Читать книгу Collins English Thesaurus Essential - Collins Dictionaries, Collins Dictionaries - Страница 134

con (informal) VERB He claimed that the businessman had conned him out of his life savings. = swindle, trick, cheat, rip off (slang), kid (informal), skin (slang), stiff (slang), mislead, deceive, hoax, defraud, dupe, gull (archaic), rook (slang), humbug, bamboozle (informal), hoodwink, double-cross (informal), diddle (informal), take for a ride (informal), inveigle, do the dirty on (Brit. informal), bilk, sell a pup, pull a fast one on (informal), scam (slang) ▸ NOUN I am afraid you have been the victim of a con. = swindle, trick, fraud, deception, scam (slang), sting (informal), bluff, fastie (Austral. slang)concave ADJECTIVE = hollow, cupped, depressed, scooped, hollowed, excavated, sunken, indented ◼ OPPOSITE: convexconceal VERB 1 The device, concealed in a dustbin, was defused by police. = hide, bury, stash (informal), secrete, cover, screen, disguise, obscure, camouflage ◼ OPPOSITE: reveal 2 Robert could not conceal his relief. = keep secret, hide, disguise, mask, suppress, veil, dissemble, draw a veil over, keep dark, keep under your hat ◼ OPPOSITE: showconcealed ADJECTIVE = hidden, covered, secret, screened, masked, obscured, covert, unseen, tucked away, secreted, under wraps, inconspicuousconcealment NOUN 1 The criminals vainly sought concealment from the searchlight. = cover, hiding, camouflage, hiding place 2 His concealment of his true motives was masterly. = cover-up, disguise, keeping secret ◼ OPPOSITE: disclosureconcede VERB 1 She finally conceded that he was right. = admit, allow, accept, acknowledge, own, grant, confess ◼ OPPOSITE: deny 2 The government has never conceded that territory to the rebels. = give up, yield, hand over, surrender, relinquish, cede ◼ OPPOSITE: conquerconceit NOUN 1 He knew, without conceit, that he was considered a genius. = self-importance, vanity, arrogance, complacency, pride, swagger, narcissism, egotism, self-love, amour-propre, vainglory 2 Critics may complain that the novel's central conceit is rather simplistic. = image, idea, concept, metaphor, imagery, figure of speech, tropeconceited ADJECTIVE = self-important, vain, arrogant, stuck up (informal), cocky, narcissistic, puffed up, egotistical, overweening, immodest, vainglorious, swollen-headed, bigheaded (informal), full of yourself, too big for your boots or breeches ◼ OPPOSITE: modestconceivable ADJECTIVE = imaginable, possible, credible, believable, thinkable ◼ OPPOSITE: inconceivableconceive VERB 1 We now cannot conceive of a world without electricity. = imagine, envisage, comprehend, visualize, think, believe, suppose, fancy, appreciate, grasp, apprehend 2 I began to conceive a plan of attack. = think up, form, produce, create, develop, design, project, purpose, devise, formulate, contrive 3 women who plan to conceive when they are older = become pregnant, get pregnant, become impregnatedconcentrate VERB 1 Try to concentrate on what you're doing. = focus your attention, focus, pay attention, be engrossed, apply yourself ◼ OPPOSITE: pay no attention 2 We should concentrate our efforts on tackling crime in the inner cities. = focus, centre, converge, bring to bear 3 Most poor people are concentrated in this area. = gather, collect, cluster, accumulate, congregate ◼ OPPOSITE: scatterconcentrated ADJECTIVE 1 Sweeten dishes with honey or concentrated apple juice. = condensed, rich, undiluted, reduced, evaporated, thickened, boiled down 2 She makes a concentrated effort to keep her feet on the ground. = intense, hard, deep, intensive, all-out (informal)concentration NOUN 1 His talking kept breaking my concentration. = attention, application, absorption, single-mindedness, intentness ◼ OPPOSITE: inattention 2 This concentration of effort and resources should not be to the exclusion of everything else. = focusing, centring, consolidation, convergence, bringing to bear, intensification, centralization 3 