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consul
con-sti-tu-tion /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuʃənllˌkɑːnstɪˈtuː-/ n 1 [C]
(often cap.) the system of laws and principles according to
which a country or an organization is governed: a proposal
to amend (=change) the club's constitution
CULTURAL NOTE Although the constitution of most
countries is written down, the British constitution is not ➔
see also CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
2 [C] the general condition of a person's body or mind: an
old man with a weak constitution 3 [C(of)] fml the way in
which something is put together: objections to the constitu-
tion of the committee 4 [U(of)] the act of establishing, mak-
ing, or setting up
con-sti-tu-tion-al¹ ... /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənəl llˌkɑːnstɪˈtuː-/
adj 1 allowed or limited by a political constitution: There are
severe constitutional constraints on the power of the British
monarchy. | a constitutional government | constitutional
rights | The government can't refuse to hold a by-election - it's
not constitutional. ➔ opposite UNCONSTITUTIONAL; —see
also CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY 2 of a political constitu-
tion: a constitutional crisis 3 of a person's constitution: a
constitutional weakness of the chest ➔ see also CONSTITU-
TIONALLY
constitutional² n old-fash a walk taken to keep yourself
healthy
constitutional con'vention n AmE a body of representa-
tives elected to establish or change the constitution of a
country
Constitutional Convention, the the meeting of repre-
sentatives in 1787 in Philadelphia that led to the writing of
the Constitution of the United States of America
con-sti-tu-tion-al-is-m
/ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənəlɪzəmlˌkɑnstɪˈtu-/ n [U] the belief that a
government should be based on established laws and princi-
ples —ist n
con-sti-tu-tion-al-i-ty /ˌkɒnstɪtjuːʃəˈnælti llˌkɑnstɪˈtu-/
n [U] the quality of being in agreement with a CONSTITUTION:
The senator questioned the constitutionality of the proposed
law.
con-sti-tu-tion-al-ly /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənəli llˌkɑːnstɪˈtuː-/
adv 1 in accordance with a political constitution: The gov-
ernment must always act constitutionally. 2 in accordance
with a person's constitution: Margaret is constitutionally
incapable of modifying her opinions.
constitutional 'monarchy n a state ruled by a king or
queen, in which the powers of the ruler are restricted to those
allowed by the CONSTITUTION and laws of the country ➔
compare ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
Constitution of the United States, the also The
Constitution the highest law of the government of the US,
often unofficially called The Constitution. The Constitution
was first written at the Constitutional Convention of 1787,
and it officially came into use in 1789. It consists of seven
ARTICLES and 27 AMENDMENTS (=additions and changes to
the original).
CULTURAL NOTE The Constitution The Constitution of the
United States describes how the US government should
be formed and what rights citizens and states should
have, such as the right to vote and the right to carry
weapons. US citizens believe that the Constitution is very
important, because it protects their political freedoms. The
first ten AMENDMENTS (=additions) to the Constitution
were added in 1791, and these are known as the Bill of
Rights. The Preamble Most Americans recognize the
PREAMBLE (=beginning statement) of the Constitution,
which reads: 'We the people of the United States, in order
to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United States of
America.' The Constitution and the law In the US, all
local and national laws must agree with the Constitution. If
someone thinks a law is UNCONSTITUTIONAL (=against the
rules and principles stated in the Constitution), they can
ask a court of law to decide whether it agrees with the
Constitution or not. If the court decides a law is
unconstitutional, that law can no longer be used. The US
Supreme Court examines cases where a law or legal
decision may be against the principles of the Constitution,
in order to decide if it is unconstitutional, and the decision
of the Supreme Court is final and cannot be changed.
con-strain /kənˈstreɪn/ v [T] fml to hold back, or force into
an unwanted action, by limiting your freedom to act or
choose: Our research has been constrained by lack of cash. |
[+obj+to-v] I felt constrained to do what he told me.
con-strained /kənˈstreɪnd/ adj awkward; unnatural: a con-
strained manner/smile —ly /-ɪdli/ adv
con-straint /kənˈstreɪnt/ n fml 1 [C(on)] something that
limits one's freedom of action; RESTRICTION: legal/financial
constraints on the company's activities | (tech) constraints on
the rules of grammar 2 [U] a forced or unnatural manner,
hiding your natural feelings and behaviour: The children
showed unusual constraint in the presence of the new
teacher. 3 [U] the threat or use of force as a strong influence
on your actions; COMPULSION: We obeyed, but under con-
straint.
con-strict /kənˈstrɪkt/ v [T] fml to make narrower, smaller, or
tighter: The tight collar constricted his neck/his breathing. ➔
compare RESTRICT —ion /'strɪkʃən/ n [C;U] (a) constriction
of the blood vessels —ive /'strɪktɪv/ adj
con-stric-tor /kənˈstrɪktər/ n tech 1 a muscle that reduces
or increases the size of an organ in the body 2 a snake, such
as a BOA, that kills animals by winding itself round them and
crushing them
con-struct¹ /kənˈstrʌkt/ v [T] 1 [(from, of, out of)] to build;
make by putting together or combining parts: to construct a
bridge/a sentence/an argument 2 tech to draw (a GEOMETRIC
figure) using suitable instruments: Construct a square on this
line. —or n
con-struct² /'kɒnstrʌkt ll'kɑːn-/ n tech an idea formed in the
mind by combining pieces of information; CONCEPT: theoreti-
cal constructs
con-struc-tion /kənˈstrʌkʃən/ n 1 [U] the work of build-
ing; building industry: He works in construction/in the con-
struction industry. | construction workers 2 [U] the act or
process of constructing: There are two new hotels under
construction. (=being built) | a lucrative contract for the
construction of four new power stations. | A chair is an object
of simple construction. 3 [C] something constructed, espe-
cially a building: a peculiarly shaped construction 4 [C] tech
the arrangement and relationship of words in a phrase or
sentence: A learner's dictionary should give both the mean-
ings of words and examples of the constructions in which they
are used. 5 [C] a meaning or explanation given to a state-
ment, action etc; INTERPRETATION: Please don't put the
wrong construction on his odd behaviour. —al adj
con-struc-tive /kənˈstrʌktɪv/ adj (especially of a statement
or remark) useful; helping to improve or develop something:
a very constructive attitude/suggestion | constructive criticism
(=telling you how to improve) ➔ compare DESTRUCTIVE
—ly adv —ness n [U]
constructive dis'missal n [C,U] BrE action taken by an
employer, for example changing a person's job or working
conditions, that is done to make someone want to leave
their job
con-strue /kənˈstruː/ v [T] 1 [+obj+adv/prep] fml to place a
particular meaning on (a statement, action etc); understand
or explain in a particular way: They construed her silence as
meaning that she agreed. | I think my remarks have been
wrongly construed. ➔ see also MISCONSTRUE 2 tech to
explain the relationship of words in (a sentence), especially
when translating Latin or Greek
con-sub-stan-ti-a-tion /ˌkɒnsəbstænˈʃieɪʃən llˌkɑːn-/ n
[U] tech the belief that the body and blood of Christ are
present together with the bread and wine offered by the priest
during COMMUNION (=a Christian religious service) ➔ com-
pare TRANSUBSTANTIATION
con-sul /'kɒnsəl ll'kɑːn-/ n 1 a person appointed by a gov-
ernment to protect and help its citizens and its interests in
trade in a foreign city ➔ compare AMBASSADOR, HIGH COM-
MISSIONER 2 either of the two chief public officials of the