concrete

American  

[kon-kreet, kong-, kon-kreet, kong-, kon-kreet, kong-] / ˈkɒn krit, ˈkɒŋ-, kɒnˈkrit, kɒŋ-, kɒnˈkrit, kɒŋ- /

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.

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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 (opposed to 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)

concretes, present (3rd person singular) concreted, past participle, past concreting present participle

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)

concretes, present (3rd person singular) concreted, past participle, past concreting present participle

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.

idioms

1. set / cast in concrete. stone.

concrete British  

/ 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

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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

Derived Forms

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has concreted
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have concreted
  perfect
• have been concreting
  perfect progressive
• are concreting
  progressive
• is concreting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been concreting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am concreting
  progressive 1st person singular
• concretes
  singular 3rd person
• concreting
  participle

Past

• had concreted
  perfect
• were concreting
  progressive plural
• was concreting
  progressive singular
• had been concreting
  perfect progressive
• concreted
  simple
• concreted
  participle

Future

• will concrete
  simple
• will have concreted
  perfect
• will have been concreting
  perfect progressive
• will be concreting
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of concrete

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

Explanation

Concrete is that pourable mix of cement, water, sand, and gravel that hardens into a super-strong building material. Sidewalks, foundations, and highways are all made of concrete. Though people use the words cement and concrete as if they were the same, they're not. Concrete has cement in it, but also includes other materials; cement is what binds concrete together. Construction workers hate when kids write their names in concrete before it hardens: once concrete hardens, it's going to be solid for a long time. When used as an adjective, concrete also means solid. If you've got concrete plans for Saturday, then you have a definite plan.

Example Sentences

CONCRETE, Skagit County — Growing up outside of Detroit, Jeremy Akers remembers “This Boy’s Life” as one of those movies that was just always on TV.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 24, 2023

"CONCRETE ACTION" The 47-member Geneva forum adopted the text with 25 countries in favor, including India; and 13 against, including Pakistan.

From Reuters • Mar. 21, 2013

CONCRETE: These conditions are also seen when stutterers talk about concrete and abstract matters or when they promulgate some important plea that cannot be visualized.

From The Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Volume 10 by Various

CONCRETE, the name given to a building material consisting generally of a mixture of broken stone, sand and some kind of cement.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 7 "Columbus" to "Condottiere" by Various