1. A group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power.
2. A council or small legislative body in a government, especially in Central or South America.
3. A junto.

[Spanish and Portuguese, conference, probably from Vulgar Latin *iūncta, from feminine past participle of Latin iungere, to join.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.