concrete

[ kon-kreet, kong-, kon-kreet, kong- for 1-10, 13-15; kon-kreet, kong- for 11, 12 ]

/ ˈkɒn krit, ˈkɒŋ-, kɒnˈkrit, kɒŋ- for 1-10, 13-15; kɒnˈkrit, kɒŋ- for 11, 12 /

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See synonyms for: concrete / concreted / concretes / concreting on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.Compare reinforced concrete.

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

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.

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

adjective

constituting an actual thing or instance; real: concrete proof of his sincerity.

relating to or concerned with realities or actual instances rather than abstractions; particular (opposed to general): concrete ideas.

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.

made of concrete: a concrete pavement;concrete lawn ornaments.

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

verb (used with object), con·cret·ed, con·cret·ing.

to treat or lay with concrete: to concrete a sidewalk.

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?

to make real, tangible, or particular.

verb (used without object), con·cret·ed, con·cret·ing.

to coalesce into a mass; become solid; harden: Has it started to concrete?

to use or apply concrete: We can’t begin concreting until all the forms have been installed.

OTHER WORDS FOR concrete

5 solid, factual, substantial.

See synonyms for concrete on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR concrete

5, 6 abstract.

See antonyms for concrete on Thesaurus.com

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about concrete

set / cast in concrete. stone (def. 33).

Origin of concrete

First recorded in1375–1425; 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

OTHER WORDS FROM concrete

con·crete·ly, adverbcon·crete·ness, nouncon·cre·tive, adjectivecon·cre·tive·ly, adverb

un·con·crete, adjectiveun·con·crete·ly, adverbun·con·cret·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH concrete

cement, concrete , mortar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use concrete in a sentence

In fact, Ruben says Mighty’s synthetic material is hydrophobic and less susceptible to changes in temperature, which gives it an advantage over other 3D printed structures that use more traditional concrete materials.
A new material allows this company to 3D print most of a house in a single day|Stan Horaczek|November 18, 2020|Popular-Science
After concrete is poured for highway pavement, for example, it takes hours to cure and become strong enough to open for traffic.
Smart Concrete Could Pave the Way for High-Tech, Cost-Effective Roads|Luna Lu|November 13, 2020|Singularity Hub
In his private business, he manufactures concrete structures such as offices, hotels and parking garages.
His fellow Republicans turned on him, but Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger isn’t backing down|Reis Thebault, Amy Gardner|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
We asked a number of digital marketers and technology companies to offer concrete advice for brands, publishers and advertisers about what they could or should do now to prepare for CPRA.
Concrete steps marketers should take now to get ready for CA’s CPRA in 2023|Greg Sterling|November 11, 2020|Search Engine Land

She suggested discussing what was on the agenda for tomorrow, which gave Chris something concrete to focus on.
Meet the Woman Teaching the Psychology of Survival|Emily Sohn|November 9, 2020|Outside Online
“The whole concept is so concretely established in what we already know,” he said.
Tased to Death?|Winston Ross|August 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
While being sure is only the first Iraq lesson that applies, it's the only one that can be concretely accomplished.
Will We Go To War In Syria?|Ali Gharib|April 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Concretely, we must direct our effort to the task that President Kennedy called for long ago.
Obama's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech|Barack Obama|December 10, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The word explosion is always used concretely (an explosion, or a detonation as chemists commonly call it).
Conversations on Chemistry, V. 1-2|Jane Marcet
The thought picture is not only called up by these signs as well as by words but far more vividly and concretely.
Instigations|Ezra Pound
Concretely, it means the conditions of desire or disgust which are developed by the complex of conditions thereby aroused.
Criminal Psychology|Hans Gross
But one will nowhere find such a series of variously delightful churches springing out of concretely diversified minds.
Impressions And Comments|Havelock Ellis
The past had been most concretely that vanished and slightly sordid tenement of the current housing of the muse.
Lady Barbarina|Henry James

British Dictionary definitions for concrete

concrete

/ (ˈkɒnkriːt) /

noun

a construction material made of a mixture of cement, sand, stone, and water that hardens to a stonelike mass
(as modifier)a concrete slab

physics a rigid mass formed by the coalescence of separate particles

adjective

relating to a particular instance or object; specific as opposed to generala concrete example

relating to or characteristic of things capable of being perceived by the senses, as opposed to abstractions
(as noun)the concrete

formed by the coalescence of particles; condensed; solid

verb

(tr) to construct in or cover with concrete

(kənˈkriːt) to become or cause to become solid; coalesce

Derived forms of concrete

concretely, adverbconcreteness, nounconcretive, adjectiveconcretively, adverb

Word Origin for concrete

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

concrete

OTHER WORDS FOR concrete

OPPOSITES FOR concrete

Idioms about concrete

Origin of concrete

OTHER WORDS FROM concrete

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH concrete

Words related to concrete

How to use concrete in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for concrete

Derived forms of concrete

Word Origin for concrete