English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

concluding

adj

Coming at the end; final.

conclusion

noun

The end or final part of something.

conclusive

adj

Serving to settle a question completely, leaving no room for doubt.

conclusively

adverb

In a way that settles the matter for good; decisively, with no room for doubt.

conclusiveness

noun

The quality of settling a question beyond doubt.

concoct

verb

To make something, especially food or a drink, by combining different ingredients.

concocted

adjective

Invented or made up, rather than genuine.

concoction

noun

A mixture made by combining several ingredients, especially an unusual food or drink.

concomitant

adj

Happening alongside something else, at the same time.

concord

noun

A state of peaceful agreement or harmony between people or groups.

concordance

noun

A state of agreement between things.

concordant

adj

In agreement or harmony with something else.

Concorde

noun

The supersonic passenger aircraft jointly built by Britain and France, which flew commercially until 2003.

concourse

noun

A large open area inside or in front of a building, especially one linking routes such as platforms in a station or terminal.

concrete

noun

A hard building material made by mixing cement, water, sand, and gravel, which sets solid.

concretely

adverb

In a specific, real, and clearly defined way, rather than vaguely.

concretion

noun

The process of separate particles coming together to form a solid lump.

concretization

noun

The process of turning a general idea into something specific, by spelling it out or giving examples of it.

concretize

verb

To turn an idea into something real and definite, often by giving a specific example of it.

concubinage

noun

The practice, recognised in some historical and legal systems, of a man and a woman living together in a lasting relationship that carries fewer rights than marriage.

concubine

noun

Historically, a woman who lived with a man in a sexual relationship without being his wife, often with lower social status.

concupiscence

noun

A strong desire, especially a sexual one.

concur

verb

To agree with an opinion, decision, or statement.

concurrence

noun

Agreement with someone else's view or decision.

concurrent

adj

Happening or existing at the same moment as something else.

concurrently

adv

Happening at the same time as something else.

concussed

adjective

Suffering from a concussion; dazed or knocked unconscious by a blow to the head.

concussion

noun

A brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head, usually causing temporary confusion or loss of consciousness.

condemn

verb

To strongly criticise something as wrong or unacceptable.

condemnation

noun

Strong public criticism or disapproval of something.

condemned

adjective

Officially declared unfit for use or habitation.

condemning

adjective

Expressing strong criticism or blame.

condensate

noun

A liquid that forms when a gas, such as steam, cools and changes into liquid form.

condensation

noun

Water droplets that form when warm, moist air touches a cooler surface.

condense

verb

To make something shorter or more compact by removing unnecessary parts.

condensed

adjective

Made shorter, more compact, or more concentrated.

condenser

noun

A device that turns a gas into a liquid, often part of a cooling or refrigeration system.

condescend

verb

To treat someone as though they are inferior; to talk down to them.

condescendence

noun

The act of lowering oneself, in rank or manner, in order to deal politely with someone seen as beneath you.

condescending

adjective

Showing a superior, patronising attitude toward someone.

condescension

noun

Behaviour that seems polite on the surface but really shows that a person feels superior to others.

condiment

noun

A sauce, relish or seasoning added to food at the table to improve its flavour.

condition

noun

The particular state that something or someone is in, especially regarding quality or health.

conditional

adjective

Depending on something else being true or happening first.

conditionally

adv

Only if certain conditions are met.

conditioned

adjective

Trained through repetition to respond automatically in a certain way.

conditioner

noun

A hair-care product used after shampoo to soften and smooth the hair.

conditioning

noun

Training that shapes behaviour through repetition and reward or punishment.

Condo

name

An Italian surname, an occupational or descriptive name of uncertain origin.

condole

verb

To share in someone's grief and express sympathy with them, usually followed by 'with'.

condolence

noun

An expression of sympathy offered to someone who has experienced a loss, especially a death.

condolences

noun

Expressions of sympathy offered to someone who has suffered a loss, especially a death; used almost always in the plural.

condom

noun

A thin protective sheath, usually latex, worn during sex to prevent pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections.

condominium

noun

A privately owned unit within a larger building or complex, where common areas are jointly owned by all residents.

Condon

name

An Irish surname, an Anglicized form of a Gaelic name meaning "wolf" or "hound."

condone

verb

To accept or overlook behaviour that is generally considered wrong.

condor

noun

A very large vulture native to the Americas, known for its wide wingspan and soaring flight.

Condos

name

A Greek surname, derived from a word for "count" or a personal name.

condottiere

noun

A paid army leader from Italy in the 1300s, and later found in other parts of Europe too.

condrey

name

A surname of Irish, and Welsh origin.

conducive

adjective

Helping to bring about or encourage a particular outcome.

conduct

noun

The way a person behaves, especially in terms of morals or manners.

conducting

noun

The act of directing musicians as they perform a piece of music.

conduction

noun

The movement of heat or electricity through a substance.

conductivity

noun

The ability of a material to carry electricity, heat, fluid or sound.

conductor

noun

A person who directs an orchestra, choir, or other group of musicians.

conduit

noun

A pipe, tube, or channel that carries water, cables, or other material from one place to another.

cone

noun

A solid shape with a circular base that narrows smoothly to a single point.

Cones

name

An English surname, a variant related to the given name Cone or a topographic name.

