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conflict
CULTURAL NOTE Many Christians believe that God will forgive their SINS (=the things they have done that are wrong) if they confess them (=admit them to God or to a priest). In the Roman Catholic religion, people go to a priest to confess their sins. They usually begin their confession by saying, 'Bless me, father, for I have sinned.' The priest then listens to their sins and gives them ABSOLUTION (=complete forgiveness). The priest is never allowed to tell anyone what that person has confessed, even if the person has COMMITTED a crime.
3 [U] a religious service at which people admit their faults to God 4 [C(off)] fml (especially in religion) a declaration of belief: a confession of faith 5 [C+sing/pl. v] tech a religious group (usually Christian) with its own organization and a shared system of belief
con-fes-sion-al /kən'feʃənəl/ n a place in a church (usually an enclosed place) where the priest hears people make their CONFESSION: the secrets of the confessional
con,fessional TV n [U] a type of television programme in which ordinary people talk openly about very personal problems and bad experiences that they have had. The Oprah Winfrey Show is a typical example of confessional TV.
con-fes-sor /kən'fesə/ n tech the priest to whom someone regularly makes their CONFESSION
con-fet-ti /kən'feti/ n [U] small pieces of coloured paper thrown over the BRIDE and BRIDEGROOM after a wedding, especially as they come out of a church or thrown at other occasions where people celebrate: Their friends showered them with confetti. → see Feature on page A28
con-fi-dant /'kɒnfɪdænt, ,kɒnfɪ'dænt, -'dɑːntɪl'kɑːnfɪdænt/, confidante (same pronunciation) fem.
— n a person to whom you tell your secrets or with whom you talk about personal matters
con-fide /kən'faɪd/ v [T(to)] to tell (information, personal matters etc) secretly to a person you trust: 'I don't really like my brother,' she confided. | [+that] He confided (to me) that he had spent five years in prison.
confide in sbdy. phr v [T] to talk freely to (someone), especially about personal matters, and be confident that your secrets will be kept: Alan felt he could confide in his brother.
con-fi-dence /'kɒnfɪdənsɪl'kɑːn-/ n 1 [U(in)] a calm unworried feeling or manner based on a strong belief in your abilities; SELF-ASSURANCE: She's a good student but she lacks confidence (in herself). | The company is looking forward with confidence to the next five years. 2 [U(in)] a strong belief in the ability of a person, plan etc to do what is needed effectively and successfully: We have every confidence in your ability. | The government failed to win public confidence in its plan for economic recovery. | After another poor performance, the company's management has now lost the confidence of its shareholders. | The opposition parties have tabled a motion of no confidence BrE || taken a vote of no confidence AmE in the government. (=stated that they do not trust the government's ability to do its job) → see also VOTE OF CONFIDENCE 3 [U] faith; complete trust: Little Johnny used to be very shy and withdrawn with adults, but I have won his confidence now. | I'm telling you this in confidence. (=as a secret) | She took him into her confidence and told him the whole truth. 4 [C] a secret; a personal matter told secretly to someone else: The girls exchanged confidences about their boyfriends.
'confidence-,building adj (of an action, speech etc) that increases confidence: This introduction course will be of value to anyone without prior experience of computing, serving as a confidence-building preparation prior to further training.
