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conscious
of computers and other electronic equipment to connect
with other computers or programs: the demand for high-
speed connectivity
con-nec-tor /kə'nektər/ n an object which is used to join
two pieces of equipment together
Con-ne-ry, Sean
/'kɒnəri||'kɑːn-, ʃɔːn/ (1930-)
a Scottish film actor known
especially for appearing as
James BOND during the
1960s in films such as Dr No,
From Russia with Love, and
Goldfinger. His official title is
Sir Sean Connery.
Sean Connery
Con-nex /'kɒneks||'kɑː-/
trademark a French-owned
railway company which
used to operate trains in the
south and southeast of Eng-
land and in South London
until 2000
con-ne-xion /kə'nekʃən/ n
BrE CONNECTION
'conning ,tower n tech a heavily armoured raised place on a
warship or on top of a SUBMARINE (=underwater ship)
con-nip-tion /kə'nɪpʃən/ also con'nip tion ,fit n AmE infml
humor an attack of great anger or of being upset, often about
something not very important. It is usually said of another
person, not of yourself: Your mother's going to have a connip-
tion when she finds out you took her car.
con-niv-ance /kə'naɪvəns/ n [U(at, with)] the act of conniv-
ing: They could not have escaped without the connivance of
the guards.
con-nive /kə'naɪv/ v [I(with)] to work together secretly for
some wrong or illegal purpose; CONSPIRE: [+to-v] The two
students connived (with each other) to cheat in the examina-
tion.
connive at sthg. phr v [T] BrE to make no attempt to stop
(something wrong): The young policeman connived at the
man's escape because he felt sorry for him.
con-nois-seur /ˌkɒnə'sɜːr||kɑː-/ n [(of)] apprec a person who
has a good knowledge and understanding of subjects such as
art or music, and whose judgments are respected: a connois-
seur of fine wines/antique furniture | Ask Julia; she's some-
thing of a connoisseur of modern art.
Con-nol-ly, Billy /'kɒnəli||'kɑː-/ (1942-) a Scottish COMEDIAN
from Glasgow, known for having long hair and a long
pointed BEARD, and for telling rude jokes and swearing
con-no-ta-tion /ˌkɒnə'teɪʃən||ˌkɑː-/ n (any of) the feelings
or ideas that are suggested by a word, rather than the actual
meaning of the word: The word 'armchair' has connotations
of comfort and relaxation. → compare DENOTATION —tative
/'kɒnəteɪtɪv||'kɑːn-, kə'nəʊtətɪv/ adj
con-note /kə'nəʊt/ v [T] fml (of a word) to suggest (feelings
or ideas) in addition to the actual meaning: The word
'plump' connotes cheerfulness. → compare DENOTE
con-nu-bi-al /kə'njuːbiəl||-'nuː-/ adj [A] fml of marriage;
CONJUGAL: living in a state of connubial bliss
con-quer /'kɒŋkər||'kɑːŋ-/ v 1 [I;T] to take (land) by force;
win (land) by war: The Normans conquered England in 1066. |
a conquering army | a conquered city 2 [I;T] to defeat (an
enemy); be victorious over (an enemy): The Zulus conquered
all the neighbouring tribes. 3 [T] to gain control over (some-
thing unfriendly or difficult): After many attempts to climb it,
the mountain was finally conquered in 1985. | efforts to con-
quer inflation 4 [T] lit to succeed in gaining the praise and
attention of: The painter went to Paris intending to conquer
the artistic world. → see also I came, I saw, I conquered
(COME) —or n
con-quest /'kɒŋkwest||'kɑːŋ-/ n 1 [U(of)] the act of con-
quering: the Norman Conquest | the conquest of space 2 [C]
something conquered, especially land gained in war: French
conquests in Asia 3 [C] often humor a person (usually of the
opposite sex) whose admiration or love has been won: She's
one of his numerous conquests.
con-quis-ta-dor /ˌkɒŋkwɪstə'dɔːr||ˌkɑːn'kiː-/ n pl. -dores
/ˌkɒŋkwɪstə'dɔːreɪz||ˌkɑːnˈkiː-/, -dors (often cap.) any of the
Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century
Con-rad, Joseph /'kɒnræd||'kɑːn-/ (1857-1924) a British
writer who was born in Poland, and who is regarded as one
of the greatest writers of the early 20th century. His novels
are often about the sea and about COLONIALISM and the
moral problems it involves. His best-known novels include
Heart of Darkness, Lord Jim, Nostromo, and The Secret Agent.
