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# PRIVATIZATION
(=selling state-owned services such as electricity, gas, and the telephone service, so that they became private companies) and made new laws that limited the rights of workers and their TRADE UNIONS. It was heavily defeated by the Labour Party in the 1997 election.**con·ser·va·toire** /kən'sɜːvətwɑːr||-ɜːr-/ *BrE* || **conservatory** *AmE* — *n* a school where people are trained in music or acting
**con·ser·va·to·ry** /kən'sɜːvətərі||-sɜːrvətcːri/ *n* **1** a glass-enclosed area, sometimes forming part of a house, where plants are grown. People also build conservatories to add more space to their houses, and to make a pleasant place to sit in the sun. **2** *AmE* for CONSERVATOIRE**con·serve¹** /kən'sɜːv/ *v [T]* to keep from being wasted, damaged, lost, or destroyed; preserve: *Conserve your energy – you'll need it!* | *We must conserve our forests and woodlands for future generations.* | *ways of conserving electricity***con·serve²** /'kɒnsɜːv||'kɑːnsɜːrv/ *n [C often pl; U]* *fml* fruit preserved by cooking in sugar; JAM
**con·sid·er** /kən'sɪdə/ *v* **1** *[I;T]* to think about, especially in order to make a decision; examine: *He paused to consider the situation.* | *Your suggestions will be carefully considered.* | *[+v-ing] I'm considering changing my job. (=I may change it)* | *[+wh-] We've decided to move but are still considering where to go.* **2** *[T]* to take into account: *Before you decide to leave your job, consider the effect it will have on your family.* | *[+that] If you consider that she's only been studying English for six months, she speaks it very well.* | *Have you considered how difficult it is for the new students?* → see also CONSIDERING **3** *[T + obj + n/adj]* to think of in the stated way; regard as: *I consider it a great honour / I consider myself greatly honoured to be invited to join the committee.* | *Do you consider her suitable for the job?* | *A further increase in interest rates is now considered unlikely.* **4 Consider it done.** (a phrase used to tell someone who asks you to do something for them that you will be happy to help them): *‘Could you possibly type this out for me?’ ‘Consider it done!’* **5 be considering one's position** *euph* to be thinking about whether you should RESIGN from your job**con·sid·e·ra·ble** /kən'sɪdərəbəl/ *adj* fairly large or great; of an amount or degree that must be taken seriously: *A considerable number of people object to the government's attitude to immigration.* | *She has considerable influence with the President.* | *at considerable expense* → compare INCONSIDERABLE**con·sid·e·ra·bly** /kən'sɪdərəbli/ *adv* much; a great deal: *It's considerably colder today than it was yesterday.*
**con·sid·er·ate** /kən'sɪdərət/ *adj* [(towards, to)] *apprec* thoughtful of the wishes, needs, or feelings of others: *Your children are always very considerate towards old people.* | *It was very considerate of you to let us know you were going to be late.* → opposite INCONSIDERATE **~ly** *adv* **~ness** *n [U]* *I appreciate your considerateness in telling me about it.***con·sid·e·ra·tion** /kən,sɪdə'reɪʃən/ *n* **1** *[U(for)]* thoughtful attention to or care for the wishes, needs, or feelings of others: *John never showed any consideration for his mother's feelings.* | *The name of the murdered woman has not been released, out of consideration for her parents.* **2** *[U(for, to)]* careful thought; thoughtful attention: *We shall give your request our fullest consideration.* | *After due/long consideration, I have decided to recommend him for the post.* | *She is one of three actresses under consideration for the part.* **3** *[C]* a fact to be considered when making a decision: *Time is an important consideration.* | *Political rather than economic considerations influenced the location of the new factory.* **4** *[C usually sing.] fml* a payment for a service; reward: *For a small consideration, my friend will help you move your belongings to your new house.* **5 in consideration of** *fml* in return for; because of: *a small payment in consideration of their services* **6 on no consideration** *fml* never; whatever happens: *On no consideration must you leave the patient unattended.* **7 take something into consideration** to remember something when making a judgment or decision: *Your teachers will take your recent illness into consideration when they mark your exams.