The area has one of the world's greatest concentrations of wildlife. = convergence, collection, mass, cluster, accumulation, aggregation ◼ OPPOSITE: scatteringconcept NOUN = idea, view, image, theory, impression, notion, conception, hypothesis, abstraction, conceptualizationconception NOUN 1 He doesn't have the slightest conception of teamwork. = understanding, idea, picture, impression, perception, clue, appreciation, comprehension, inkling 2 The symphony is admirable in its conception. = idea, plan, design, image, concept, notion 3 Six weeks after conception your baby is the size of your little fingernail. = impregnation, insemination, fertilization, germination 4 It is six years since the project's conception. = origin, beginning, launching, birth, formation, invention, outset, initiation, inceptionconcern NOUN 1 The move follows growing public concern over the spread of the disease. = anxiety, fear, worry, distress, unease, apprehension, misgiving, disquiet 2 His concern was that people would know that he was responsible. = worry, care, anxiety 3 Politicians cannot ignore the concerns of young people. = affair, issue, matter, consideration 4 He had only gone along out of concern for his two grandsons. = care, interest, regard, consideration, solicitude, attentiveness 5 The technical aspects are not my concern. = business, job, charge, matter, department, field, affair, responsibility, task, mission, pigeon (informal) 6 If not a large concern, his business was at least a successful one. = company, house, business, firm, organization, corporation, enterprise, establishment 7 The survey's findings are a matter of great concern. = importance, interest, bearing, relevance ▸ VERB 1 It concerned her that Bess was going out so much. = worry, trouble, bother, disturb, distress, disquiet, perturb, make uneasy, make anxious 2 The bulk of the book concerns the author's childhood. = be about, cover, deal with, go into, relate to, have to do with 3 This matter doesn't concern you, so stay out of it. = be relevant to, involve, affect, regard, apply to, bear on, have something to do with, pertain to, interest, touchconcerned ADJECTIVE 1 I believe he was concerned in all those matters you mention. = involved, interested, active, mixed up, implicated, privy to 2 I've been very concerned about the situation. = worried, troubled, upset, bothered, disturbed, anxious, distressed, uneasy ◼ OPPOSITE: indifferent 3 A concerned friend put a comforting arm around her shoulder. = caring, attentive, solicitousconcerning PREPOSITION = regarding, about, re, touching, respecting, relating to, on the subject of, as to, with reference to, in the matter of, apropos of, as regardsconcert ● in concert = together, jointly, unanimously, in unison, in league, in collaboration, shoulder to shoulder, concertedlyconcerted ADJECTIVE = coordinated, united, joint, combined, collaborative ◼ OPPOSITE: separateconcession NOUN 1 We had to make sweeping concessions in order to reach a settlement. = compromise, agreement, settlement, accommodation, adjustment, trade-off, give-and-take, half measures 2 The government has granted concessions to three private companies. = privilege, right, permit, licence, franchise, entitlement, indulgence, prerogative 3 We don't know how long the government will allow these tax concessions to continue. = reduction, saving, grant, discount, allowance 4 He said there'd be no concession of territory. = surrender, yielding, conceding, renunciation, relinquishmentconciliation NOUN = pacification, reconciliation, disarming, appeasement, propitiation, mollification, soothing, placationconciliatory ADJECTIVE = pacifying, pacific, disarming, appeasing, mollifying, peaceable, placatory, soothingconcise ADJECTIVE = brief, short, to the point, compact, summary, compressed, condensed, terse, laconic, succinct, pithy, synoptic, epigrammatic, compendious ◼ OPPOSITE: ramblingconclave NOUN = secret or private