'confidence ,man n a CONMAN
'confidence ,trick also con infml — n a dishonest trick played on a trusting person in order to get their money
con-fi-dent /'kɒnfɪdəntɪl'kɑːn-/ adj [(of)] feeling or showing confidence: a confident smile | a confident prediction that business would improve | We are confident of success. | [F+(that)] We are confident that next year's profits will be much higher. → see also SELF-CONFIDENT —ly adv
con-fi-den-tial /,kɒnfɪ'denʃəlɪl,kɑːn-/ adj 1 spoken or written in secret and intended to be kept secret: This information is strictly confidential. | a confidential naval report on the failure of equipment | Please keep what I am about to tell you confidential. 2 trusted with private matters: a confidential secretary 3 showing full trust: a confidential voice/look —ly adv: She leaned over to me confidentially. | Confidentially, between you and me, I think he's going to resign. —ity /,kɒnfɪdenʃi'ælətɪɪl,kɑːn-/ n [U] to respect someone's confidentiality
con-fid-ing /kən'faɪdɪŋ/ adj fml trustful: her confiding nature
—ly adv
con-fig-u-ra-tion /kən,fɪgə'reɪʃən/ n 1 fml or tech the arrangement of the parts of something; shape or LAYOUT: the configuration of pistons in an engine 2 tech the combination of HARDWARE equipment needed to run a computer system
con-fine /kən'faɪn/ v [T(to)] 1 to keep within limits; RESTRICT: Please confine yourself/your remarks to the subject under discussion. | The police cadet's duties were confined to taking statements from women and children. 2 to shut or keep in a small or enclosed space: Any soldier who deserts his post will be confined to quarters. 3 [usually pass.] med to put (a woman who is about to give birth to a baby) in bed
con-fine-ment /kən'faɪnmənt/ n 1 [U(to)] the act of confining or state of being confined → see also SOLITARY CONFINEMENT 2 [C;U] tech an act of giving birth to a child: This is her third confinement.
con-fines /'kɒnfaɪnzɪl'koːn-/ n [P(of)] limits or borders: within the confines of one country | beyond the confines of human knowledge
con-firm /kən'fɜːmɪl-ɜːrm/ v [T] 1 to give support or certainty to (a fact, belief, statement etc), for example by providing more proof or by stating that something is true or correct: He said he would accept the job, so we have asked him to confirm his acceptance in writing. | The expression on her face confirmed our worst fears. | This new evidence confirms (me in) my opinion that they are lying. | The President refused to either confirm or deny this rumour. | [+that] The announcement confirmed that the election would take place on June 20th. | [+wh-] a note asking us to confirm when we would be arriving 2 to give formal approval to (a person, agreement, position etc); agree to; RATIFY: When do you think the President will confirm you in office? 3 tech to admit (a person) to full membership of the Christian church: I was confirmed when I was 12.
con-fir-ma-tion /,kɒnfə'meɪʃənl,kɑːnər-/ n [C;U] 1 [(of)] something that confirms: a letter in confirmation of a hotel reservation | confirmation of my suspicions | There has still been no official confirmation of the report. 2 tech a religious service in which a person is made a full member of the Christian church
confir'mation ,hearing n a special meeting of US SENATORS that examines someone appointed to high office by the President, and decides if they are suitable for the job
con-firmed /kən'fɜːmdɪl-ɜːr-/ adj [A] firmly settled in a particular way of life or way of thinking: a confirmed bachelor
con-fis-cate /'kɒnfɪskeɪtɪl'kɑːn-/ v [T(from)] to take (private property) away from someone especially with the official right to do so, usually as a punishment: The teacher confiscated my radio because I was playing it in the classroom.
—cation /,kɒnfɪ'skeɪʃənɪl,kɑːn-/ n [C;U] the confiscation of pornographic material by the police
con-fis-ca-to-ry /'kɒnfɪskətəri, kən'fɪskətəri ɪlkən'fɪskətɔːri/ adj fml 1 that confiscates: the confiscatory powers of customs officials 2 taking away too much: confiscatory taxes
con-fla-gra-tion /,kɒnflə'greɪʃənɪl,kɑːn-/ n fml a very large fire that destroys much property, especially buildings or forests
con-flate /kən'fleɪt/ v [T] fml to bring (parts) together to form a single whole; combine —flation /'fleɪʃən/ n [C;U]
con-flict¹ /'kɒnflɪktɪl'kɑːn-/ n [C;U(between)] 1 a state of disagreement or argument between opposing groups or opposing ideas or principles; opposition: The two parties have been in conflict since the election. | The governor's refusal to apply the law brought him into conflict with the