization
Club, association or society? These words are all used for groups of people who have a shared interest or purpose. Often, but not always, a club relates to leisure interests, a society to academic interests, and an association to professional interests. A club can be quite informal.
2. C (BrE)
• a Premier League football club
team • • squad • • line-up • |BrE side •
a football/rugby/cricket club/team/squad/side
a/an Irish/French club/team/squad/side
the England/Ireland team/squad/side/line-up
a club/team/side plays/wins/loses (a game/match)
Club, team or side? Club refers to the organization that includes players, owner and manager; team and side usually refer just to the players, often at a particular time
• This team is arguably even better than the Welsh side of the seventies.
 
Example Bank:
• She belongs to a book club.
• She plays at the local tennis club.
• Who runs the tennis club?
• a new style of music on the London club scene
• members of an exclusive club
• one of the top football clubs in the country
• Anderson took over as club captain.
• Anyone interested in umpiring matches should contact the club chairman.
• Athletico Madrid Football Club
• Fan club members can get concert tickets at a discount.
• He is expected to sign for a Premier League club next season.
• I belong to a book club which meets once a month.
• I wrote a letter of complaint to the club secretary.
• She gives talks at local schools and youth clubs.
• Wilkins makes his long awaited debut for his new club.
Idiom: in the club

Derived: club together