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con·sole² /'kɒnsəʊl||'kɑːn-/ n a flat surface containing the controls for a machine, piece of electrical equipment, ORGAN etc: a computer console
con·sol·i·date /kən'sɒlɪdeɪt||-'sɑː-/ v [I;T] 1 to (cause to) become stronger and firmer: We've made a good start; now it's time to consolidate. (=make sure we keep our good position) | His successful negotiations with the Americans helped him to consolidate his position in the government. | The company has consolidated its hold on the market. 2 [(into)] to (cause to) combine into fewer or one; MERGE: Several local businesses have recently consolidated to form a single large company. | a consolidated school district —dation /kənˌsɒlɪ'deɪʃən||-ˌsɑː-/ n [C;U] the consolidation of the three firms
con,solidated 'fund n [the S] tech (in Britain) money collected from taxation in order to pay the interest on the national debt
con·som·mé /kən'sɒmeɪ, 'kɒnsəmeɪ||ˌkɑːnsə'meɪ/ n [U] clear soup made from meat and/or vegetables
con·so·nant¹ /'kɒnsənənt||'kɑːn-/ n 1 any of the speech sounds made by partly or completely stopping the flow of air as it goes through the mouth 2 a letter representing a consonant sound; any of the letters of the English alphabet except a, e, i, o, u
consonant² adj 1 [(with, to)] fml in agreement; CONSISTENT: This policy is scarcely consonant with the government's declared aims. 2 tech having musical consonance
con·sort¹ /'kɒnsɔːt||'kɑːnsɔːrt/ n a wife or husband, especially of a ruler ➔ see also PRINCE CONSORT, QUEEN CONSORT
consort² n fml 1 a group of musicians who perform music of former times, or the group of old-fashioned instruments they use: a consort of viols 2 in consort (with) together (with): He ruled in consort with his father.
con·sort³ /kən'sɔːt||-ɔːrt/ v
consort together phr v [I] often derog to consort with each other: Thieves often consort together.
consort with sbdy. phr v [T] often derog to spend time in the company of (especially bad people): to consort with criminals
con·sor·ti·um /kən'sɔːtɪəm||-ɔːr-/ n pl. -tiums or -tia /tɪə/ a combination of several companies, banks etc for a common purpose: The new aircraft was developed by a European consortium.
con·spic·u·ous /kən'spɪkjuəs/ adj [(for)] noticeable; attracting attention; easily seen: a conspicuous high-rise office block | He was conspicuous for his bravery. | You were conspicuous by your absence yesterday. (=people noticed you were not present) ➔ opposite INCONSPICUOUS —ly adv —ness n [U]
con,spicuous con'sumption n [U] wasteful spending intended to attract attention and show your wealth and high social position, especially done by people who have recently become wealthy and want other people to know it
con·spi·ra·cy /kən'spɪrəsi/ n [C;U] a secret plan by two or more people to do something against the law: a fraud conspiracy | [+to-v] a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the country | The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder. ➔ see also CONSPIRATOR
con,spiracy of 'silence n [S] a secret agreement to keep silent about something bad, especially for selfish reasons
con'spiracy ,theory n an explanation of an event based on the belief that it was caused by a group of powerful people acting and planning it in secret: the conspiracy theory explanation of President Kennedy's assassination
con·spi·ra·tor /kən'spɪrətə/ n a person who takes part in a conspiracy
con·spi·ra·to·ri·al /kənˌspɪrə'tɔːriəl/ adj of or suggesting a conspiracy or a conspirator: a conspiratorial gathering | a conspiratorial glance/wink —ly adv
con·spire /kən'spaɪə/ v [I+to-v] 1 [(with, TOGETHER)] to plan (something bad) together secretly; take part in a conspiracy: The criminals conspired (together/with each other) to rob a bank. 2 (of events) to combine or work together, especially with bad results: Events conspired to produce great difficulties for the government.
