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conduct
con'demned ,cell n BrE a room where prisoners who are to
be punished by death are kept → see also DEATH ROW
con·den·sa·tion /ˌkɒndenˈseɪʃən, -dɑːn-||ˌkɑːn-/ n 1 [U(off)]
tech the change from a gas to a liquid or, sometimes, to a
solid: the condensation of steam into water 2 [U] small drops
of liquid or solid formed in this way, especially drops of
water formed when steam becomes cool: There was a lot of
condensation on the windows. 3 [C;U(off)] (an example or
result of) the act of making something shorter
con·dense /kənˈdens/ v 1 [I;T] a) (of a gas) to become
liquid, or sometimes solid, especially by becoming
cooler b) to cause (a gas) to do this 2 [T] to make (a liquid)
thicker by removing some of the water: condensed
soup 3 [T] to reduce (especially something written) to a
smaller or shortened form: a condensed report
con,densed 'milk /ˌI. . ./ BrE || sweetened condensed
milk AmE — n [U] sweetened milk which is thickened by
taking away some of the water, and is usually sold in tins →
compare EVAPORATED MILK
con·dens·er /kənˈdensər/ n 1 an apparatus that makes a
gas change into a liquid 2 a CAPACITOR (=a machine for
storing electricity, especially in a car engine)
con·de·scend /ˌkɒndɪˈsend||ˌkɑːn-/ v [I] 1 [+to-v] usually
humor or derog to do something unsuited to your high social or
professional position: The managing director condescended to
have lunch with us in the canteen. 2 [(to)] derog to behave as
though you are better or more important than others: Mrs
Harris is always so condescending – who does she think she is!
—scension /ˈsenʃən/ n [U]
con·di·ment /ˈkɒndɪmənt||ˈkɑːn-/ n fml a powder or liquid
used for giving a special taste to food: Salt, ketchup, and
pepper are condiments.
con·di·tion¹ /kənˈdɪʃən/ n 1 [C(off)] a state of being or
existence: The astronauts soon got used to the condition of
weightlessness. | (old use) people of every condition (=every
position in society) 2 [U] a state of general health, fitness, or
readiness for use: His car has been well maintained and is in
excellent condition. | Archaeologists have discovered some
ancient jewellery in almost perfect condition. | a neglected
house in poor condition | Her condition is improving. (=she is
getting well again) | Sit still! You're in no condition to do
anything. | He's out of condition because he never takes any
exercise. 3 [C(for, of)] something that is stated as necessary in
order for something else to happen or exist: They set/laid
down strict conditions for letting us use their information. |
The allies insist on free elections as a condition of their
continued support. | Under the conditions of the agreement,
the job must be completed by the end of the month. | [+that] She
will join us on one condition: that we divide all the profits
equally. | I'll come on condition (that) (=only if) John is
invited too. → see also CONDITIONAL 4 [C] an illness of the
stated kind or body part: He has a heart condition. 5 on no
condition BrE never; in no situation: This equipment should
on no condition be used by untrained staff. → see also CONDI-
TIONS
condition² v [T] 1 to have a controlling or deciding effect
on; DETERMINE: What I can buy is conditioned by the amount I
earn. 2 [+obj+to-v] tech or derog to train to behave in a certain
way in certain conditions: Most people are conditioned to
believe what they read in the papers. → see also CONDITION-
ING 3 to put into good health or a good state for work or
use: Your dog looks very well conditioned. | a shampoo that
conditions the hair → see also AIR-CONDITIONING, CONDI-
TIONER
con·di·tion·al¹ /kənˈdɪʃənəl/ adj [no comp.] 1 [(on, upon)]
depending on a certain condition or conditions: His agree-
ment to buy our house was conditional on our leaving all the
furniture in it. | a conditional acceptance → opposite UNCON-
DITIONAL 2 (in grammar) expressing a condition or supposi-
tion: A conditional clause often begins with the words 'if' or
'unless'. —ly adv
conditional² n (in grammar) a conditional form, especially a
sentence or CLAUSE
conditional 'discharge n a judgment made by a court
which means that a person who has carried out a small
crime is allowed to go without punishment as long as they
obey certain conditions set by the court: He was lucky to get
a conditional discharge. → compare SUSPENDED SENTENCE
con,ditioned 'reflex also con,ditioned 'response n
tech a REFLEX (=a movement which you have no power to
prevent) that is developed as the result of repeated treatment
or training: a conditioned response to a stimulus
con·di·tion·er /kənˈdɪʃənər/ n [C;U] 1 a liquid put onto
hair after washing to make it softer 2 also fabric conditioner
— a liquid in which clothes etc are rinsed (RINSE) after being
washed, to make them softer
con·di·tion·ing /kənˈdɪʃənɪŋ/ n [U] the process by which
people or animals are trained to behave in a certain way in
certain conditions → see also AIR-CONDITIONING
con·di·tions /kənˈdɪʃənz/ n [P] the situation at a particular
place or surrounding facts and events; CIRCUMSTANCES: The
union has striven to improve our working conditions. | Under
present conditions we cannot possibly increase our pay offer. |
The fog and ice made driving conditions very bad. | What are
housing conditions like in East London? | Conditions in the
famine area have been described as 'desperate'.
