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. Compare reinforced concrete.
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)

, con·cret·ed, con·cret·ing.

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)

, con·cret·ed, con·cret·ing.

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. kənˈkriːt to become or cause to become solid; coalesce

Derived Forms

• conˈcretive, adjective
• ˈconcreteness, noun
• ˈconcretely, adverb
• conˈcretively, adverb

Other Words From

• con·crete·ly adverb
• con·crete·ness noun
• con·cre·tive adjective
• con·cre·tive·ly adverb
• un·con·crete adjective
• un·con·crete·ly adverb
• un·con·cret·ed 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 ( def 33 ).

Example Sentences

Because they might belong to multiple professional groups, there are no concrete statistics for the total number of conservators worldwide.

From New York Times

Instead of clawing into the existing historic concrete, the plan calls for putting a material on top of that concrete, a protective overlay, and building new seating on top of that.

From Los Angeles Times

The federation, which represents rank and file officers, said the poll aimed to get "concrete evidence" of the experience of officers.

From BBC

A van driver narrowly missed being hit by a large lump of concrete thrown from a bridge during a string of incidents over four days, police have said.

From BBC

Hidden beneath the bushes was a low wall pockmarked with holes and gobs of concrete.

From BBC