computer-aided design 282
computer-aided design abbrev. CAD n [U] the use of
COMPUTER GRAPHICS in industry as part of the process of
planning how to make such things as cars, aircraft, build-
ings, and electronic equipment: a computer-aided design
system
com.put.er.ate /kəm'pju:tərət/ adj able to use a computer
well: Students need to be computerate as well as literate.
com.puter 'dating ,agency n a DATING AGENCY that uses
computers to find partners for people
com.puter ,game n a game played on a computer, often in
which the player takes part in an imaginary story and tries
to destroy enemies or save people from danger
com.puter 'graphics n [P] information in the form of
images which can be stored, changed, or OUTPUT by a com-
puter. As well as being used in industry, computer graphics
are thought by some people to be a modern art form.
com.puter 'hacker n -> see HACKER
com.put.er.ize also -ise BrE /kəm'pju:təraɪz/ v [I,T] to use
or begin to use a computer to control (an operation, system
etc): The firm has decided to computerize its wages
department. | Our firm computerized years ago! | computer-
ized criminal records —ization /kəm,pju:təraɪ'zeʃən||
-rə-/ n [U]
com.puter 'modelling n [U] the building of a picture of
an object on a computer so that it can be looked at from any
angle. It is especially used in the planning of such things as
cars, buildings etc.
com.puter 'programmer n a person whose job is to
PROGRAM computers
com.puter 'science n [U] the study of computers and
what they can do, often as a main subject: a computer
science major/degree | She studied computer science at Cor-
nell.
com.puter 'virus n a PROGRAM (=plan of operations)
secretly put into a computer which makes copies of itself
and often damages other programs on the computer, includ-
ing the OPERATING SYSTEM. They are usually made by HACK-
ERS or introduced through emails.
com.put.ing /kəm'pju:tɪŋ/ n [U] the act or job of working
with computers
com.rade /'kɒmreɪd, -reɪd||'kɑ:mra:d/ n 1 fml a close com-
panion, especially a person who shares difficult work or
danger: his comrades in the navy -> compare COMPANION,
PARTNER 2 (especially used as a title in Communist countries
or among LEFT-WING groups) a fellow member of a union,
political party etc: Comrades, please support this motion. |
Comrade Gorbachev —ly adj
comrade in 'arms n pl comrades in arms (in the military)
someone who fights on the same side as yourself: (fig) We're
comrades in arms on the local council.
com.rade.ship /'kɒmreɪdʃɪp, -reɪd-||'kɑ:mra:d-/ n [U] fml
companionship; friendship
coms /kɒmz||ka:mz/ n [P] infml for 1 COMBINATIONS 2
COMMUNICATIONS
con¹ /kɒn||ka:n/ v -nn- [T(into, out of)] infml 1 to trick (a trusting
person), usually in order to make money: I'm afraid you've
been conned. | They've conned me out of £5! 2 to persuade,
especially by deceit: He conned me into doing all his work for
him.
con² n infml a trick, especially a CONFIDENCE TRICK -> see also
MOD CON, PROS AND CONS
con³ n slang a prisoner; CONVICT -> see also EX-CON
con⁴ v -nn- [T] old use to study or examine (something) very
carefully in order to learn it
Con written abbrev. for CONSERVATIVE or conservative party
Con.an Doyle, Sir Arthur /,kɒnən 'dɔɪl/ (1859-1930) a
British doctor and writer who is known especially for his
stories about the DETECTIVE Sherlock HOLMES and his friend
Dr WATSON
'con-artist n infml someone who tricks or deceives people in a
criminal way, usually in order to get money from them
conc written abbrev. for CONCESSIONARY
con.cat.e.nate /kɒn'kætəneɪt||ka:n-/ v [T] fml or tech to join
together as in a chain —nation /ˌkɒnkætə'neɪʃn||ka:n-/ n
[C;U] a concatenation of events (=a set of events coming one
after the other)
con.cave /kɒn'keɪv, kən-
||,ka:n'keɪv, kən-/ adj
curved inwards, like the
inside surface of a hollow
ball: a concave mirror ->
opposite CONVEX
con.cav.i.ty /ˌkɒn'kævɪti/ n
fml 1 [U] the state of being
concave 2 [C] a concave
place or shape
con.ceal /kən'si:l/ v [T(from)]
rather fml to hide; keep from
being seen or known: He
concealed his feelings/his
debts from his wife. | He was found to be carrying a concealed
weapon. | She tried to conceal how she felt.