meeting, council, conference, congress, session, cabinet, assembly, parley, runanga (N.Z.)conclude VERB 1 We concluded that he was telling the truth. = decide, judge, establish, suppose, determine, assume, gather, reckon (informal), work out, infer, deduce, surmise 2 The evening concluded with dinner and speeches. = come to an end, end, close, finish, wind up, draw to a close ◼ OPPOSITE: begin 3 They concluded their annual summit meeting today. = bring to an end, end, close, finish, complete, wind up, terminate, round off ◼ OPPOSITE: begin 4 If the clubs cannot conclude a deal, an independent tribunal will decide. = accomplish, effect, settle, bring about, fix, carry out, resolve, clinch, pull off, bring off (informal)conclusion NOUN 1 We came to the conclusion that it was too difficult to combine the two techniques. = decision, agreement, opinion, settlement, resolution, conviction, verdict, judgment, deduction, inference 2 At the conclusion of the programme, viewers were invited to phone in. = end, ending, close, finish, completion, finale, termination, bitter end, result 3 Executives said it was the logical conclusion of the process. = outcome, result, upshot, consequence, sequel, culmination, end result, issue ● in conclusion In conclusion, walking is a cheap, safe form of exercise. = finally, lastly, in closing, to sum upconclusive ADJECTIVE = decisive, final, convincing, clinching, definite, definitive, irrefutable, unanswerable, unarguable, ultimate ◼ OPPOSITE: inconclusiveconcoct VERB = make up, design, prepare, manufacture, plot, invent, devise, brew, hatch, formulate, contrive, fabricate, think up, cook up (informal), trump up, projectconcoction NOUN = mixture, preparation, compound, brew, combination, creation, blendconcord NOUN = treaty, agreement, convention, compact, protocol, entente, concordatconcourse NOUN = crowd, collection, gathering, assembly, crush, multitude, throng, convergence, hui (N.Z.), assemblage, meeting, runanga (N.Z.)concrete NOUN The posts have to be set in concrete. = cement (not in technical usage) ▸ ADJECTIVE 1 He had no concrete evidence. = specific, precise, explicit, definite, clear-cut, unequivocal, unambiguous ◼ OPPOSITE: vague 2 using concrete objects to teach addition and subtraction = real, material, actual, substantial (formal), sensible, tangible, factual ◼ OPPOSITE: abstractconcubine NOUN = mistress, courtesan, kept womanconcur VERB = agree, accord, approve, assent, accede, acquiesceconcurrent ADJECTIVE = simultaneous, coexisting, concomitant, contemporaneous, coincident, synchronous, concertedconcussion NOUN 1 She fell off a horse and suffered a concussion. = shock, brain injury 2 I was blown off the deck by the concussion of the torpedoes. = impact, crash, shaking, clash, jarring, collision, jolt, joltingcondemn VERB 1 Political leaders united yesterday to condemn the latest wave of violence. = denounce, damn, criticize, disapprove, censure, reprove, upbraid, excoriate (literary), reprehend, blame ◼ OPPOSITE: approve 2 He was condemned to life imprisonment. = sentence, convict, damn, doom, pass sentence on ◼ OPPOSITE: acquitcondemnation NOUN = denunciation, blame, censure, disapproval, reproach, stricture, reproof, denouncementcondensation NOUN 1 The surface refrigeration allows the condensation of water. = distillation, precipitation, liquefaction 2 a condensation of a book that offers ten ways to be a better manager = abridgment, summary, abstract, digest, contraction, synopsis, précis, encapsulationcondense VERB 1 The English translation has been condensed into a single more readable book. = abridge, contract, concentrate, compact, shorten, summarize, compress, encapsulate, abbreviate, epitomize, précis ◼ OPPOSITE: expand 2 The compressed gas is cooled and condenses into a liquid. = concentrate, reduce, precipitate (Chemistry), thicken, boil down, solidify, coagulate ◼ OPPOSITE: dilutecondensed ADJECTIVE 1 I also produced a condensed version of the