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federal government. | the conflict between religion and science 2 (a) war or battle; struggle: This is a serious dispute, and could lead to armed conflict. 3 never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few quote part of a speech made to the British Parliament in 1940 by Winston Churchill about the Battle of Britain and the bravery of the Royal Air Force -> see also BATTLE OF BRITAIN
con-flict² /kən'flɪkt/ v [I(with)] to be in opposition; disagree: Do British immigration laws conflict with any international laws? | conflicting opinions/advice/evidence
con-flict-ed /kən'flɪktɪd/ adj [F about] AmE confused about what choice to make, especially when the decision involves strong beliefs or opinions: Many mothers today feel conflicted about working outside the home.
conflict of 'interest n pl. conflicts of interest [(between)] a conflict between two of someone's different areas of activity, so that it becomes difficult to continue being involved in both of them. It is usually experienced by someone who holds a responsible or public position: There is a growing conflict of interest between her position as a politician and her business activities.
con-flu-ence /'kɒnfluəns||'kɑːn-/ n [(of)] fml the place where two or more rivers flow together: the confluence of the Rhine and the Mosel | (fig.) a confluence of ideas
con-form /kən'fɔːm||-ɔːrm/ v [I(to)] 1 to obey or be in accordance with established rules: You must either conform to the rules or leave the school. | This piece of equipment does not conform to the official safety standards. 2 to behave in accordance with generally accepted ideas or customs; behave like most other people: There is great pressure on schoolchildren to conform. -> see also CONFORMIST —-er n —-ance n [U(with, to)] The equipment is not in conformance with the official safety standards.
con-for-ma-tion /ˌknfɔː'meɪʃən||ˌkɑːn'fɔːr-/ n [C;U] fml or tech the way something is formed; shape
con-form-ist /kən'fɔːmɪst||-ɔːr-/ adj, n usually derog (of) a person who conforms to the established rules, values, and customs of society -> opposite NONCONFORMIST
con-for-mi-ty /kən'fɔːmɪti||-ɔːr-/ n [U(with, to)] fml agreement with established rules, customs etc: to behave in conformity with the law/your beliefs
con-found /kən'faʊnd/ v [T] 1 to confuse and surprise by being unexpected: The extraordinary election results confounded the government. | He gave a marvellous performance that completely confounded his critics. 2 old use to defeat (an enemy, plan etc) 3 [(with)] fml to mix up in your mind; CONFUSE 4 Confound it/him/them! etc old-fash infml DAMN it/him/them! etc
con-found-ed /kən'faʊndɪd/ adj [A] old-fash infml (used to express annoyance): that confounded boy/dog | a confounded idiot/nuisance —-ly adv
con-front /kən'frʌnt/ v [T] 1 to face bravely or threateningly: The actress was confronted by a large group of reporters as she left the stage door. | They have confronted the problem of terrorism with great determination. 2 to be faced with and have to deal with: I prepared answers for the questions I expected to confront in the interview.
confront sbdy. with sthg. phr v [T] to force to deal with or accept the truth of; bring face to face with: When the police confronted her with the evidence, she admitted that she was guilty.
con-fron-ta-tion /ˌkɒnfrən'teɪʃən||ˌkɑːn-/ n [C;U(with)] (an example of) the act of confronting, especially a situation or manner marked by open opposition: We cannot risk (another) confrontation with the union.
