3 N‑VAR [n N ] The concentration of a substance is the proportion of essential ingredients or substances in it. □ [+ of ] pH is a measure of the concentration of free hydrogen atoms in a solution.
co n|cen|tra |tion camp (concentration camps ) N‑COUNT A concentration camp is a prison in which large numbers of ordinary people are kept in very bad conditions, usually during a war.
con|cen|tric /kənse ntr I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Concentric circles or rings have the same centre. □ On a blackboard, he drew five concentric circles.
con|cept ◆◇◇ /kɒ nsept/ (concepts ) N‑COUNT A concept is an idea or abstract principle. □ [+ of ] She added that the concept of arranged marriages is misunderstood in the west.
con|cep|tion /kənse pʃ ə n/ (conceptions )
1 N‑VAR A conception of something is an idea that you have of it in your mind. □ [+ of ] My conception of a garden was based on gardens I had visited in England. □ [+ of ] I see him as someone with not the slightest conception of teamwork.
2 N‑VAR Conception is the process in which the egg in a woman is fertilized and she becomes pregnant. □ Six weeks after conception your baby is the size of your little fingernail.
con|cep|tual /kənse ptʃuəl/ ADJ [ADJ n] Conceptual means related to ideas and concepts formed in the mind. □ …replacing old laws with new within the same conceptual framework. ● con|cep|tu|al|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, ADV adj] □ The monograph is conceptually confused, unclear in its structure and weak in its methodology.
con|cep|tu|al|ize /kənse ptʃuəla I z/ (conceptualizes , conceptualizing , conceptualized ) in BRIT, also use conceptualise VERB If you conceptualize something, you form an idea of it in your mind. □ [V n] How we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel. □ [V n + as ] Tiffany conceptualized herself as a mother, whose primary task was to feed her baby.
con|cern ◆◆◆ /kənsɜː r n/ (concerns , concerning , concerned )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [N that] Concern is worry about a situation. □ [+ about ] The group has expressed concern about reports of political violence. □ [+ over ] The move follows growing public concern over the spread of the disease. □ There is no cause for concern.
2 VERB [no cont] If something concerns you, it worries you. □ [V n] The growing number of people seeking refuge in Thailand is beginning to concern Western aid agencies. □ [V n that] It concerned her that Bess was developing a crush on Max. ● con|cerned ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , ADJ that] □ [+ for ] We're naturally concerned for our daughter's safety. □ Academics are concerned that students are not sufficiently prepared for university courses. □ …a phone call from a concerned neighbor. [Also + about ]
3 N‑COUNT [usu with poss] A concern is a fact or situation that worries you. □ His concern was that people would know that he was responsible. □ Unemployment was the electorate's main concern.
4 N‑VAR Someone's concern with something is their feeling that it is important. □ [+ with ] …a story that illustrates how dangerous excessive concern with safety can be.
5 N‑COUNT [usu with poss] Someone's concerns are the things that they consider to be important. □ [+ of ] Feminism must address issues beyond the concerns of middle-class whites.
6 N‑VAR [oft poss N ] Concern for someone is a feeling that you want them to be happy, safe, and well. If you do something out of concern for someone, you do it because you want them to be happy, safe, and well. □ Without her care and concern, he had no chance at all. □ [+ for ] He had only gone along out of concern for his two grandsons.
7 VERB If you concern yourself with something, you give it attention because you think that it is important. □ [V pron-refl + with ] I didn't concern myself with politics. ● con|cerned ADJ [v-link ADJ with n] □ The agency is more concerned with making arty ads than understanding its clients' businesses.
8 VERB [no cont] If something such as a book or a piece of information concerns a particular subject, it is about that subject. □ [V n] The bulk of the book concerns Sandy's two middle-aged children. □ [V pron-refl + with ] Chapter 2 concerns itself with the methodological difficulties. ● con|cerned ADJ [v-link ADJ with n] □ Randolph's work was exclusively concerned with the effects of pollution on health.
9 VERB [no cont] If a situation, event, or activity concerns you, it affects or involves you. □ [V n] It was just a little unfinished business from my past, and it doesn't concern you at all. ● con|cerned ADJ [n ADJ ] □ It's a very stressful situation for everyone concerned. □ [+ in ] I believe he was concerned in all those matters you mention. [Also + with ]
10 N‑SING [with poss] If a situation or problem is your concern , it is something that you have a duty or responsibility to be involved with. □ [+ of ] The technical aspects were the concern of the Army. □ I would be glad to get rid of them myself. But that is not our concern.
11 N‑COUNT You can refer to a company or business as a concern , usually when you are describing what type of company or business it is. [FORMAL , BUSINESS ] □ If not a large concern, Queensbury Nursery was at least a successful one.
12 PHRASE You can say ' as far as I'm concerned ' to indicate that you are giving your own opinion. □ As far as I'm concerned the officials incited the fight.