concrete

¹con·crete

adjective \(ˌ)kän-ˈkrēt, ˈkän-ˌ, kən-ˈ\

Definition of CONCRETE

1

: naming a real thing or class of things <the word poem is concrete, poetry is abstract>

2

: formed by coalition of particles into one solid mass

3

a : characterized by or belonging to immediate experience of actual things or events

b : specific, particular <a concrete proposal>

c : real, tangible <concrete evidence>

4

: relating to or made of concrete <a concrete wall>

— con·crete·ly adverb

— con·crete·ness noun

Examples of CONCRETE

1. It's helpful to have concrete examples of how words are used in context.
2. We hope the meetings will produce concrete results.

Origin of CONCRETE

Middle English, from Latin concretus, from past participle of concrescere

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CONCRETE

Synonyms

actual, de facto, effective, existent, factual, genuine, real, sure-enough, true, very

Antonyms

conjectural, hypothetical, ideal, inexistent, nonexistent, platonic, possible, potential, suppositional, theoretical (also theoretic)

Related Words

attested, authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated, valid, validated, verified; incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, inescapable, irrefutable, undeniable, unquestionable; believable, convincing, literal, realistic, unmistakable, verifiable; authentic, bona fide, real-life, real-world; absolute, certain, final, hard, objective, palpable, positive, substantial, tangible; authoritative, certifiable, certified

Near Antonyms

alleged, assumed, reputed, supposed; conceived, envisaged, envisioned, imagined, pictured, visualized; chimerical (also chimeric), fabled, fanciful, fictional, fictitious, illusory, legendary; fabricated, fake, imaginary, invented, made-up, make-believe, pretend, romantic; abstract, symbolic, unreal; virtual

Rhymes with CONCRETE

accrete, aesthete, afreet, athlete, backbeat, backseat, backstreet, bedsheet, bench seat, big beat, bolete, box pleat, box seat, break beat, broadsheet, browbeat, buckwheat, bystreet, call sheet, car seat, cheat sheet, clipsheet, cloud street, cold feet, compete, compleat, complete, conceit, crabmeat, crib sheet, deadbeat, dead heat, dead meat, deceit, defeat, delete, deplete, discreet, discrete, disseat, downbeat, drop seat, drumbeat, dutch treat, effete, elite, en suite, entreat, escheat, excrete, facete, Fleet Street, fly sheet, forcemeat, foresheet, four-peat, gamete, groundsheet, hard wheat, heartbeat, heat-treat, helpmeet, hoofbeat, hot seat, house seat, ice sheet, ill-treat, jump seat, kick pleat, love seat, mainsheet, Main Street, maltreat, mesquite, mincemeat, mistreat, offbeat, Ossete, petite, pink sheet, preheat, rap sheet, receipt, recheat, red heat, red meat, red wheat, regreet, repeat, replete, retreat, scratch sheet, secrete, side street, slip-sheet, soft wheat, spreadsheet, stand treat, swap meet, sweetmeat, tear sheet, terete, three-peat, through street, time sheet, unmeet, unseat, upbeat, vegete, volkslied, white heat

²con·crete

verb \ˈkän-ˌkrēt, kän-ˈ\

con·cret·edcon·cret·ing

Definition of CONCRETE

transitive verb

1

a : to form into a solid mass : solidify

b : combine, blend

2

: to make actual or real : cause to take on the qualities of reality

3

: to cover with, form of, or set in concrete

intransitive verb

: to become concreted

Examples of CONCRETE

1. <the mortar slowly concreted in the mold>
2. <a choral work that concretes music and dance into a stunning theatrical experience>

First Known Use of CONCRETE

1590

Related to CONCRETE

Synonyms

harden, congeal, firm (up), freeze, indurate, set, solidify

Antonyms

liquefy (also liquify), soften

Related Words

cake, callus, encrust (also incrust); clot, coagulate, gel, gelate, gelatinize, jell, jelly, stiffen, thicken; calcify, crystallize (also crystalize), ossify, petrify, rigidify; anneal, case-harden, temper

Near Antonyms

deliquesce, dissolve, flux, fuse, melt, smelt, thaw, unfreeze

³con·crete

noun \ˈkän-ˌkrēt, (ˌ)kän-ˈ\

Definition of CONCRETE

1

: a mass formed by concretion or coalescence of separate particles of matter in one body

2

: a hard strong building material made by mixing a cementing material (as portland cement) and a mineral aggregate (as sand and gravel) with sufficient water to cause the cement to set and bind the entire mass

3

: a waxy essence of flowers prepared by extraction and evaporation and used in perfumery

First Known Use of CONCRETE

1656

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

concrete

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Artificial stone made of a mixture of cement, aggregate (hard material), and water. In addition to its potential for immense compressive strength and its ability, when poured, to adapt to virtually any form, concrete is fire-resistant and has become one of the most common building materials in the world. The binder usually used today is portland cement. The aggregate is usually sand and gravel. Additives called admixtures may be used to accelerate the curing (hardening) process in low temperature conditions. Other admixtures trap air in the concrete or slow shrinkage and increase strength. See also precast concrete, prestressed concrete, reinforced concrete.