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commode
often derog to make (something) too commercial, especially to
treat with regard to, rather than of religion, art etc: Do you
agree that Christmas is too commercialized these days?
—ization /kəˌmɜːʃələˈzeɪʃən||kəˌmɜːrʃəˈlaɪz-/ n [U]
comˌmercial paper n [U] AmE tech documents that record
debts which must be paid after a short time. They are bought
and sold, usually between companies, at a DISCOUNT of their
full value, as a way of getting money immediately: They
raised $50,000 yesterday selling commercial paper.
comˌcommercial ˈradio n [U] (in Britain) local radio stations
whose money comes from advertising and which are control-
led by the IBA (=Independent Broadcasting Authority) → see
also COMMERCIAL TELEVISION, IBA
comˌmercial subjects n old-fash for BUSINESS STUDIES
comˌmercial ˈtelevision n [U] (in Britain) independent
television companies whose money comes from advertising
→ see also COMMERCIAL RADIO, IBA
comˌmercial traveller n BrE old-fash for SALES REPRESENTA-
TIVE
comˌmie, Commie /ˈkɒmi‖ˈkɑ-/ n derog slang, especially AmE
for COMMUNIST
comˌmin·gle /kəˈmɪŋɡəl/ v 1 [I,T] formal to mix together, or
to make different things do this: Many towns allow recycla-
ble items to be commingled for collection in a single con-
tainer. 2 [T] AmE tech if a legal or financial organization
commingles money, it illegally mixes its own money with
money that belongs to its customers or to another part of
the business: He commingled his own assets with his client's
estate.
comˌmis·e·rate /kəˈmɪzəreɪt/ v
commiserate with sbdy. phr v [T(on, over)] to feel or express
sympathy for (a person), especially over something not very
serious: I commiserated with my friend after he failed his
driving test.
comˌmis·e·ra·tion /kəˌmɪzəˈreɪʃən/ n [C;U(on)] usually pl. (an
expression of) sympathy for the (especially not very serious)
misfortune of another person: Please give her my commissera-
tions on failing her exam. → compare CONDOLENCE
comˌmis·sar /ˌkɒmɪˈsɑː‖kɑː-/ n (in the Soviet Union) 1 the
official title of a government minister until 1946 2 an
official responsible for political education, especially in the
armed forces
comˌmis·sar·i·at /ˌkɒmɪˈseəriət‖ˌkɑː-/ n tech [C+sing./pl. v;U]
(a department dealing with) the supply of provisions to an
army
comˌmis·sa·ry /ˈkɒmɪsəri‖kɑːmɪseri/ n 1 an officer with
duties in the commissariat 2 especially AmE a place where
soldiers or people employed by a firm, especially a film
company, can buy and eat food
com·mis·sion¹ /kəˈmɪʃən/ n 1 [C;U(on)] (an amount of)
money, usually related to the value of goods sold, paid to
the person who sold them: He gets a 10% commission on
everything he sells. | There is a salary of £10,000, plus the
opportunity to earn commission. | You have to pay a 25p
commission on each cheque you cash. 2 [C] a special job,
duty, or power, given to a person or group of people: Does
that artist take/accept commissions? | [+to-v] The commission
to build the new theatre was given to a well-known archi-
tect. 3 [C+sing./pl. v] (often cap.) a group of people specially
appointed at a high level to do certain work, especially to
find out facts and write a report: The government has set up a
commission to suggest improvements in the educational
system. | The commission has/have recommended the aboli-
tion of the examination. | a Royal Commission on gam-
bling 4 [C] (an official paper appointing someone to) any of
several high ranks in the armed forces: He's got his commis-
sion and is now a lieutenant. 5 [U(of)] fml or law the act of
committing (COMMIT) a crime: the commission of murder by a
person or persons unknown 6 in/out of commission (of a
ship, machine etc) ready/not ready for active use → see also
HIGH COMMISSION
commission² v [T] 1 to give a COMMISSION (2,4) to:
[+obj+to-v] He has been commissioned to paint a picture of the
queen. 2 to place a special order for, or appoint someone to
do (something): The king commissioned a portrait of the
queen. | This inquiry was commissioned by the previous gov-
ernment.