Compare conditions and situation. They can
both be used to mean circumstances (=how things are in
a particular place): We are studying the economic
conditions/situation in several developing countries.
Situation is used more frequently than conditions. It
describes a combination of all the things that are
happening in a particular place and all the things that
affect the way something happens there: She coped well
in a difficult situation. Conditions is used to talk about
the situation in which people live or work, especially the
physical things that affect the quality of their lives:
Conditions in the prison were atrocious. | an attempt to
improve living conditions for the working classes.
Conditions can also be used to talk about the weather at
a particular time, especially when you are considering how
this affects people: In cold conditions you'll need a
sleeping bag with a hood. Conditions is also used in
certain phrases to refer to all the things that affect the way
something happens: Under normal conditions, people
will usually do what requires least effort. | The combination
of rain and greasy surfaces made driving conditions
treacherous.
con·do /ˈkɒndoʊ||ˈkɑːn-/ n AmE for CONDOMINIUM
con·dole /kənˈdoʊl/ v
condole with sbdy. phr v [T(on, over)] to express condolences
to
con·do·lence /kənˈdoʊləns/ n [C often pl; U (on)] (an expres-
sion of) sympathy for someone who has experienced great
sorrow, misfortune etc: Please accept my condolences on your
mother's death. | a letter of condolence → compare COMMIS-
ERATION
con·dom /ˈkɒndɒm||ˈkɑːn-, ˈkɑːn-/ also sheath prophy-
lactic especially AmE — n a covering, usually of rubber, worn
over the male sex organ during sex, used as a means of BIRTH
CONTROL and protection against sexual diseases
con·do·min·i·um /ˌkɒndəˈmɪniəm||ˌkɑːn-/ n 1 [C] AmE also
condo (a flat in) a block of flats of which each one is owned
by the people living in it 2 [C;U] rule of a country by two or
more other states acting together; a country ruled in this
way: the English-French condominium of the New Hebrides
con·done /kənˈdoʊn/ v [T] to forgive (wrong behaviour);
regard (a wrong action) as harmless or acceptable: I cannot
condone the use of violence under any circumstances.
con·dor /ˈkɒndɔːr ||ˈkɑːndər, -dɔːr/ n a very large American
VULTURE (=a bird that feeds on dead bodies)
con·du·cive /kənˈdjuːsɪv||-ˈduː-/ adj [F-to] rather fml likely to
produce; helping (an especially desirable result) to happen:
The atmosphere in the conference room was hardly conducive
to frank and friendly discussions. | The friendly tone of the
meeting seemed conducive to finding a solution to the problem.
—ness n [U(to)]
con·duct¹ /kənˈdʌkt/ v 1 [T] to go with and guide or lead:
The guide conducted us round the castle. | We went on a
conducted tour of the cathedral. 2 [T] to carry out or direct:
The business is conducted from small offices in the City. | The
company conducted a survey to find out local reaction to the