2 N‑PLURAL If you offer someone your congratulations , you congratulate them on something nice that has happened to them or on something good that they have done. □ [+ to ] The club also offers its congratulations to D. Brown on his appointment as president.
con|gratu|la|tory /kəngræ tʃʊle I təri, [AM ] -lətɔːri/ ADJ A congratulatory message expresses congratulations. □ He sent Kim a congratulatory letter.
con|gre|gant /kɒ ŋgr I gənt/ (congregants ) N‑COUNT Congregants are members of a congregation. [mainly AM ]
con|gre|gate /kɒ ŋgr I ge I t/ (congregates , congregating , congregated ) VERB When people congregate , they gather together and form a group. □ [V ] Visitors congregated on Sunday afternoons to view public exhibitions.
con|gre|ga|tion /kɒ ŋgr I ge I ʃ ə n/ (congregations ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] The people who are attending a church service or who regularly attend a church service are referred to as the congregation . □ Most members of the congregation begin arriving a few minutes before services.
con|gress /kɒ ŋgres/ (congresses ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A congress is a large meeting that is held to discuss ideas and policies. □ A lot has changed after the party congress.
Con|gress ◆◆◇ /kɒ ŋgres/ N‑PROPER [with sing or pl verb] Congress is the elected group of politicians that is responsible for making the law in the United States. It consists of two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. □ We want to cooperate with both the administration and Congress.
con|gres|sion|al /kəngre ʃən ə l/ also Congressional ADJ [ADJ n] A congressional policy, action, or person relates to the United States Congress. □ The president explained his plans to congressional leaders.
Congress|man /kɒ ŋgr I smən/ (Congressmen ) also congressman N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A Congressman is a male member of the US Congress, especially of the House of Representatives.
Congress|person /kɒ ŋgr I spɜː r s ə n/ (Congresspeople ) also congressperson N‑COUNT A Congressperson is a member of the US Congress, especially of the House of Representatives.
Congress|woman /kɒ ŋgr I swʊmən/ (Congresswomen ) also congresswoman N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A Congresswoman is a female member of the US Congress, especially of the House of Representatives. □ The meeting was organised by Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
con|gru|ence /kɒ ŋgruəns/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] Congruence is when two things are similar or fit together well. [FORMAL ] □ [+ between ] …a necessary congruence between political, cultural and economic forces.
con|gru|ent /kɒ ŋgruənt/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If one thing is congruent with another thing, they are similar or fit together well. [FORMAL ] □ [+ with ] They want to work in an organisation whose values are congruent with their own.
coni|cal /kɒ n I k ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A conical object is shaped like a cone. □ We were soon aware of a great conical shape to the north-east.
co|ni|fer /kɒ n I fə r / (conifers ) N‑COUNT Conifers are a group of trees and shrubs, for example pine trees and fir trees, that grow in cooler areas of the world. They have fruit called cones, and very thin leaves called needles which they do not normally lose in winter.
co|nif|er|ous /kən I fərəs, [AM ] koʊ-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A coniferous forest or wood is made up of conifers.
con|jec|tur|al /kəndʒe ktʃərəl/ ADJ A statement that is conjectural is based on information that is not certain or complete. [FORMAL ] □ There is something undeniably conjectural about such claims.
con|jec|ture /kəndʒe ktʃə r / (conjectures , conjecturing , conjectured )
1 N‑VAR A conjecture is a conclusion that is based on information that is not certain or complete. [FORMAL ] □ That was a conjecture, not a fact. □ There are several conjectures. □ The future of the province remains a matter of conjecture.
2 VERB When you conjecture , you form an opinion or reach a conclusion on the basis of information that is not certain or complete. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] He conjectured that some individuals may be able to detect major calamities. □ [V ] This may be true or partly true; we are all conjecturing here. [Also V wh, V n]
con|join /kəndʒɔ I n/ (conjoins , conjoining , conjoined ) VERB If two or more things conjoin or if you conjoin them, they are united and joined together. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] The wisdom of the retired generals and backbench MPs conjoins. □ [be V -ed + with ] America's rise in rates was conjoined with higher rates elsewhere. □ [V n] …if we conjoin the two responses. [Also V n + with , V + with ]
con|joined twin /kəndʒɔ I nd tw I n/ (conjoined twins ) N‑COUNT Conjoined twins are twins who are born with their bodies joined.
con|ju|gal /kɒ ndʒʊg ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Conjugal means relating to marriage or a married couple's relationship, especially their sexual relationship. [FORMAL ] □ …a man deprived of his conjugal rights.
con|ju|gate /kɒ ndʒʊge I t/ (conjugates , conjugating , conjugated ) VERB When pupils or teachers conjugate a verb, they give its different forms in a particular order. □ [V n] …a child who can read at one and is conjugating Latin verbs at four.
con|junc|tion /kəndʒʌ ŋkʃ ə n/ (conjunctions )
1 N‑COUNT A conjunction of two or more things is the occurrence of them at the same time or place. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the conjunction of two events. □ [+ of ] …a conjunction of religious and social factors.