5 VERB If you do not want to commit yourself on something, you do not want to say what you really think about it or what you are going to do. □ [V pron-refl + on ] It isn't their diplomatic style to commit themselves on such a delicate issue. □ [V pron-refl] She didn't want to commit herself one way or the other.
6 VERB [usu passive] If someone is committed to a hospital, prison, or other institution, they are officially sent there for a period of time. □ [be V -ed + to ] Arthur's drinking caused him to be committed to a psychiatric hospital. [Also be V -ed]
7 VERB [usu passive] In the British legal system, if someone is committed for trial , they are sent by magistrates to stand trial in a crown court. □ [be V -ed + for ] He is expected to be committed for trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
8 VERB If you commit something to paper or to writing, you record it by writing it down. If you commit something to memory, you learn it so that you will remember it. □ [V n + to ] She had not committed anything to paper about it. □ [V n + to ] I'll repeat that so you can commit it to memory.
com|mit|ment ◆◆◇ /kəm I tmənt/ (commitments )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Commitment is a strong belief in an idea or system. □ [+ to ] …commitment to the ideals of Bolshevism.
2 N‑COUNT A commitment is something which regularly takes up some of your time because of an agreement you have made or because of responsibilities that you have. □ Work commitments forced her to uproot herself and her son from Reykjavik.
3 N‑COUNT [usu N to-inf] If you make a commitment to do something, you promise that you will do it. [FORMAL ] □ We made a commitment to keep working together. □ [+ to ] They made a commitment to peace.
4 N‑VAR Commitment is the process of officially sending someone to a prison or to hospital. [AM ] in BRIT, use committal SYNONYMS commitment NOUN
1
dedication: We admire her dedication to the cause of humanity.
loyalty: I have sworn an oath of loyalty to the monarchy.
devotion: …devotion to the cause of the people and to socialism.
2
duty: I carried out my duties conscientiously.
responsibility: …programmes to help employees balance work and family responsibilities.
obligation: When teachers assign homework, students usually feel an obligation to do it.
com|mit|tal /kəm I t ə l/ (committals ) N‑VAR Committal is the process of officially sending someone to a prison or to hospital. [BRIT ] □ [+ to ] …his committal to prison. □ …committal proceedings. in AM, use commitment
com|mit|tee ◆◆◆ /kəm I ti/ (committees ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A committee is a group of people who meet to make decisions or plans for a larger group or organization that they represent. □ [+ of ] …a committee of ministers. □ He sat on the firm's management committee. COLLOCATIONS committee NOUN
noun + committee : executive, management; ethics, finance
adjective + committee : advisory, consultative, disciplinary; congressional, ministerial, parliamentary; judicial, scientific, technical
verb + committee : appoint, establish, form, set up; appear before; chair, serve on, sit on
com|mode /kəmoʊ d/ (commodes )
1 N‑COUNT A commode is a movable piece of furniture shaped like a chair, which has a large pot below or inside it. It is used as a toilet, especially by people who are too ill to be able to walk easily. [mainly BRIT ]
2 N‑COUNT A commode is a toilet. [AM ]
com|mo|di|ous /kəmoʊ diəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A commodious room or house is large and has a lot of space. [WRITTEN ]
com|mod|ity /kəmɒ d I ti/ (commodities ) N‑COUNT A commodity is something that is sold for money. [BUSINESS ] □ The government increased prices on several basic commodities like bread and meat.
com|mo|dore /kɒ mədɔː r / (commodores ) N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A commodore is an officer of senior rank in the navy, especially the British Royal Navy.
com|mon ◆◆◆ /kɒ mən/ (commoner , commonest , commons )
1 ADJ If something is common , it is found in large numbers or it happens often. □ His name was Hansen, a common name in Norway. □ Oil pollution is the commonest cause of death for seabirds. □ It was common practice for prisoners to carve objects from animal bones to pass the time. ● com|mon|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Parsley is probably the most commonly used of all herbs.
2 ADJ If something is common to two or more people or groups, it is done, possessed, or used by them all. □ Moldavians and Romanians share a common language. □ [+ to ] Such behaviour is common to all young people.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] When there are more animals or plants of a particular species than there are of related species, then the first species is called common . □ …the common house fly.