paper. = abridged, concentrated, compressed, potted, shortened, summarized, slimmed-down, encapsulated 2 condensed milk = concentrated, reduced, thickened, boiled down, precipitated (Chemistry)condescend VERB 1 a writer who does not condescend to her readers = patronize, talk down to, treat like a child, treat as inferior, treat condescendingly 2 He never condescended to notice me. = deign, see fit, lower yourself, be courteous enough, bend, submit, stoop, unbend (informal), vouchsafe, come down off your high horse (informal), humble or demean yourselfcondescending ADJECTIVE = patronizing, lordly, superior, lofty, snooty (informal), snobbish, disdainful, supercilious, toffee-nosed (slang, chiefly Brit.), on your high horse (informal)condescension NOUN = patronizing attitude, superiority, disdain, haughtiness, loftiness, superciliousness, lordliness, airscondition NOUN 1 The two-bedroom chalet is in good condition. = state, order, shape, nick (Brit. informal), trim 2 The government has to encourage people to better their condition. = situation, state, position, status, circumstances, plight, status quo (Latin), case, predicament 3 They had agreed to a summit subject to certain conditions. = requirement, terms, rider, provision, restriction, qualification, limitation, modification, requisite, prerequisite, proviso, stipulation, rule, demand 4 He was in fine condition for his age. = health, shape, fitness, trim, form, kilter, state of health, fettle, order 5 Doctors suspect he may have a heart condition. = ailment, problem, complaint, weakness, malady, infirmity ▸ PLURAL NOUN The conditions in the camp are just awful. = circumstances, situation, environment, surroundings, way of life, milieu ▸ VERB We have been conditioned to believe that it is weak to be scared. = train, teach, educate, adapt, accustom, inure, habituateconditional ADJECTIVE = dependent, limited, qualified, contingent, provisional, with reservations ◼ OPPOSITE: unconditionalconditioning NOUN = training, education, teaching, accustoming, habituationcondom NOUN = sheath, prophylactic, safe (U.S. & Canad. slang), rubber (slang), scumbag (U.S. slang), French letter (slang), jimmy hat (slang), French tickler (slang)condone VERB = overlook, excuse, forgive, pardon, disregard, turn a blind eye to, wink at, look the other way, make allowance for, let pass ◼ OPPOSITE: condemnconducive ADJECTIVE = favourable, helpful, productive, contributory, calculated to produce, leading, tendingconduct VERB 1 I decided to conduct an experiment. = carry out, run, control, manage, direct, handle, organize, govern, regulate, administer, supervise, preside over 2 He asked if he might conduct us to the ball. = accompany, lead, escort, guide, attend, steer, convey, usher, pilot ▸ NOUN 1 Also up for discussion will be the conduct of free and fair elections. = management, running, control, handling, administration, direction, leadership, organization, guidance, supervision 2 Other people judge you by your conduct. = behaviour, ways, bearing, attitude, manners, carriage, demeanour, deportment, mien (literary), comportment ● conduct yourself The way he conducts himself reflects on the party. = behave yourself, act, carry yourself, acquit yourself, deport yourself, comport yourselfconduit NOUN = passage, channel, tube, pipe, canal, duct, mainconfederacy NOUN = union, league, alliance, coalition, federation, compact, confederation, covenant, bundconfederate NOUN The conspirators were joined by their confederates. = associate, partner, ally, colleague, accessory, accomplice, abettor ▸ ADJECTIVE They wanted to establish a confederate Europe. = allied, federal, associated, combined, federated, in allianceconfer VERB 1 She conferred with Hill and the others in her office. = discuss, talk, consult, deliberate, discourse, converse, parley 2 An honorary degree was conferred on him by the University of Vienna. = grant, give, present, accord, award, hand out, bestow, vouchsafe (old-fashioned)conference NOUN = meeting, congress, discussion, convention, forum, consultation, seminar, symposium, hui (N.Z.), convocation, colloquiumconfess VERB 1 He has confessed to seventeen murders. = admit, acknowledge, disclose, confide, own up, come clean (informal), divulge, blurt out, come out of the closet, make a clean breast of, get (something) off your chest (informal), spill your guts (slang), fess up, sing (slang, chiefly U.S.) ◼ OPPOSITE: cover up 2 I must confess I'm not a great sports enthusiast. = declare, own up, allow, prove, reveal, grant, confirm, concede, assert, manifest, affirm, profess, attest, evince (formal), averconfession NOUN = admission, revelation, disclosure, acknowledgment, avowal, divulgence, exposure, unbosomingconfidant or confidante NOUN = close friend, familiar, intimate, crony, alter ego, bosom friendconfide VERB = tell, admit, reveal, confess, whisper, disclose, impart, divulge, breatheconfidence NOUN 1 I have every confidence in you. = trust, belief, faith, dependence, reliance, credence ◼ OPPOSITE: distrust 2 She always thinks the worst of herself and has no confidence whatsoever. = self-assurance, courage, assurance, aplomb, boldness, self-reliance, self-possession, nerve ◼ OPPOSITE: shyness 3 I'm not in the habit of exchanging confidences with her. = secret ● in confidence I'm telling you all these things in confidence. = in secrecy, privately, confidentially, between you and me (and the gatepost), (just) between ourselvesconfident ADJECTIVE 1 I am confident that everything will come out right in time. = certain, sure, convinced, positive, secure, satisfied, counting on ◼ OPPOSITE: unsure 2 In time he became more confident and relaxed. = self-assured, positive, assured, bold, assertive, self-confident, self-reliant, self-possessed, sure of yourself, can-do (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: insecureconfidential ADJECTIVE 1 She accused them of leaking confidential information. = secret, private, intimate, classified, privy (archaic), off the record, hush-hush (informal), closed or closed source (Computing), protected (Computing) 2 He adopted a confidential tone of voice. = secretive, low, soft, hushedconfidentially ADVERB = in secret, privately, personally, behind closed doors, in confidence, in camera, between ourselves, sub rosa (literary)configuration NOUN = arrangement, form, shape, cast, outline, contour, conformation, figureconfine VERB 1 He has been confined to his barracks. = imprison, enclose, shut up, intern, incarcerate, circumscribe, hem in, immure (archaic), keep, cage 2 She had largely confined her activities to the world of big business. = restrict, limit ▸ PLURAL NOUN The movie is set entirely within the confines of the abandoned factory. = limits, bounds, boundaries, compass, precincts, circumference, edge, paleconfined ADJECTIVE = restricted, small, limited, narrow, enclosed, crampedconfinement NOUN 1 She had been held in solitary confinement for four months. = imprisonment, custody, detention, incarceration, internment, porridge (slang) 2 His pregnant wife is near her confinement. = childbirth, labour, travail, childbed, accouchement (French), timeconfirm VERB 1 This confirms what I suspected all along. = prove, support, establish, back up, verify, validate, bear out, substantiate, corroborate, authenticate 2 Mrs Suarez is due to be confirmed as President on Friday. = ratify, establish, approve, sanction, endorse, authorize, certify, validate, authenticate 3 He has confirmed his position as the world's number one snooker player. = strengthen, establish, settle, fix, secure, assure, reinforce, clinch, verify, fortifyconfirmation NOUN 1 He took her resignation as confirmation of their suspicions. = proof, evidence, testimony, verification, ratification, validation, corroboration, authentication, substantiation ◼ OPPOSITE: repudiation 2 She glanced over at James for confirmation of what she'd said. = affirmation, approval, acceptance, endorsement, ratification, assent, agreement ◼ OPPOSITE: disapprovalconfirmed ADJECTIVE = long-established, seasoned, rooted, chronic, hardened, habitual, ingrained, inveterate, inured, dyed-in-the-woolconfiscate VERB = seize, appropriate, impound, commandeer, sequester, expropriate (formal) ◼ OPPOSITE: give backconfiscation NOUN = seizure, appropriation, impounding, forfeiture, expropriation (formal), sequestration, takeoverconflagration NOUN = fire, blaze, holocaust, inferno, wildfireconflict NOUN 1 Try to keep any conflict between you and your sibling to a minimum. = dispute, difference, opposition, hostility, disagreement, friction, strife, fighting, antagonism, variance, discord, bad blood, dissension, divided loyalties, cyberwar ◼ OPPOSITE: agreement 2 the anguish of his own inner conflict = struggle, battle, clash, strife 3 The National Security Council has met to discuss ways of preventing a military conflict. = battle, war, fight, clash, contest, set-to (informal), encounter, combat, engagement, warfare, collision, contention, strife, head-to-head, fracas, boilover (Austral.) ◼ OPPOSITE: peace ▸ VERB He held firm opinions which sometimes conflicted with my own. = be incompatible, clash, differ, disagree, contend, strive, collide, be at variance ◼ OPPOSITE: agreeconflicting ADJECTIVE = incompatible, opposed, opposing, clashing, contrary, adverse, contradictory, inconsistent, paradoxical, discordant ◼ OPPOSITE: agreeingconform VERB 1 People who won't conform sometimes feel excluded. = fit in, follow, yield, adjust, adapt, comply, obey, fall in, toe the line, follow the crowd, run with the pack, follow convention 2 (with with) These activities do not conform with diplomatic rules and regulations. = fulfil, meet, match, suit, satisfy, agree with, obey, abide by, accord with, square with, correspond with, tally with, harmonize withconformation NOUN = shape, build, form, structure, arrangement, outline, framework, anatomy, configurationconformist NOUN = traditionalist, conservative, reactionary, Babbitt (U.S.), stickler, yes man, stick-in-the-mud (informal), conventionalistconformity NOUN 1 The prime minister is, in conformity with the constitution, chosen by the president. = compliance, agreement, accordance, observance, conformance, obedience 2 Excessive conformity is usually caused by fear of disapproval. = conventionality, compliance, allegiance, orthodoxy, observance, traditionalism, Babbittry (U.S.)confound VERB 1 For many years medical scientists were confounded by these seemingly contradictory facts. = bewilder, baffle, amaze, confuse, astonish, startle, mix up, astound, perplex, surprise, mystify, flummox, boggle the mind, be all Greek to (informal), dumbfound, nonplus, flabbergast (informal) 2 The findings confound all the government's predictions. = disprove, contradict, refute, negate, destroy, ruin, overwhelm, explode, overthrow, demolish, annihilate, give the lie to, make a nonsense of, prove false, blow out of the water (slang), controvert, confuteconfront VERB 1 We are learning how to confront problems. = tackle, deal with, cope with, brave, beard, face up to, meet head-on 2 the environmental crisis which confronts us all = trouble, face, afflict, perplex, perturb, bedevil 3 She pushed her way through the mob and confronted him face to face. = challenge, face, oppose, tackle, encounter, defy, call out, stand up to, come face to face with, accost, face off (slang) ◼ OPPOSITE: evadeconfrontation NOUN = conflict, fight, crisis, contest, set-to (informal), encounter, showdown (informal), head-to-head, face-off (slang), boilover (Austral.)confuse VERB 1 I can't see how anyone could confuse you two with each other. = mix up with, take for, mistake for, muddle with 2 Politics just confuses me. = bewilder, puzzle, baffle, perplex, mystify, fluster, faze, flummox, bemuse, be all Greek to (informal), nonplus 3 His critics accused him of trying to confuse the issue. = obscure, cloud, complicate, muddle, darken, make more difficult, muddy the