con·sta·ble /'kʌnstəbəl||'kɑːn-/ n BrE 1 a British police officer of the lowest rank: Send Constable Timms. | Please could you help me, Constable? ➔ see also PATROLMAN, P.C., WPC, OFFICER 2 tech the governor of a royal castle 3 tech (in former times) an important official in a royal or noble HOUSEHOLD
Constable, John (1776–1837) a British painter known for his paintings and drawings of the SUFFOLK countryside, especially The Haywain, which is one of the most famous British paintings
con·stab·u·la·ry /kən'stæbjʊləri||-leri/ n [C+sing./pl. v] especially BrE the police force of a particular area or country –see also PATROL
con·stan·cy /'kɒnstənsi||'kɑːn-/ n [U] fml 1 freedom from change: constancy of purpose/of temperature 2 faithfulness; loyalty: constancy between husband and wife
con·stant¹ /'kɒnstənt||'kɑːn-/ adj 1 fixed or unchanging; INVARIABLE: He drove at a constant speed. | A thermostat keeps the temperature constant. 2 continually happening or repeated; regular: constant arguments | The machinery requires constant maintenance. | under constant attack in the newspapers 3 lit loyal; faithful: a constant friend —ly adv
constant² n tech something, especially a number or quantity, that never varies ➔ compare VARIABLE
Con·stan·tine the Great /ˌkɒnstəntaɪn ðə 'greɪt||ˌkɑːn-/ also Constantine I /-ðə 'fɜːrst||-'fɜːrst/ (?274–337 AD) the first Christian ruler of the ROMAN EMPIRE. In 330 AD he made BYZANTIUM the capital city of the empire instead of Rome and changed the name of the new capital to Constantinople. ➔ see also BYZANTINE
Con·stan·ti·no·ple /ˌkɒnstæntɪ'nəpəl||ˌkɑːn-/ the city on the Bosphorus which was the capital of the BYZANTINE Empire for seven centuries from 330 AD, when it was established by Constantine the Great on the place where Byzantium had formerly stood. Later it was the capital of Turkey. It is now called Istanbul.
con·stel·la·tion /ˌkɒnstə'leɪʃən||ˌkɑːn-/ n 1 a number of stars seen from the Earth as a group and often having a name (for example the Great Bear) 2 [(of)] lit a group or gathering, especially an admired one
con·ster·na·tion /ˌkɒnstə'neɪʃən||ˌkɑːnstər-/ n [U] fml great shock and worry or fear; DISMAY: He was filled with consternation to hear that his friend was so ill. | To his consternation, he realized that he had left his chequebook at home. | She found, to her utter/total consternation, that she was pregnant.
con·sti·pa·tion /ˌkɒnstɪ'peɪʃən||ˌkɑːn-/ n [U] the condition of being unable to empty the bowels frequently enough and/or effectively: 'I've got terrible constipation, Mum.' 'Take a laxative.' —ted /'kɒnstɪpeɪtɪd||'kɑːn-/ adj: You'll get constipated if you never eat fruit.
con·sti·tu·en·cy /kən'stɪtjuənsi/ n 1 any of the areas of a country that elect a representative to a parliament: I must protest at the siting of the new missile base in my constituency. | Our MP doesn't even live in this constituency. 2 [+sing./pl. v] the voters living in such an area: The constituency is/are voting tomorrow. ➔ compare WARD 3 any group that supports or is likely to support a politician or party: Big business is his most important constituency. ➔ see Feature on page A20
con·sti·tu·ent¹ /kən'stɪtʃuənt/ n 1 a voter; member of a constituency: The minister's constituents feel that he does not spend enough time dealing with their problems. 2 any of the parts that make up a whole: the constituents of gunpowder/cement ➔ compare COMPONENT
constituent² adj [A] being one of the parts that make a whole: the constituent parts of an atom | the EU and its constituent members
con,stituent as'sembly BrE || constitutional convention AmE — n (often caps.) a body of representatives elected to establish or change the constitution of a country
con·sti·tute /'kɒnstɪtjuːt||'kɑːnsttuːt/ v fml 1 [L not in progressive forms] to form or make up; be: the 50 states that constitute the USA | Your attitude constitutes a direct challenge to my authority. ➔ see COMPRISE (USAGE) 2 [T] to formally establish or appoint: Governments should be constituted by the will of the people.