consulate
ancient Roman republic, each elected for one year — -ar /'kɒnsjʊlə || 'kɑːnsələ(r)/ adj: the consular office/section of the embassy — -ship n [C;U]
**con·su·late** /'kɒnsjʊlət || 'kɑːnsələt/ n **1** the official building in which a CONSUL lives or works **2** the rank or period of office of a consul
**con·sult** /kən'sʌlt/ v [T] to go to (a book, a person with special knowledge etc) for information, advice etc: to consult a dictionary | Have you consulted a doctor about your rash? | Why was I not consulted before you made the decision? | to consult a lawyer
**consult with sbdy.** phr v [T pass. rare] to exchange opinions, information etc with: Before we can accept the management's offer we must consult with the workers again.
**con·sul·tant** /kən'sʌltənt/ n **1** [(to)] a person who gives specialist professional advice to others: a consultant to a software firm | an industrial relations consultant | a firm of consultants **2** especially BrE || specialist AmE a high ranking hospital doctor who gives specialist advice. Usually a person goes to an ordinary doctor first, and is then sent to a consultant. — -tancy n: He was appointed to a lucrative consultancy.
**con·sul·ta·tion** /ˌkɒnsəl'teɪʃən || ˌkɑːn-/ n **1** [C(on, about) often pl.] a meeting held to exchange opinions and ideas, especially so that a decision can be made: We held a hurried consultation on the stairs outside her room. | After consultations with his military advisers, the President decided to declare war. **2** [U(with)] the act or process of consulting: Implementation of the proposed changes would require consultation with teachers and parents. | We made the decision in consultation with the union members.
**con·sul·ta·tive** /kən'sʌltətɪv/ adj that can give advice or make suggestions; ADVISORY: a consultative committee
**con·sult·ing** /kən'sʌltɪŋ/ adj [A] **1** providing specialist or professional advice: a consulting lawyer **2** of or for consultation or a consultant: a doctor's consulting room
**con·su·ma·bles** /kən'sjuːməbəlz || -'suː-/ n [P] goods or products that are bought to be used and then replaced
**con·sume** /kən'sjuːm || -'suːm/ v [T] fml **1** to eat or drink, especially eagerly or in large amounts **2** to use up (time, money, goods etc): Arguing about details consumed many hours of the committee's valuable time. | a time-consuming process | Furnaces consume fuel. | a growing gap between what the country produces and what it consumes → see also CONSUMPTION **3** (of a fire) to destroy: The fire soon consumed the wooden buildings. **4** [often pass.] to fill the thoughts or feelings of continuously, especially in a damaging way: She was consumed with guilt/jealousy. → see also CONSUMING
**con·sum·er** /kən'sjuːmə || -'suː-/ n a person who buys and uses goods and services: The price increases were passed on by the firm to the consumers. | a consumer advice and protection centre | consumer surveys
**con,sumer 'durables** BrE || **durable goods** AmE — n [P] large articles that are only bought infrequently, such as cars, beds, or televisions (as opposed to something bought regularly, such as food or clothes)
**con'sumer ,goods** n [P] goods such as food, clothing, and equipment used in the home → compare CAPITAL GOODS
**con'sumer ,group** n an organization that makes sure that CONSUMERS are treated fairly and that products are safe
**con·sum·er·ism** /kən'sjuːmərizəm || -'suː-/ n [U] **1** the idea or belief that buying as many goods as possible is desirable for a person or society **2** support for the interests of consumers, for example in making sure that prices are not too high, that the quality of goods is satisfactory etc
**con,sumer 'price ,index** n AmE a list of figures available from the government each month that show what ordinary people must pay for various goods and services, and how much these prices have gone up or down in relation to previous figures → compare RETAIL PRICE INDEX
**con,sumer pro'tection** n [U] actions by government, business, and private groups to protect people who buy things from being physically hurt, cheated, or treated unfairly in any way
**Con,sumer Re'ports** trademark a US magazine which tests and reports on the quality of particular products in order to help people to decide which one to buy. It accepts no advertising and the information it provides is highly respected. There is a similar magazine in the UK called WHICH?
**con,sumer re'search** n [U] the study of what people who buy goods and services want, like, and buy, in order to test the market for a new product. This is often done by someone questioning people in shops, or visiting them at home: After extensive consumer research the new product was launched.
**Con'sumers' Associ,ation, the** a British organization to help CONSUMERS. It tests the quality of products and services, and suggests the best ones to buy and use in its own magazine, called WHICH? It also fights for the rights of consumers in the UK.
**con'sumer so,ciety** n a society in which the production of consumer goods and the satisfaction of human wants are seen to be very important: We live in a consumer society.
**con,sumer 'terrorism** n [U] the deliberate spoiling of food or other products on sale to the public, in order either to obtain money from the company which sells the product or to protest against something the company is doing. An example of this in 1989 involved objects, such as broken glass and pins, being put into baby food in Britain in order to BLACKMAIL the food company: The government said it would not give way to consumer terrorism. | a campaign of consumer terrorism — -ist n
**con·sum·ing** /kən'sjuːmɪŋ || -'suː-/ adj [A] (of feelings etc) very strong and having a controlling influence: It was her consuming ambition to become an architect. | a consuming interest/passion
**con·sum·mate¹** /'kɒnsəmət/ adj [A no comp.] fml **1** perfect; complete: He won the race with consummate ease. | consummate happiness/skill **2** highly skilled: a consummate liar/politician — -ly adv
**con·sum·mate²** /'kɒnsəmeɪt || 'kɑːn-/ v [T] fml **1** to make (a marriage) complete by having sex
> **CULTURAL NOTE** In English and American law a marriage is legal after the wedding, but it is not considered complete until sex has taken place, and it can be declared NULL AND VOID if one partner cannot or will not consummate the marriage in this way.
**2** to finish or PERFECT; complete: His happiness was consummated when she agreed to spend the day with him. | to consummate a business deal
**con·sum·ma·tion** /ˌkɒnsə'meɪʃən || ˌkɑːn-/ n **1** [C(of) usually sing.] the point at which something is made complete or perfect: the consummation of ten years' work **2** [U] the act of consummating a marriage
**con·sump·tion** /kən'sʌmpʃən/ n **1** [S;U(of)] the act of consuming or an amount consumed (CONSUME): Consumption of oil has declined in recent years. | The food was declared unfit for human consumption. | The car's fuel consumption is very high. | There's too great a consumption of alcohol in Britain. → see also CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION **2** [U] old use TUBERCULOSIS of the lungs (=a serious disease): She died from/of consumption.
**con·sump·tive** /kən'sʌmptɪv/ n, adj old use (a person) suffering from TUBERCULOSIS of the lungs
**cont.** written abbrev. for **1** containing **2** contents **3** CONTINUENT **4** continued
**con·tact¹** /'kɒntækt || 'kɑːn-/ n **1** [U(with)] the act or state of touching or coming together: His drill came into contact with an electric cable, and he was nearly electrocuted. | Have the children been in contact with the disease? | They avoided eye contact (=avoided looking directly at each other) all evening. **2** [U(with)] the state of having a connection or exchanging information or ideas with someone else; COMMUNICATION: Until recently, this remote tribe had little contact with the outside world. | Have you been in contact with your solicitor recently? | We made contact with the ship by radio. | Are you in radio contact with the climbers? | I've lost contact with George in the last few months. (=I have not seen him, telephoned him, had a letter from him etc) | Have you got a contact number/address for his parents? **3** [C] infml a social,