con·sor·ti·um 
(kən-sôrtē-əm, -shē-əm)
(kən-sôrtē-əm, -shē-əm)n. pl. con·sor·ti·a (-tē-ə, -shē-ə) also con·sor·ti·ums
1.
a. An association or a combination, as of businesses, financial institutions, or investors, for the purpose of engaging in a joint venture.
b. A cooperative arrangement among groups or institutions: a library consortium.
2. An association or society.
3. The typical collection of benefits arising from marriage, including companionship, love, assistance, and sexual relations, which may have value recognized under law.
[Latin, fellowship, from cōnsors, cōnsort-, partner; see CONSORT.]
con·sorti·al adj.