Coney

name

An English surname, also part of the place name Coney Island in New York.

confab

noun

(informal) A casual chat.

confabulate

verb

To talk to someone in an informal way; to chat.

confabulation

noun

An informal talk between people.

confabulations

noun

Informal talks or chats between people.

confection

noun

A sweet food, such as a cake, sweet or pastry, often made with great care and finely decorated.

confectioner

noun

A person who makes or sells sweets and other sweet foods.

confectionery

noun

Sweets, chocolates and similar sugary foods, considered collectively.

confederacy

noun

An alliance or union of groups, states, or people joined for a common purpose.

confederate

adj

Joined together in an alliance; united for a common purpose.

confederation

noun

A union of states or organizations that keep their own independence while cooperating on shared matters.

confer

verb

To talk something over with others; to discuss and seek advice.

conference

noun

A formal meeting where people discuss ideas, present research, or negotiate on a particular topic.

conferrer

noun

A person who gives or grants something to someone else.

conferring

noun

The act of discussing something with others, or of formally granting something.

confess

verb

To admit that you have done something wrong, or that something is true.

confessed

adj

Openly admitted to; acknowledged.

confessing

noun

The act of admitting something, especially a fault or wrongdoing.

confession

noun

A statement admitting that you did something wrong or that something is true.

confessional

noun

A small enclosed booth where a priest hears confession in private.

confessor

noun

A priest who hears people's confessions and grants absolution.

confetti

noun

Small pieces of colored paper thrown at celebrations such as weddings and parades.

confidant

noun

A close, trusted friend you can share your secrets with.

confidante

noun

A woman that someone trusts enough to share their private thoughts and feelings with.

confide

verb

To tell someone a secret, trusting them to keep it private.

confidence

noun

A feeling of self-assurance and belief in your own abilities.

confident

adj

Feeling sure of yourself or your abilities.

confidential

adj

Meant to be kept secret and shared only with a limited group of people.

confidentiality

noun

The state of being kept private and secret.

confidentially

adv

In a private and secret way.

confidently

adv

In a way that shows self-assurance or certainty.

confiding

adj

Showing trust in another person; willing to share secrets.

configuration

noun

The particular arrangement of the parts of something.

configure

verb

To set something up or adjust its settings so it works in a particular way or suits someone's needs.

confine

verb

To keep someone or something within certain limits or a restricted space.

confined

adj

Kept within a small or restricted space; not free to move around.

confinement

noun

The state of being kept within a limited space, often against one's will.

confines

noun

The outer limits or boundaries of a place, subject, or situation.

confining

adj

Restricting movement or freedom; limiting.

confirm

verb

To state or show that something is definitely true or accurate.

confirmability

noun

The quality of being able to be confirmed or proved true.

confirmation

noun

Proof or a statement that something is true or has been agreed.

confirmatory

adj

Helping to prove or support that something is true.

confirmed

adj

Verified as true or definite.

confirming

noun

The act of verifying or officially approving something.

confiscate

verb

To officially take away someone's property, often as a punishment or under legal authority.

confiscation

noun

The act of officially taking something away from someone.

conflagrate

verb

To start burning.

conflagration

noun

A big fire that spreads and burns over a wide area.

conflate

verb

To bring two or more things together as one.

conflict

noun

A serious disagreement or clash, especially a prolonged one.

conflicted

adj

Feeling torn between two opposing feelings or choices.

conflicting

adj

Incompatible or contradictory; not able to both be true at once.

confluence

noun

The point where two rivers or streams meet and flow on as one.

confluent

adjective

Flowing or merging together into one, especially of streams, rivers or currents.

conflux

noun

The point where two or more rivers meet and join, or that meeting itself.

conform

verb

To match your behaviour, appearance, or attitudes to what is expected or normal, especially to fit in with a group.

conformable

adj

Very alike in shape or appearance.

conformance

noun

The act of following a set of rules or a standard.

conformation

noun

The act of making something conform, or the state of conforming.

conformist

noun

A person who behaves like everyone else and avoids standing out.

conformity

noun

Behaviour or thinking that matches an accepted standard or the norms of a group.

confound

verb

To completely puzzle or baffle someone.

confounded

adj

Completely puzzled or astonished.

confraternity

noun

A group of people who share the same interest.

confrere

noun

A colleague, especially someone in the same profession.

confront

verb

To face someone directly, often to challenge or accuse them.

confrontation

noun

A tense, face-to-face clash or argument between people.

confrontational

adj

Prone to picking fights or provoking conflict; aggressively direct.

confronting

adj

Upsetting or hard to face because it forces you to deal with something uncomfortable.

Confucius

name

A Chinese philosopher (c. 551-479 BCE) whose teachings on ethics, family, and social order shaped Chinese thought for over two thousand years.

confuddle

noun

(informal) A muddled, confused state of mind.

confuscate

verb

To make someone feel puzzled or unsure.

confuse

verb

To make someone unable to understand or think clearly.

confused

adj

Unable to think clearly or understand what is happening.

confusedness

noun

The feeling or state of not understanding something clearly.

confusing

adj

Difficult to understand because it lacks clarity or order.

confusion

noun

A state of not understanding what is happening; a lack of clarity.

confute

verb

To prove that a claim or person is wrong.

confuzzle

noun

(informal) A feeling of being mixed up or unsure.

cong

noun

An ancient Chinese ritual object: a carved jade tube, round on the inside and square on the outside.