2 VERB If you confirm something that has been stated or suggested, you say that it is true because you know about it. □ [V that] The spokesman confirmed that the area was now in rebel hands. □ [V n] He confirmed what had long been feared. ● con|fir|ma|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ She glanced over at James for confirmation.
3 VERB If you confirm an arrangement or appointment, you say that it is definite, usually in a letter or on the telephone. □ [V n] You make the reservation, and I'll confirm it in writing. ● con|fir|ma|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ by ] Travel arrangements are subject to confirmation by State Tourist Organisations.
4 VERB [usu passive] If someone is confirmed , they are formally accepted as a member of a Christian church during a ceremony in which they say they believe what the church teaches. □ [be V -ed] He was confirmed as a member of the Church of England. ● con|fir|ma|tion (confirmations ) N‑VAR □ …when I was being prepared for Confirmation. □ Flu prevented her from attending her daughter's confirmation.
5 VERB [no cont] If something confirms you in your decision, belief, or opinion, it makes you think that you are definitely right. □ [V n + in ] It has confirmed me in my decision not to become a nurse.
6 VERB If someone confirms their position, role, or power, they do something to make their power, position, or role stronger or more definite. □ [V n] Williams has confirmed his position as the world's number one snooker player.
7 VERB If something confirms you as something, it shows that you definitely deserve a name, role, or position. □ [V n + as ] His new role could confirm him as one of our leading actors.
con|firmed /kənfɜː r md/ ADJ [ADJ n] You use confirmed to describe someone who has a particular habit or belief that they are very unlikely to change. □ I'm a confirmed bachelor.
con|fis|cate /kɒ nf I ske I t/ (confiscates , confiscating , confiscated ) VERB If you confiscate something from someone, you take it away from them, usually as a punishment. □ [V n + from ] The courts can confiscate assets from people who have committed offences. □ [V n] They confiscated weapons, ammunition and propaganda material. ● con|fis|ca|tion /kɒ nf I ske I ʃ ə n/ (confiscations ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] The new laws allow the confiscation of assets purchased with proceeds of the drugs trade.
con|fit /kɒ nfiː/ (confits ) N‑VAR Confit is meat such as goose or duck which has been cooked and preserved in its own fat. □ [+ of ] …confit of duck.
con|fla|gra|tion /kɒ nfləgre I ʃ ə n/ (conflagrations ) N‑COUNT A conflagration is a fire that burns over a large area and destroys property. [FORMAL ]
con|flate /kənfle I t/ (conflates , conflating , conflated ) VERB If you conflate two or more descriptions or ideas, or if they conflate , you combine them in order to produce a single one. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Her letters conflate past and present. □ [V n + with ] Unfortunately the public conflated fiction with reality and made her into a saint. □ [V ] The two meanings conflated.
con|flict ◆◆◇ (conflicts , conflicting , conflicted ) The noun is pronounced /kɒ nfl I kt/. The verb is pronounced /kənfl I kt/. 1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft in/into N ] Conflict is serious disagreement and argument about something important. If two people or groups are in conflict , they have had a serious disagreement or argument and have not yet reached agreement. □ Try to keep any conflict between you and your ex-partner to a minimum. □ Employees already are in conflict with management over job cuts.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Conflict is a state of mind in which you find it impossible to make a decision. □ …the anguish of his own inner conflict.
3 N‑VAR Conflict is fighting between countries or groups of people. [JOURNALISM , WRITTEN ] □ …talks aimed at ending four decades of conflict.
4 N‑VAR A conflict is a serious difference between two or more beliefs, ideas, or interests. If two beliefs, ideas, or interests are in conflict , they are very different. □ [+ between ] There is a conflict between what they are doing and what you want. □ [+ of ] Do you feel any conflict of loyalties? □ The two objectives are in conflict.
5 VERB If ideas, beliefs, or accounts conflict , they are very different from each other and it seems impossible for them to exist together or to each be true. □ [V ] Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict. □ [V + with ] He held firm opinions which usually conflicted with my own. □ [V -ing] …three powers with conflicting interests. COLLOCATIONS conflict NOUN
1
adjective + conflict : industrial, political; potential
verb + conflict : resolve, settle, solve; avoid, end, prevent
2
adjective + conflict : inner, internal
3
adjective + conflict : armed, bloody, escalating, military; ethnic, sectarian
con|flu|ence /kɒ nfluəns/ N‑SING The confluence of two rivers is the place where they join and become one larger river. □ [+ of ] The 160-metre falls mark the dramatic confluence of the rivers Nera and Velino.