1 VERB If you concede something, you admit, often unwillingly, that it is true or correct. □ [V that] Bess finally conceded that Nancy was right. □ [V with quote] 'Well,' he conceded, 'I do sometimes mumble a bit.' □ [V n] Mr. Chapman conceded the need for Nomura's U.S. unit to improve its trading skills. [Also V n n]
2 VERB If you concede something to someone, you allow them to have it as a right or privilege. □ [V n] The government conceded the right to establish independent trade unions. □ [V n + to ] The French subsequently conceded full independence to Laos. [Also V n n]
3 VERB If you concede something, you give it to the person who has been trying to get it from you. □ [V n] The strike ended after the government conceded some of their demands.
4 VERB In sport, if you concede goals or points, you are unable to prevent your opponent from scoring them. [BRIT ] □ [V n + to ] They conceded four goals to Leeds United. □ [V n] Luton conceded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. in AM, use give up 5 VERB If you concede a game, contest, or argument, you end it by admitting that you can no longer win. □ [V n + to ] Reiner, 56, has all but conceded the race to his rival. □ [V n] Alain Prost finished third and virtually conceded the world championship.
6 VERB If you concede defeat, you accept that you have lost a struggle. □ [V n] Airtours conceded defeat in its attempt to take control of holiday industry rival Owners Abroad. □ [V n] He happily conceded the election.
con|ceit /kənsiː t/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] Conceit is very great pride in your abilities or achievements that other people feel is too great. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Pamela knew she was a good student, and that was not just a conceit.
con|ceit|ed /kənsiː t I d/ ADJ If you say that someone is conceited , you are showing your disapproval of the fact that they are far too proud of their abilities or achievements. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I thought him conceited and arrogant.
con|ceiv|able /kənsiː vəb ə l/ ADJ If something is conceivable , you can imagine it or believe it. □ It is just conceivable that a single survivor might be found.
con|ceive /kənsiː v/ (conceives , conceiving , conceived )
1 VERB If you cannot conceive of something, you cannot imagine it or believe it. □ [V + of ] I just can't even conceive of that quantity of money. □ [V + of ] He was immensely ambitious but unable to conceive of winning power for himself. [Also V that]
2 VERB If you conceive something as a particular thing, you consider it to be that thing. □ [V n + as ] The ancients conceived the Earth as afloat in water. □ [V + of ] We conceive of the family as being in a constant state of change. □ [V + of ] Elvis conceived of himself as a ballad singer.
3 VERB If you conceive a plan or idea, you think of it and work out how it can be done. □ [V n] She had conceived the idea of a series of novels. □ [V + of ] He conceived of the first truly portable computer in 1968.
4 VERB When a woman conceives , she becomes pregnant. □ [V ] Women, he says, should give up alcohol before they plan to conceive. □ [V n] A mother who already has non-identical twins is more likely to conceive another set of twins.
con|cen|trate ◆◇◇ /kɒ ns ə ntre I t/ (concentrates , concentrating , concentrated )
1 VERB If you concentrate on something, or concentrate your mind on it, you give all your attention to it. □ [V + on ] It was up to him to concentrate on his studies and make something of himself. □ [V ] At work you need to be able to concentrate. □ [V n + on ] This helps you to be aware of time and concentrates your mind on the immediate task.
2 VERB [usu passive] If something is concentrated in an area, it is all there rather than being spread around. □ [be V -ed + in ] Most development has been concentrated in and around cities. [Also be V -ed adv]
3 N‑VAR Concentrate is a liquid or substance from which water has been removed in order to make it stronger, or to make it easier to store. □ …orange juice made from concentrate.
4 PHRASE If you say that an unpleasant fact or situation concentrates someone's mind , you mean that it makes them think clearly, because they are aware of the serious consequences if they do not. □ A term in prison will concentrate his mind wonderfully. SYNONYMS concentrate VERB 1
pay attention: I didn't pay any attention at first.
con|cen|trat|ed /kɒ ns ə ntre I t I d/
1 ADJ A concentrated liquid has been increased in strength by having water removed from it. □ Sweeten dishes sparingly with honey, or concentrated apple or pear juice.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A concentrated activity is directed with great intensity in one place. □ …a more concentrated effort to reach out to troubled kids.
con|cen|tra|tion ◆◇◇ /kɒ ns ə ntre I ʃ ə n/ (concentrations )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Concentration on something involves giving all your attention to it. □ Neal kept interrupting, breaking my concentration. □ We lacked concentration and it cost us the goal and the game.
2 N‑VAR A concentration of something is a large amount of it or large numbers of it in a small area. □ [+ of ] The area has one of the world's greatest concentrations of wildlife. □ [+ of ] There's been too much concentration of power in the hands of central authorities.