watersconfused ADJECTIVE 1 People are confused about what they should eat to stay healthy. = bewildered, puzzled, baffled, at sea, muddled, dazed, perplexed, at a loss, taken aback, disorientated, muzzy (informal), nonplussed, flummoxed, at sixes and sevens, thrown off balance, discombobulated (informal), not with it (informal), not knowing if you are coming or going ◼ OPPOSITE: enlightened 2 The situation remains confused as both sides claim victory. = disorderly, disordered, chaotic, mixed up, jumbled, untidy, out of order, in disarray, topsy-turvy, disorganized, higgledy-piggledy (informal), at sixes and sevens, disarranged, disarrayed ◼ OPPOSITE: tidyconfusing ADJECTIVE = bewildering, complicated, puzzling, misleading, unclear, baffling, muddling, contradictory, ambiguous, inconsistent, perplexing, clear as mud (informal) ◼ OPPOSITE: clearconfusion NOUN 1 Omissions in my recent article may have caused some confusion. = bewilderment, doubt, uncertainty, puzzlement, perplexity, mystification, bafflement, perturbation ◼ OPPOSITE: enlightenment 2 The rebel leader seems to have escaped in the confusion. = disorder, chaos, turmoil, upheaval, muddle, bustle, shambles, disarray, commotion, disorganization, disarrangement ◼ OPPOSITE: order 3 I left his office in a state of confusion. = puzzlement, bewilderment, perplexity, bafflement, mystification, perturbationcongeal VERB = thicken, set, freeze, harden, clot, stiffen, condense, solidify, curdle, jell, coagulatecongenial ADJECTIVE = pleasant, kindly, pleasing, friendly, agreeable, cordial, sociable, genial, affable, convivial, companionable, favourable, complaisantcongenital ADJECTIVE 1 She has a congenital disease. = inborn, innate, inherent, hereditary, natural, constitutional, inherited, inbred 2 He is a congenital liar. = complete, confirmed, chronic, utter, hardened, thorough, habitual, incurable, inveterate, incorrigible, deep-dyedcongested ADJECTIVE 1 Some areas are congested with both cars and people. = packed (out), crowded, overcrowded, teeming 2 Without treatment, the arteries can become dangerously congested. = clogged, jammed, blocked-up, overfilled, stuffed, packed, crammed, overflowing, stuffed-up ◼ OPPOSITE: clearcongestion NOUN = overcrowding, crowding, mass, jam, clogging, bottleneck, snarl-up (informal, chiefly Brit.)conglomerate NOUN = corporation, multinational, corporate body, business, association, consortium, aggregate, agglomeratecongratulate VERB = compliment, pat on the back, wish joy tocongratulations PLURAL NOUN I offer you my congratulations on your appointment as chief executive. = good wishes, greetings, compliments, best wishes, pat on the back, felicitations ▸ INTERJECTION Congratulations! You have a healthy baby boy. = good wishes, greetings, compliments, best wishes, felicitationscongregate VERB = come together, meet, mass, collect, gather, concentrate, rally, assemble, flock, muster, convene, converge, throng, rendezvous, foregather, convoke (formal) ◼ OPPOSITE: dispersecongregation NOUN = parishioners, host, brethren, crowd, assembly, parish, flock, fellowship, multitude, throng, laitycongress NOUN 1 A lot has changed since the party congress. = meeting, council, conference, diet, assembly, convention, conclave, legislative assembly, convocation (formal), hui (N.Z.), runanga (N.Z.) 2 It's far from certain that the congress will approve them. = legislature, house, council, parliament, representatives, delegates, quango, legislative assembly, chamber of deputies, House of Representatives (N.Z.)conical or conic ADJECTIVE = cone-shaped, pointed, tapered, tapering, pyramidal, funnel-shapedconjecture NOUN Your assertion is merely a conjecture, not a fact. = guess, theory, fancy, notion, speculation, assumption, hypothesis, inference, presumption, surmise, theorizing, guesswork, supposition, shot in the dark, guesstimate (informal) ▸ VERB This may or may not be true; we are all conjecturing