con-fron-ta-tion-al /ˌkɒnfrən'teɪʃənəl||ˌkɑːn-/ adj intentionally causing or likely to cause confrontation; PROVOCATIVE: a confrontational policy | a confrontational style of government
Con-fu-cian-ism /kən'fjuːʃənɪzəm/ n [U] a Chinese way of thought which teaches that you should be loyal to your family, friends, and rulers and treat others as you would like to be treated. Confucianism was developed from the ideas of Confucius. —Confucian adj
Con-fu-cius /kən'fjuːʃəs/ (551–479 BC) a Chinese PHILOSOPHER whose ideas encouraged justice and peace, and who taught social and moral principles which had a great influence on Chinese society and on the way that Chinese people think. People in the US and UK sometimes jokingly say 'Confucius he say' to introduce a piece of wise advice, pretending that their words were originally said by Confucius. -> see also CONFUCIANISM
con-fuse /kən'fjuːz/ v [T] 1 to cause to be mixed up in the mind; BEWILDER: Don't give me so much information – you're confusing me. | Waking up in strange surroundings confused her. | (fig.) The chess player confused the computer by making some irrational moves halfway through the game. 2 [(with)] to mix up in your mind; be unable to tell the difference between (especially similar people or things): I'm always confusing John and/with Paul – which one is John? 3 to put into disorder; make less clear, more difficult to deal with: That argument's completely irrelevant – you're confusing the issue.
con-fused /kən'fjuːzd/ adj 1 mixed up in your mind: The little girl was very confused by all the noise and activity. | He gets confused easily. 2 in disorder; not able to be separated easily: a confused babble of voices —-ly /-'fjuːzɪdli/ adv
con-fus-ing /kən'fjuːzɪŋ/ adj making you feel confused: The instructions were so confusing I couldn't understand them. | a confusing array of instruments —-ly adv
con-fu-sion /kən'fjuːʒən/ n [U] 1 the state of being mixed up or mistaken: There was some confusion as to whether we had won or lost. | To avoid confusion, the teams wore different colours. | Conflicting reports have led to widespread public confusion over the government's intentions. 2 the act of confusing; mixing up: Confusion of/between the crow and the rook is quite common. (=i.e. because they are so similar) 3 a state of great disorder: The party is in complete confusion after its election defeat. | a scene of panic and confusion
con-fute /kən'fjuːt/ v [T] fml to prove (a person or argument) to be completely wrong —-futation /ˌkɒnfjuː'teɪʃən||kɑːn-/ n [C;U]
con-ga /'kɒŋgə||'kɑːŋgə/ n (the music for) a fast Latin American dance, in which the dancers form a long winding chain (a conga line). People sometimes do the conga at informal parties, especially when they have drunk a lot of alcohol.
con-geal /kən'dʒiːl/ v [I;T] to become or cause (a liquid) to become thick or solid: The soup had congealed by the time we returned. | congealed blood
con-ge-ni-al /kən'dʒiːniəl/ adj pleasant; in agreement with your tastes and nature: congenial work/weather/companions | I find him very congenial. —-ly adv
con-gen-i-tal /kən'dʒenɪtl/ adj med (of diseases) existing at or from your birth: a congenital defect | (fig.) a congenital liar (=person who always lies) —-ly adv: congenitally deaf
con-ger eel /ˌkɒŋgər 'iːl||ˌkɑːŋ-/ also conger n a large rather fierce snakelike sea fish
con-ges-ted /kən'dʒestɪd/ adj 1 (of a street, city, narrow place etc) very full or blocked, especially because of traffic: Oxford Street is always very congested. 2 med (of a blood tube or part of the body) very full of liquid: His lungs seem to be congested, doctor. —-tion /'dʒestʃən/ n [U] traffic congestion | congestion of the lungs
con'gestion ,charge n a charge that drivers of cars travelling through the centre of London at certain times of day have to pay. It was introduced in 2003 by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, in order to reduce traffic in the city. Many people thought it would fail but it has been very successful.
con'gestion ,charging n [U] BrE a way of reducing traffic in city centres by charging drivers money to enter
con-glom-er-ate /kən'glɒmərɪt||-'glɑː-/ n 1 a large business organization consisting of different companies that produce goods of very different kinds: a multinational conglomerate 2 especially tech a mass of various materials gathered together, especially a rock consisting of small stones held together by clay
con-glom-e-ra-tion /kənˌglɒmə'reɪʃən||-ˌglɑː-/ n [(of)] fml a collection or mass of many different things gathered together: It's not really a theory, just a confused conglomeration of ideas.
Con-go, Republic of /'kɒŋgəʊ||'kɑːŋ-/ a country on the