Commission, the an informal name for the EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
com·mis·sion·aire /kəˌmɪʃəˈneə/ n especially BrE a uni-
formed attendant at the entrance to a cinema, theatre, hotel
etc
comˌcommissioned ˈofficer adj a middle-ranking or high-
ranking officer in the armed forces → compare NCO
com·mis·sion·er /kəˈmɪʃənə/ n [(often cap.)] 1 an official
in charge of a particular government department in some
countries: Commissioner Addo is responsible for educa-
tion. 2 one of the 30 senior officials of the EUROPEAN COM-
MISSION: Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External
Affairs 3 a member of a COMMISSION (3): The Commission-
ers of Inland Revenue control British national taxes. 4 the
head of the police department in some places in the US:
Report directly to the Commissioner. 5 the person officially in
charge of a sports organization in the US → see also
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS, HIGH COMMISSIONER
comˌmissioner for ˈoaths n especially BrE a lawyer who has
the legal power to witness an OATH made by someone who is
making a formal legal statement
Comˌmission for ˌRacial Eˈquality, the abbrev. CRE a
British government organization established in 1976 to
make sure that people of all races are treated fairly and
equally by employers, schools etc
com·mit /kəˈmɪt/ v -tt- [T] 1 to do (something wrong or
illegal): to commit a crime/a sin/suicide/murder 2 [(to)] to
promise (especially yourself, your property etc) to a certain
cause, position, opinion, or course of action: The govern-
ment has committed itself to improving health education/has
committed considerable resources to improving the rail
system. | The director has been asked to state the company's
position, but so far he has refused/declined to commit himself
(on this issue). → see also COMMITTED 3 [(to)] to order
(someone) to be put somewhere, especially in prison or in a
MENTAL HOSPITAL: He was found guilty and committed (to
prison). 4 [(to)] fml to put into a particular place or state, for
example in order to be kept for future use or to be got rid of:
The body was committed to the flames. (=was burnt) | to
commit something to memory (=to memorize it) | She commit-
ted the facts to writing/to paper. (=wrote them down)
com·mit·ment /kəˈmɪtmənt/ n 1 [C;U(to)] a responsibility
or promise to follow certain beliefs or a certain course of
action: As members of the alliance, we must honour our
defence commitments. | Look round our shop without commit-
ment to buy anything. | I'm afraid I can't come, owing to
other/prior commitments. | I don't want to get married
because I don't want any commitments. | The general has
repeated/stressed his commitment to holding elections as soon
as possible. 2 [U(to)] the state of being committed; deeply-
felt loyalty to a particular aim, belief etc: The company's
success this year would not have been possible without the
commitment and dedication of the staff. | a deep commitment
to feminist principles
com·mit·tal /kəˈmɪtl/ n [C;U(to)] (an example of) the act of
sending a person to prison or to a MENTAL HOSPITAL
com·mit·ted /kəˈmɪtɪd/ adj [(to)] 1 giving your whole loy-
alty to a particular aim, job, or way of life: a committed
nurse/Christian/teacher | She's very committed to her job/to
helping people who are homeless. 2 [F] having made a firm
promise or statement of intention: The government is firmly
committed to (maintaining) its nuclear energy programme,
and is very unlikely to change its policy.
com·mit·tee /kəˈmɪti/ n [C+sing./pl. v] a group of people
chosen, especially by and from a larger group, to do a
particular job or for special duties: He's on the committee that
controls council spending/on the finance committee. | to hold/
attend a committee meeting | They've set up a committee to
examine the question of park facilities. → see also SELECT
COMMITTEE
com·mit·tee·man /kəˈmɪtimən/, -wom·an /ˌwʊmən/
fem. — n pl. -men /men/ a member of a committee
comˌmittee ˈstage n law (in either house of the British
Parliament) the stage between the second and third consid-
eration (READING) of a suggested law (BILL), when it is closely
examined by a small committee
com·mode /kəˈməʊd/ n 1 a piece of bedroom furniture like