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conjugation
Equator in the western part of central Africa, which has a coast on the Atlantic Ocean and is to the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Population: 2,590,000 (2003). Capital: Brazzaville. — **Congolese** /ˌkɒŋɡəˈliːz ǁ ˌkɑːŋ-/ *n, adj***Congo**, the the second longest African river, which flows through both the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo**Congo, Democratic Republic of the** a very large country in central Africa, which was called Zaïre between 1971 and 1997, and before that was called the Belgian Congo. Population: 56,625,039 (2003). Capital: Kinshasa. It is known especially for its large RAIN FOREST. Since President MOBUTU, who had ruled the country for 30 years, was forced to give up power in 1997, different groups have continued to fight for control of the country. — **Congolese** /ˌkɒŋɡəˈliːz ǁ ˌkɑːŋ-/ *n, adj***con·grats** /kənˈɡræts/ *interj infml* congratulations
**con·grat·u·late** /kənˈɡrætʃʊleɪt/ *v* [T(on)] **1** to express your pleasure, praise, or admiration for (someone) because of a happy event or something successfully done: *We congratulated her on the birth of her daughter/on having come first in her exams.* **2** to have pleasure and pride in (yourself) for something successfully done: *She congratulated herself on having thought of such a good idea.* — **-lation** /kənˌɡrætʃʊˈleɪʃən/ *n* [U]**con·grat·u·la·tions** /kənˌɡrætʃʊˈleɪʃənz/ *interj, n* [P(on)] an expression used when you are congratulating someone on their success, luck etc: *'I've just passed my driving test!' 'Congratulations!'* | *Congratulations on winning the race/on your marriage!* | *Please give her/pass on my congratulations when you see her.* | *There you are, Kevin! I hear congratulations are in order. Well done!***CULTURAL NOTE** People say 'Congratulations' when someone has done something special, such as winning a prize, getting a new job, getting married etc. You can also say it when someone tells you they are going to get married or have a baby.**con·grat·u·la·to·ry** /kənˌɡrætjʊləˈtɔːri ǁ -ˈɡrætʃʊlətɔːri/ *adj* that congratulates: *a congratulatory letter/telegram* | *congratulatory remarks***con·gre·gate** /ˈkɒŋɡrɪɡeɪt ǁ ˈkɑːŋ-/ *v* [I] to come together in a large group: *The crowds congregated in the town square to hear the President speak.***con·gre·ga·tion** /ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən ǁ ˌkɑːŋ-/ *n* [C+sing./pl. v] a group of people gathered together, especially in a church, for religious worship: *The congregation knelt to pray.* | *a member of the congregation* $\rightarrow$ see ATTEND (USAGE)**Con·gre·ga·tion·al** /ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃənəl ǁ ˌkɑːŋ-/ *adj* connected with Congregationalism: *a Congregational church*
**Con·gre·ga·tion·al·is·m** /ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃənəlɪzəm ǁ ˌkɑːŋ-/ *n* [U] a form of the Protestant religion in which each local church is in charge of its own affairs $\rightarrow$ see also UNITED REFORMED CHURCH — **Congregationalist** *n***con·gress** /ˈkɒŋɡres ǁ ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/ *n* [C+sing./pl. v] **1** a formal meeting of representatives of societies, countries etc to exchange information and opinions: *the Congress of Vienna* | *a medical congress* | *The matter will be discussed in congress tomorrow.* **2** the elected law-making body of certain countries**Congress** the LEGISLATIVE (=law-making) part of the US government, which consists of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and the SENATE. The main job of Congress is to make laws for the US, and it also has the power to change the CONSTITUTION of the UNITED STATES. Congress meets in the CAPITOL in Washington, D.C. $\rightarrow$ see Feature on page A20**CULTURAL NOTE** The US Congress is responsible for suggesting BILLS (=plans for new laws) and deciding whether bills will become laws. If the SENATE and the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES both agree that a bill should become a law, the President is asked if he agrees with it. If the President agrees with the bill he signs it, and the bill becomes law. If he VETOES the bill (=says officially that he does not agree with it), Congress can still make it a law if two-thirds of the members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives agree $\rightarrow$ see Cultural Note at BILL**con·gres·sion·al** /kənˈɡreʃənəl/ *adj* [A] (often cap.) of a congress, especially the US Congress: *congressional hearings/elections* | *a congressional committee***Congressional Medal of Honor, the** also **the Medal of Honor** a special MEDAL given to members of the US armed forces who have performed acts of very great bravery. It is regarded as the highest military honour in the US.