here. = guess, speculate, surmise, theorize, suppose, imagine, assume, fancy, infer, hypothesizeconjunction NOUN = combination, union, joining, association, coincidence, juxtaposition, concurrenceconjure VERB 1 They managed to conjure an impressive victory. = produce, generate, bring about, give rise to, make, create, effect, produce as if by magic 2 (often with up) The ouija board is used to conjure up spirits and communicate with them. = summon up, raise, invoke, rouse, call upon ● conjure something up When he closed his eyes, he could conjure up almost every event of his life. = bring to mind, recall, evoke, re-create, recollect, produce as if by magicconjuring NOUN = magic, juggling, trickery, sleight of handconnect VERB 1 Connect the machine to the mains. = link, join, couple, attach, fasten, affix, unite ◼ OPPOSITE: separate 2 There is no evidence to connect him to the robberies. = associate, unite, join, couple, league, link, mix, relate, pair, ally, identify, combine, affiliate, correlate, confederate, lump together, mention in the same breath, think of togetherconnected ADJECTIVE = linked, united, joined, coupled, related, allied, associated, combined, bracketed, affiliated, akin, banded togetherconnection NOUN 1 There is no evidence of any connection between the two events. = association, relationship, link, relation, bond, correspondence, relevance, tie-in, correlation, interrelation 2 I no longer have any connection with my ex-husband's family. = communication, alliance, commerce (literary), attachment, intercourse (formal), liaison, affinity, affiliation, union 3 Check radiators for small leaks, especially round pipework connections. = link, coupling, junction, fastening, tie, portal (Computing), USB port 4 She used her connections to full advantage. = contact, friend, relation, ally, associate, relative, acquaintance, kin, kindred, kinsman or woman or person, kith 5 They have been questioned in connection with the robbery. = context, relation, reference, frame of referenceconnivance NOUN = collusion, intrigue, conspiring, complicity, abetting, tacit consent, abetmentconnive VERB Senior politicians connived to ensure that he was not released. = conspire, scheme, plot, intrigue, colludeconnoisseur NOUN = expert, authority, judge, specialist, buff (informal), devotee, whiz (informal), arbiter, aficionado, savant, maven (U.S.), appreciator, cognoscente, fundi (S. African)connotation NOUN = implication, colouring, association, suggestion, significance, nuance, undertoneconnote VERB = imply, suggest, indicate, intimate, signify, hint at, betoken, involveconquer VERB 1 Early in the eleventh century the whole of England was again conquered by the Vikings. = seize, obtain, acquire, occupy, overrun, annex, win 2 a Navajo myth about a great warrior who conquers the spiritual enemies of his people = defeat, overcome, overthrow, beat, stuff (slang), master, tank (slang), triumph, crush, humble, lick (informal), undo, subdue, rout, overpower, quell, get the better of, clobber (slang), vanquish, subjugate, prevail over, checkmate, run rings around (informal), wipe the floor with (informal), make mincemeat of (informal), put in their place, blow out of the water (slang), bring to their knees ◼ OPPOSITE: lose to 3 I had learned to conquer my fear of spiders. = overcome, beat, defeat, master, rise above, overpower, get the better of, surmount, bestconqueror NOUN = winner, champion, master, victor, conquistador, lordconquest NOUN 1 He had led the conquest of southern Poland in 1939. = takeover, coup, acquisition, invasion, occupation, appropriation, annexation, subjugation, subjection 2 This hidden treasure charts the brutal Spanish conquest of the Aztecs. = defeat, victory, triumph, overthrow, pasting (slang), rout, mastery, vanquishment 3 people who boast about their sexual conquests = seduction 4 She threw a party at her home to show off her latest conquest. = catch, prize, supporter, acquisition, follower, admirer, worshipper, adherent, fan, feather in your cap