con.ceal.ment /kən'si:lmənt/ n [U] fml 1 the act of con-
cealing: Concealment of evidence is a criminal offence. 2 the
state of being concealed: The criminals stayed in concealment
(=hidden) until the police had passed.
con.cede /kən'si:d/ v [T] 1 to admit as true, correct, or
proper, often unwillingly: The government conceded defeat as
soon as the election results were known. | [+that] I'm willing to
concede that he's a good runner, but I still think I can beat
him. | I concede that particular point, but I still think you're
wrong. 2 ([to]) to give as a right or PRIVILEGE: After the First
World War Germany conceded a lot of land (to her neigh-
bours). 3 to allow by accident; used especially in news-
papers: Despite conceding a goal in the first five minutes, the
Cowboys went on to win the game. -> see also CONCESSION
con.ceit /kən'si:t/ n 1 [U] also con.ceit.ed.ness
/kən'si:tɪdnəs/ — too high an opinion of your own abilities,
value, importance etc 2 [C] tech an unusual, cleverly
expressed, but not very serious comparison, especially in
poetry: the use of conceits in Elizabethan poetry
con.ceit.ed /kən'si:tɪd/ adj having too high an opinion of
yourself; extremely proud of yourself or pleased with your-
self: I don't want to sound conceited, but I think my new book
might be a best-seller. —ly adv
con.ceiv.a.ble /kən'si:vəbl/ adj that can be believed;
imaginable: It is just conceivable that he'll win, but it's very
unlikely really. | What conceivable reason could they have for
doing such a crazy thing? -> opposite INCONCEIVABLE
—bly adv
con.ceive /kən'si:v/ v 1 [T] to form an idea of; think of;
imagine: Scientists first conceived the idea of the atomic bomb
in the 1930s. | [+wh-] I can't conceive why you told her. (=I don't
understand, because it was not a sensible thing to do) -> see
PERCEIVE (USAGE) 2 [I;T] especially tech or bibl to become PREG-
NANT with (a child): The baby was conceived in March and
born in December. | (fig.) He conceived a violent hatred of his
captors. -> see also CONCEPTION
conceive of sthg. phr v [T(as)] to think of; imagine: In
ancient times the world was conceived of as flat. | [+v-ing] It's
difficult to conceive of living without electricity. -> see also
CONCEPTION
con.cen.trate¹ /'kɒnsəntreɪt||'ka:n-/ v 1 [I;T (on, upon)] to
direct (your thoughts, efforts, attention etc) towards a par-
ticular activity or purpose: I can't concentrate (on my work)
when I'm hungry. | The terrorists concentrated their activities
on the main supply routes. | This year the company has
concentrated on improving its efficiency. 2 [+adv/prep;T+obj+adv/
prep] to (cause to) come together in or around one place:
Industrial development is being concentrated in the south of
the country. | The crowds concentrated round the palace. 3 [T]
tech to make (especially a liquid) stronger by removing some
of the water from it
concentrate² n [C;U] a concentrated material or liquid:
orange juice concentrate
con.cen.trat.ed /'kɒnsəntreɪtɪd||'ka:n-/ adj 1 increased in
strength by the removal of liquid or the addition of more of
a substance: concentrated orange juice 2 [A] showing con-
centration and determination: He has made a concentrated
effort to improve his work. | a concentrated mind