conduct

¹con·duct

noun \ˈkän-(ˌ)dəkt\

Definition of CONDUCT

1

obsolete : escort, guide

2

: the act, manner, or process of carrying on : management <praised for his conduct of the campaign>

3

: a mode or standard of personal behavior especially as based on moral principles <questionable conduct>

Examples of CONDUCT

1. A panel investigated her conduct and she was subsequently fired.
2. <the President was happy to leave the conduct of foreign affairs to his secretary of state>

Origin of CONDUCT

Middle English, from Medieval Latin conductus, from Latin conducere

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to CONDUCT

Synonyms

administration, care, charge, control, direction, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision

Related Words

generalship, leadership, rulership; agency; aegis (also egis), custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward; engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation; coadministration, codirection, comanagement

Rhymes with CONDUCT

abduct, adduct, bile duct, construct, deduct, eruct, induct, instruct, obstruct, reluct, subduct

²con·duct

verb \kən-ˈdəkt also ˈkän-ˌdəkt\

Definition of CONDUCT

transitive verb

1

: to bring by or as if by leading : guide <conduct tourists through a museum>

2

a : to lead from a position of command <conduct a siege> <conduct a class>

b : to direct or take part in the operation or management of <conduct an experiment> <conduct a business> <conduct an investigation>

c : to direct the performance of <conduct an orchestra> <conduct an opera>

3

a : to convey in a channel

b : to act as a medium for conveying or transmitting

4

: to cause (oneself) to act or behave in a particular and especially in a controlled manner

intransitive verb

1

of a road or passage : to show the way : lead

2

a : to act as leader or director

b : to have the quality of transmitting light, heat, sound, or electricity

— con·duct·ibil·i·ty \kən-ˌdək-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— con·duct·ible \-ˈdək-tə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of CONDUCT

1. The police are conducting an investigation into last week's robbery.
2. I like the way the company conducts business.
3. The magazine conducted a survey.
4. Who will be conducting the meeting?
5. The committee is expected to conduct hearings in May.
6. He conducts the choir with great skill and emotion.
7. conducting the music of Mozart
8. Our guide slowly conducted us through the museum.
9. Our guide conducted us along the path.

First Known Use of CONDUCT

15th century

Related to CONDUCT

Synonyms

administer, administrate, carry on, control, direct, govern, guide, handle, keep, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tend, watch over

Antonyms

follow, trail

Related Words

care (for), mind, watch; lead, pilot, steer; guard, protect, safeguard; micromanage, stage-manage; codirect, comanage

Near Antonyms

act up, carry on, cut up, misbehave, misconduct

Synonym Discussion of CONDUCT

conduct, manage, control, direct mean to use one's powers to lead, guide, or dominate. conduct implies taking responsibility for the acts and achievements of a group <conducted negotiations>. manage implies direct handling and manipulating or maneuvering toward a desired result <manages a meat market>. control implies a regulating or restraining in order to keep within bounds or on a course <controlling his appetite>. direct implies constant guiding and regulating so as to achieve smooth operation <directs the store's day-to-day business>.

con·duct

transitive verb \kən-ˈdəkt also ˈkän-ˌdəkt\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CONDUCT

: to act as a medium for conveying

intransitive verb

: to have the quality of transmitting something (as light, heat, sound, or electricity)