Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

1

conn

verb \ ˈkän \
variants: or less commonly
See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

Definition of conn

conned; conning
transitive verb
: to conduct or direct the steering of (a vessel, such as a ship)

conn was our Word of the Day on 07/20/2010. Hear the podcast!

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Get Word of the Day daily email, delivered to your inbox!

Examples of conn in a Sentence

  1. there was white-knuckle tension as the captain conned the gunboat through the mine-infested harbor

Origin and Etymology of conn

alteration of cond, probably alteration of Middle English condien, conduen to conduct, from Anglo-French cunduire — more at conduit

conn Synonyms

Synonyms

helm, navigate, pilot, steer;

Related Words

commandeer, hijack (also highjack);

Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, port, starboard, stay

2

conn

noun
variants: or less commonly con

Definition of conn

: the control exercised by one who conns a ship

First Known Use of conn

1825

Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, port, starboard, stay

Conn

abbreviation

Definition of Conn

Connecticut

Phrases Related to CONN

Related Phrases

CONN Defined for Kids

Conn.

abbreviation

Definition of Conn. for Students

Connecticut

Learn More about conn

  1. See words that rhyme with conn Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for conn

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up conn? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

grudging

play

unwilling or reluctant

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  2. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  3. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

  4. salacious 'arousing or appealing to sexual desire'

  5. oligarch 'government in which a small group exercises control'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

conn

Test Your Vocabulary

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

  • image1926873504
  • Which of the following best describes an easily irritated person?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

image236659401
Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

alt-5ada140ed3e28
'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Why not both?

alt-5ad8fc71357ed
Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

No, it's not a coiffure trend

alt-5ad8d3361fb97
Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

You're on the edge of your seat

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1926873504
Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz
cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
Spell It
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz
Add Diction
Add Diction

Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.

Play the game
Examples: conn in a Sentence
Editor's Note: Did You Know?