Con-rail, ConRail /'kɒnreɪl||'kɑːn-/ trademark a system of
railways in the US for carrying FREIGHT (=goods carried by
train), which is based around the northeastern US → compare
AMTRAK
Con-ran, Sir Ter-ence /'kɒnræn, 'terəns/ (1931-) a well-
known BUSINESSMAN and designer, especially of furniture,
who started the Habitat shops
con-san-guin-i-ty /ˌkɒnsæŋ'gwɪnɪti||ˌkɑːn-/ n [U] fml rela-
tionship by birth: People are not allowed to marry within
certain degrees of consanguinity.
con-science /'kɒnʃəns||'kɑːn-/ n [C;U] 1 an inner sense
that is conscious of the moral rightness or wrongness of
your behaviour or intentions, and makes you know whether
you are doing right or wrong: Be guided by your conscience. |
I had a bad/guilty conscience about not telling her the
truth. | I haven't done anything wrong - I've got a clear
conscience. | She has no conscience (at all) about cheating.
(=does not feel at all guilty about it) | I can't advise you what
to do - it's a matter of conscience. (=of your own moral
judgment) | The dog's sad look at the front door pricked her
conscience (=made her feel guilty) and she took him out for a
walk. | a prisoner of conscience (=someone who is in
prison for especially political or religious beliefs) 2 always
let your conscience be your guide a phrase known espe-
cially from a cheerful song in the Disney CARTOON film
Pinnochio 3 in all conscience fml being fair and reasonable:
I couldn't in all conscience shut him out on such a wet
night. 4 on one's conscience making you feel guilty: It's
on my conscience that I didn't pay you for the tickets last week.
→ see CONSCIOUS (USAGE)
'conscience ,clause n law a part of a law that says that the
law need not be obeyed by people whose consciences will
not allow them to obey it
'conscience ,money n [U] money paid, usually secretly,
because of something bad you have done in order to satisfy
your guilty conscience
'conscience-stricken also 'conscience-smitten adj
very sorry for having done something wrong
con-sci-en-tious /ˌkɒnʃi'enʃəs||ˌkɑːn-/ adj showing great
care, attention, or seriousness of purpose: a conscientious
worker | a conscientious piece of work → see CONSCIOUS
(USAGE) —ly adv —ness n [U]
,conscientious ob'jector n a person who refuses to serve
in the armed forces because of moral or religious beliefs →
see also DRAFT DODGER, VIETNAM WAR —conscientious
objection n [U]
CULTURAL NOTE During wars when men had a legal duty
to fight in the armed forces, conscientious objectors in the
US and UK were usually asked to prove that they
belonged to a religious or PACIFIST group. During World
War I and World War II, many were put into prison
because they could not prove this.
con-scious /'kɒnʃəs||'kɑːn-/ adj 1 [F] having all your senses
working and able to understand what is happening; not in a
sleeplike state: He is badly hurt but still conscious. | She was
barely conscious. 2 [F(of)] knowing, understanding, or recog-
nizing something; AWARE: We suddenly became conscious of a
sharp increase in the temperature. | He wasn't conscious of
having offended her. | [+that] I was conscious that he was ill at
ease, despite his efforts at conversation. 3 [A] intentional: a
conscious decision/effort 4 (in comb.) thinking about or very
concerned with the stated thing: a bargain-conscious
shopper | money-conscious | media-conscious politicians → see
also SELF-CONSCIOUS —ly adv
The opposite of conscious is unconscious: He's
still unconscious | He's not conscious yet after the
accident. | I was conscious/unconscious of her
presence. In PSYCHOLOGY, conscious is compared with