concrete

[kon-kreet, kong-, kon-kreet, kong-, kon-kreet, kong-]

noun

1. an artificial, stonelike material used for various structural purposes, made by mixing cement and various aggregates, as sand, pebbles, gravel, or shale, with water and allowing the mixture to harden.

2. any of various artificial building or paving materials, as those containing tar.

3. an idea, observation, term, or word having an actual or existent thing or instance as its referent, as opposed to its being abstract.

   Psychology is all about feelings and behavior, but I’m more interested in the concrete—and that’s why I became a surgeon.

4. a mass formed by coalescence or concretion of particles of matter.

adjective

1. constituting an actual thing or instance; real.

   concrete proof of his sincerity.

   Synonyms: substantial, factual, solid
   Antonyms: abstract

2. relating to or concerned with realities or actual instances rather than abstractions; particular (general ).

   concrete ideas.

   Antonyms: abstract

3. representing or applied to an actual substance or thing, as opposed to an abstract quality.

   The words “cat,” “water,” and “teacher” are concrete, whereas the words “truth,” “excellence,” and “adulthood” are abstract.

4. made of concrete.

   a concrete pavement;

   concrete lawn ornaments.

5. formed by coalescence of separate particles into a mass; united in a coagulated, condensed, or solid mass or state.

verb (used with object)

concreted, concreting 

1. to treat or lay with concrete.

   to concrete a sidewalk.

2. to form into a mass by coalescence of particles; render solid.

   Of these two semiliquid solutions, which one do you think can be more easily concreted?

3. to make real, tangible, or particular.

verb (used without object)

concreted, concreting 

1. to coalesce into a mass; become solid; harden.

   Has it started to concrete?

2. to use or apply concrete.

   We can’t begin concreting until all the forms have been installed.

concrete

/ ˈkɒnkriːt /

noun

1. 1. a construction material made of a mixture of cement, sand, stone, and water that hardens to a stonelike mass

   2. ( as modifier )

      a concrete slab

2. physics a rigid mass formed by the coalescence of separate particles

adjective

1. relating to a particular instance or object; specific as opposed to general

   a concrete example

2. 1. relating to or characteristic of things capable of being perceived by the senses, as opposed to abstractions

   2. ( as noun )

      the concrete

3. formed by the coalescence of particles; condensed; solid

verb

1. (tr) to construct in or cover with concrete

2. to become or cause to become solid; coalesce

Other Word Forms

• concretive adjective
• concreteness noun
• concretely adverb
• concretively adverb
• unconcrete adjective
• unconcretely adverb
• unconcreted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of concrete¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin concrētus (past participle of concrēscere “to coalesce, condense”), equivalent to con- con- + crē(scere) “to grow, increase” + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of concrete¹

C14: from Latin concrētus grown together, hardened, from concrēscere; see _concrescence

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. set / cast in concrete. stone.

Example Sentences

“The more concrete you can be in policymaking land, the better,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

I'm led through a series of concrete corridors at Vilnius Tech University, Lithuania; the murals give a Soviet-era vibe, and it seems an unlikely location for a high-tech lab working on a laser communication system.

From BBC

It is thought the injury was caused when he collided with a concrete wall, but the club have not confirmed this.

From BBC

Via a Middle East investment company, Assets Group, the Qataris are currently building an exclusive, 40-villa luxury resort there, with an upgraded concrete airstrip capable of receiving executive jets, far from prying eyes.

From BBC

Moments later, there is a rustling and a rat darts from beneath the concrete walkway towards the communal bins.

From BBC