* | *Taking everything into consideration, the result is better than I expected.*# console
**con·sid·ered** /kən'sɪdəd||-ərd/ *adj* **1** *[A]* reached after careful thought: *‘What do you think of this painting?’ ‘It's complete rubbish.’ ‘Oh, I see. That's your considered opinion is it?’* **2** *[after adv] fml* thought of in the stated usually good way: *Her paintings are well considered abroad.* | *a very highly considered General* **3 all things considered** when you consider everything that might have produced a different result: *The ground was muddy, and she hadn't run for a month, so her speed was really quite good, all things considered.***con·sid·er·ing¹** /kən'sɪdərɪŋ/ *prep, conj* if you take into account the rather surprising fact (of): *Considering the strength of the opposition, we did very well to score two goals.* | *[+that/wh-] He did very well in his exams considering that he had studied so little/considering how little he had studied.***considering²** *adv* (in end position only) *infml* when you consider everything that might have produced a different result: *Yes, her speed was quite good, considering.***con·sign** /kən'saɪn/ *v* **[T] 1** [(to)] to send (something) to a person or place for sale: *The goods were consigned to you by railway.* **2** [+obj+prep] *fml* to put into the care or control of someone else: *The captured rebels were consigned to the dungeons.* | (humor) *‘Where's her letter?’ ‘I consigned it to the wastepaper basket.’***con·sign·ee** /,kɒnsaɪ'niː, -sə-||,kɑːn-/ *n tech* the person to whom something is delivered
**con·sign·ment** /kən'saɪnmənt/ *n* **1** [C(of)+sing./pl. v] a quantity of goods consigned together: *The last consignment of bananas was bad.* **2** [U] the act of consigning **3 on consignment** sent to a person or shop that pays only for what is sold and returns what is unsold: *to order/send/ship goods on consignment*
**con·sign·or, -er** /kən'saɪnə/ *n tech* a person who consigns goods**con·sist** /kən'sɪst/ *v*
**consist in sthg.** *phr v [T not in progressive forms] fml* to have as a base; depend on: *The beauty of Venice consists largely in the style of its ancient buildings.***consist of sthg.** *phr v [T not in progressive forms]* to be made up of: *The United Kingdom consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.* | *a cargo of supplies, consisting mainly of food and medicines* → see COMPRISE (USAGE)**con·sis·ten·cy** /kən'sɪstənsi/ also **con·sis·tence** /-təns/ *rare* — *n* **1** [U] the state of always keeping to the same principles or course of action: *Your behaviour lacks consistency – you say one thing and do another!* → opposite INCONSISTENCY **2** [C;U] the degree of firmness, stiffness, or thickness: *First mix the butter and sugar to the consistency of thick cream.***con·sis·tent** /kən'sɪstənt/ *adj* **1** (of a person, behaviour, beliefs etc) continually keeping to the same principles or course of action; having a regular pattern: *the defendant's consistent denial of the charges* | *The last five years have seen a consistent improvement in the country's economy.* | *a consistent advocate/supporter of penal reform* **2** [(with)] in agreement or accordance: *a consistent argument* | *This statement is not consistent with what you said earlier.* | *This development is consistent with the company's aims of reducing its costs.* → opposite INCONSISTENT **~ly** *adv: I'm fed up with your attitude – it's been consistently negative from the very beginning.***con·so·la·tion** /,kɒnsə'leɪʃən||,kɑːn-/ *n [C;U]* (a person or thing that gives) comfort during a time of sadness or disappointment: *You boys were a great consolation to me when your father died.* | *I'm sorry I forgot your present; it's not much consolation, I know, but here's your card.* → compare COMPENSATION, RECOMPENSE**conso'lation prize** *n* a prize given to someone who has not won a competition, especially to someone who has come second: *The runners-up each received a T-shirt as a consolation prize.***con·sol·a·to·ry** /kən'sɒlətəri, -'səʊlə-||-'sɑːlətɔːri, -'soʊ-/ *adj fml* intended to console
**con·sole¹** /kən'səʊl/ *v [T(with)]* to give comfort or sympathy to (someone) in times of disappointment or sadness: *We tried to console her when her dog died.* | *Console yourself with the thought that it might have been worse!* → see also INCONSOLABLE