**Congressional Record, the** a printed report of what is said and done in the US Congress, including all the official discussions, votes, and decisions $\rightarrow$ compare HANSARD**con·gress·man** /ˈkɒŋɡrəsmən ǁ ˈkɑːŋ-/ ,
**con·gress·wo·man** /-,wʊmən/ *fem. — n pl.* **-men** /-mən/ (often cap.) a member of a congress, especially of the US House of Representatives: *on the advice of my Congressman* | *an interview with Congresswoman Anne Harding***Congress Party, the** an important political party in India. It was started in the 19th century to oppose British rule in India, and since India became an independent country in 1947 it has been the main party of government.**con·gru·ent** /ˈkɒŋɡruənt ǁ ˈkɑːŋ-/ *adj* **1** [(with)] *tech* (of figures in GEOMETRY) having the same size and shape as another or each other: *congruent triangles* **2** [(with)] *fml* CONGRUOUS — **~ly** *adv* — **~ence** *n* [U]**con·gru·i·ty** /kənˈɡruːəti/ *n* [(between)] *fml* **1** [U] the state of being alike **2** [C usually pl.] a point of agreement
**con·gru·ous** /ˈkɒŋɡruəs ǁ ˈkɑːŋ-/ also **congruent** *adj* [(with)] *fml* fitting; suitable: *behaviour congruous with his rank* —opposite INCONGRUOUS**con·ic** /ˈkɒnɪk ǁ ˈkɑː-/ *adj tech* of or shaped like a CONE
**con·i·cal** /ˈkɒnɪkəl ǁ ˈkɑː-/ *adj* of or shaped like a CONE: *huts with conical roofs* — **-ly** / -kli/ *adv*
**conic section** *n* a shape made from a CONE by passing an imaginary flat surface through it. This is an important idea in GEOMETRY.
**con·i·fer** /ˈkəʊnɪfəʳ, ˈkɒ- ǁ ˈkɑː-/ *n* a tree on which CONES grow and which is usually EVERGREEN (=does not lose its leaves in winter). Many conifers have economic value because they are used for TIMBER.**co·nif·er·ous** /kəˈnɪfərəs ǁ kəʊ-, kə-/ *adj* of or being a conifer: *coniferous trees* $\rightarrow$ compare DECIDUOUS; see also EVERGREEN**conj** written abbrev. for CONJUNCTION
**con·jec·ture¹** /kənˈdʒektʃəʳ/ *n* [C;U] *fml* (the forming of) a guess, opinion, or judgment based on incomplete or uncertain information: *The Senator didn't know the facts; what he said was pure conjecture.* | *Whether or not the President knew will always be a matter for conjecture.* (= we will never know) — **-tural** *adj***conjecture²** *v* [I; T+*that*; *obj*] *fml* to form a conjecture; guess: *The general conjectured that the enemy only had about five days' supply of food left.***con·join** /kənˈdʒɔɪn/ *v* [I;T] *fml or tech* to (cause to) join together or unite for a common purpose
**conjoined twins** *n* two people who are born with their bodies joined to each other $\rightarrow$ SIAMESE TWIN**con·joint** /kənˈdʒɔɪnt/ *adj fml* joined together; united; combined — **~ly** *adv*
**con·ju·gal** /ˈkɒndʒʊɡəl ǁ ˈkɑːn-/ *adj* [A] *fml* of marriage; CONNUBIAL: *the conjugal bed*
**conjugal rights** *n* [P] the right of having SEXUAL INTERCOURSE with your husband or wife: *He demanded his conjugal rights.*
**con·ju·gate** /ˈkɒndʒʊɡeɪt ǁ ˈkɑːn-/ *v tech* **1** [I] (of a verb) to have different grammatical forms to show number, person, tense etc: *The verb 'to go' conjugates irregularly.* **2** [T] to list or state the different grammatical forms of (a verb) that show number, person, tense etc: *Can you conjugate 'to have' in the present tense?* $\rightarrow$ compare DECLINE, INFLECT**con·ju·ga·tion** /ˌkɒndʒʊˈɡeɪʃən ǁ ˌkɑːn-/ *n tech* **1** [C] (in some languages) a class of verbs that conjugate in the same way: *There are four conjugations in Latin but also many irregular verbs.* **2** the way that a particular verb conjugates: *The verb 'to be' has an irregular conjugation.* $\rightarrow$ compare DECLENSION
