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an assembling or coming together of a number of persons, usually for a particular purpose:
The principal will speak to all the students at Friday’s assembly.
a group of persons gathered together, usually for a particular purpose, whether religious, political, educational, or social.
(often initial capital letter) Government. a legislative body, especially the lower house of the legislature in certain states of the U.S.:
a bill before the assembly; the New York State Assembly.
Military.

a signal, as by drum or bugle, for troops to fall into ranks or otherwise .
the movement of forces, tanks, soldiers, etc., scattered by battle or battle drill, toward and into a small area.

the putting together of complex machinery, as airplanes, from interchangeable parts of standard dimensions.
Machinery. a group of machine parts, especially one forming a self-contained, independently mounted unit.
Contemporary Examples

A further 274 teams currently are working on plans to launch their own assemblies.
Godless Church Services for Atheists Go Global Nico Hines May 3, 2014

As the assemblies multiply and spread, the disparity between communities has thrown up a series of issues.
Godless Church Services for Atheists Go Global Nico Hines May 3, 2014

Historical Examples

The functions of these assemblies were judicial as well as legislative and deliberative.
The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead James George Frazer

There must be none of these dances and assemblies, and the cloisters must be re-established.
The Regent’s Daughter Alexandre Dumas (Pere)

The first meetings of the assemblies were held in October 1909.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 2 Various

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies.
Familiar Quotations John Bartlett

But the Congress at New York and the town meetings and assemblies of the different colonies had done their work thoroughly.
A short history of Rhode Island George Washington Greene

They sat beside her in chapel and at other assemblies, and seemed to like to talk with her.
Ruth Fielding At College Alice B. Emerson

I trust the day will come when silence will more prevail in the assemblies of the people.
Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel John Yeardley

The King, who means so well, should be encouraged to repeat these assemblies.
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson

noun (pl) -blies
a number of people gathered together, esp for a formal meeting held at regular intervals
the act of assembling or the state of being assembled
the process of putting together a number of parts to make a machine or other product
(machinery) a group of mating components before or after fitting together
(military)

a signal for personnel to assemble, as by drum, bugle, etc
(as modifier): an assembly area

noun (pl) -blies
the lower chamber in various American state legislatures See also House of Assembly, legislative assembly, National Assembly
(NZ) short for General Assembly
n.

c.1300, “a gathering of persons, a group gathered for some purpose,” from Old French as(s)emblee “assembly, gathering; union, marriage,” noun use of fem. past participle of assembler “to assemble” (see assemble). Meaning “gathering together” is recorded from early 15c.; that of “act of assembling parts or objects” is from 1914, as is assembly line. School sense is recorded from 1932.