What is consensus?

There is a question I would like to send to the list and get some feedback. As far as I was told, consensus is a way to reach a decision without the need of voting, so there is no majority nor minority, no one can impose their ways even if they are majority so no lobby and no forcing. Clearly, education is needed for that, so everyone understands the need of giving up a little bit in order to make it work for the common project. Lately I've been seeing consensus described as voting system, with majorities and minorities. My english is short, so maybe there is a word to describe consensus as a no-voting system to reach a common solution? Thanks E. Low -- Edward Low edwardlow@riseup.net Libertalia (Madagascar)