Collins Primary Illustrated Dictionary. Collins Dictionaries

shops were concentrated in the town centre.

      concentrated

      ADJECTIVE A concentrated liquid has been made stronger by having water removed from it. • concentrated orange juice

      concentration concentrations

      NOUN 1 the ability to give your full attention to something you do or hear

      2 A concentration of something is a large amount of it in one place.

      concept concepts

      NOUN an abstract or general idea

      conception conceptions

      NOUN the idea you have of something

      concern concerns, concerning, concerned

      NOUN 1 worry about something or someone

      2 If something is your concern, it is your duty or responsibility.

      VERB 3 If something concerns you or if you are concerned about it, it worries you.

      concerned ADJECTIVE

      concerning

      PREPOSITION You use concerning to show what something is about. • an article concerning fox hunting

      concert concerts

      NOUN a public performance by musicians

      concession concessions

      NOUN If you make a concession, you agree to let someone have or do something.

      concise

      ADJECTIVE giving all the necessary information using as few words as possible • a concise explanation

      SYNONYMS: brief, short

      concisely ADVERB

      conclude concludes, concluding, concluded

      VERB 1 If you conclude something, you examine the facts and decide what your opinion is. • We concluded that the letter was a fake.

      2 When you conclude something, you finish it.

      conclusion conclusions

      NOUN 1 the end of something

      2 a final decision about something • We wanted to go for a swim in the sea, but we came to the conclusion that it was too cold.

      concrete

      NOUN 1 a building material made by mixing cement, sand and water

      ADJECTIVE 2 real and physical, rather than abstract • He had no concrete evidence.

      concussion

      NOUN damage to the brain caused by a blow or a fall, which causes confusion, sickness or unconsciousness

      concussed ADJECTIVE

      condemn condemns, condemning, condemned

      VERB 1 If you condemn something, you say it is bad and unacceptable.

      2 If someone is condemned to a punishment, they are given it. • The burglar was condemned to five years in prison.

      condensation

      NOUN a coating of tiny drops of liquid formed on a cold surface by steam or vapour

      condense condenses, condensing, condensed

      VERB 1 If you condense a piece of writing or a speech, you shorten it.

      2 When a gas or vapour condenses, it changes into a liquid.

      condition conditions

      NOUN 1 the state someone or something is in • The antique clock was still in good condition.

      2 something that must happen in order for something else to be possible • I can go swimming on Saturday on the condition that I do my homework first.

      conduct conducts, conducting, conducted

      Said “kon-duct” NOUN 1 behaviour

      Said “kon-duct” VERB 2 When you conduct an activity, you carry it out.

      3 When someone conducts an orchestra, a band or a choir, they direct it in a piece of music.

      4 If something conducts heat or electricity, heat or electricity can pass along it. • Copper conducts electricity well.

      conductor conductors

      NOUN 1 someone who conducts an orchestra or choir

      2 someone who moves round a bus or train selling and checking tickets

      3 a substance that conducts heat or electricity

      cone cones

      NOUN 1 a regular three-dimensional shape with a circular base and a point at the top

      2 the fruit of a fir or pine tree

      conference conferences

      NOUN a meeting at which formal discussions take place

      confess confesses, confessing, confessed

      VERB If you confess to something, you admit that you did it.

      confession confessions

      NOUN 1 If you make a confession, you admit that you have done something wrong.

      SYNONYM: admission

      2 the act of confessing something, especially as a religious act, where people confess their sins to a priest

      confetti

      NOUN small pieces of coloured paper thrown over the bride and groom at a wedding

      [from Italian confetto meaning a sweet]

      confide confides, confiding, confided

      VERB If you confide in or to someone, you tell them a secret.

      confidence

      NOUN 1 If you have confidence in someone, you feel you can trust them.

      2 Someone who has confidence is sure of their own abilities or qualities.

      confident

      ADJECTIVE 1 If you are confident about something, you are sure it will happen the way you want it to.

      2 Someone who is confident is very sure of themselves and their own abilities.

      confidently ADVERB

      confidential

      ADJECTIVE Confidential information is meant to be kept secret.

      confine confines, confining, confined

      VERB 1 If someone confines you to a place, you can’t leave it. • The doctor confined Debbie to bed for two weeks as she had pneumonia.

      2 If you confine yourself to doing something, you do only that thing. • On their trip abroad, they confined themselves to drinking bottled water.

      confirm confirms, confirming, confirmed

      VERB 1 If you confirm something, you say or show that it is true. • The teacher confirmed that we had all passed our spelling test.

      2 If you confirm an arrangement or appointment, you say it is definite. • Dad confirmed our holiday booking.

      confiscate confiscates, confiscating, confiscated

      VERB If someone confiscates something, they take it away from someone as a punishment.

      [from Latin confiscare meaning to seize for the public treasury]

      confiscation NOUN

      conflict conflicts, conflicting, conflicted

      NOUN 1 disagreement and argument

      2 a war or battle

      VERB 3 When two ideas or interests conflict, they are different and