conn

[ kon ]

/ kɒn /

verb (used with object)

con³(def 1).

noun

responsibility for the steering of a ship.

con³(defs 2, 3).

Nearby words

Origin of conn

First recorded in 1800–10

Definition for conn (2 of 3)

con

or conn

[ kon ]

/ kɒn /

Nautical

verb (used with object), conned, con·ning.

to direct the steering of (a ship).

noun

the station of the person who cons.

the act of conning.

Origin of con

1350–1400; earlier cond, apocopated variant of Middle English condie, condue < Middle French cond(u)ire < Latin condūcere to conduct

Definition for conn (3 of 3)

Conn.

Connecticut(def 1).

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for conn

Conn has never had a showcase of the photos all together, but he hopes to one day have the entire collection published as a book.
Nightmarish Scenes from New York's Subway|Seth Michael Donsky|June 11, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Even though we could be married in Mass. or Conn, Canada, Holland, Spain and a handful of other countries, this is our home.
You Can Forget My Taxes|Melissa Etheridge|November 6, 2008|DAILY BEAST
It didn't take Conn long to appreciate the problems involved in the conversion.
The Cosmic Computer|Henry Beam Piper
The ancient King of the West, whose name was Conn, was good as well as great, and passionately loved by his people.
Archaic England|Harold Bayley

Nobody was quite sure; two hundred and fifty seemed to be the highest estimate, which Conn decided to play safe by accepting.
The Cosmic Computer|Henry Beam Piper
Kurt Fawzi introduced Conn, and Leibert grasped his hand with a grip that was considerably stronger than his voice.
The Cosmic Computer|Henry Beam Piper
Conn drank some more brandy, hoping he could get his courage up without getting drunk.
Graveyard of Dreams|Henry Beam Piper

British Dictionary definitions for conn (1 of 9)

conn

/ (kɒn) /

verb, noun

a variant spelling (esp US) of con 4

British Dictionary definitions for conn (2 of 9)

Conn

/ (kɒn) /

noun

2nd century ad, king of Leinster and high king of Ireland

British Dictionary definitions for conn (3 of 9)

Conn.

abbreviation for

Connecticut

British Dictionary definitions for conn (4 of 9)

con

/ (kɒn) informal /

noun

short for confidence trick
(as modifier)con man

verb cons, conning or conned

(tr) to swindle or defraud

Word Origin for con

C19: from confidence

British Dictionary definitions for conn (5 of 9)

con

/ (kɒn) /

noun (usually plural)

an argument or vote against a proposal, motion, etc

a person who argues or votes against a proposal, motion, etc

Compare pro 1See also pros and cons

Word Origin for con

from Latin contrā against, opposed to

British Dictionary definitions for conn (6 of 9)

con

/ (kɒn) /

noun

slang short for convict

British Dictionary definitions for conn (7 of 9)

con

⁴

esp US conn

nautical

verb cons, conns, conning or conned

(tr) to direct the steering of (a vessel)

noun

the place where a person who cons a vessel is stationed

Word Origin for con

C17 cun, from earlier condien to guide, from Old French conduire, from Latin condūcere; see conduct

British Dictionary definitions for conn (8 of 9)

con

⁵

/ (kɒn) /

verb cons, conning or conned

(tr) archaic to study attentively or learn (esp in the phrase con by rote)

Word Origin for con

C15: variant of can 1 in the sense: to come to know

British Dictionary definitions for conn (9 of 9)

con

⁶

/ (kɒn) /

preposition

music with

Word Origin for con

Italian

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

Word Origin and History for conn (1 of 6)

con

n.1

"negation" (mainly in pro and con), 1570s, short for Latin contra "against" (see contra).

Word Origin and History for conn (1 of 6)

con

n.2

"study," early 15c., from Old English cunnan "to know, know how" (see can (v.1)).

Word Origin and History for conn (2 of 6)

con

adj.

"swindling," 1889, American English, from confidence man (1849), from the many scams in which the victim is induced to hand over money as a token of confidence. Confidence with a sense of "assurance based on insufficient grounds" dates from 1590s.

Word Origin and History for conn (3 of 6)

con

v.1

"to guide ships," 1620s, from French conduire "to conduct, lead, guide" (10c.), from Latin conducere (see conduce). Related: Conned; conning.

Word Origin and History for conn (4 of 6)

con

v.2

"to swindle," 1896, from con (adj.). Related: Conned; conning.

Word Origin and History for conn (5 of 6)

con

n.3

a slang or colloquial shortening of various nouns beginning in con-, e.g., from the 19th century, confidant, conundrum, conformist, convict, contract, and from the 20th century, conductor, conservative.