Concrete
/ˈkɒŋkriːt/
Definitions
2 meaningsExisting in a material or physical form; real or tangible.
/ˈkɒŋkriːt/
The evidence was concrete and irrefutable.
💡 Simply: Concrete means something you can see and touch, like a real thing, not just an idea. Like a concrete wall, not a cloudy idea.
👶 For kids: Something you can touch and feel.
More Examples
She had concrete plans for the future.
How It's Used
"We need concrete evidence to support this claim."
"He preferred concrete examples to abstract theories."
A building material made from a mixture of cement, aggregate (such as gravel or broken stone), and water.
/ˈkɒŋkriːt/
A building material made from a mixture of cement, sand, and gravel.
The workers poured the concrete for the foundation.
💡 Simply: Concrete is like a super-strong, hard cement used to build buildings and roads. It's made from mixing cement, sand, and rocks together.
👶 For kids: Strong stuff for building houses!
More Examples
The sidewalk is made of concrete.
How It's Used
"The foundation of the house was made of reinforced concrete."
From Latin *concretus, past participle of concrescere "to grow together", from con- "together" + crescere "to grow". Initially referring to the act of solidifying or growing together, the modern meaning developed through the use of concrete as a building material.
The word's usage has evolved from its original meaning of 'to grow together' to its modern association with the building material and the concept of something tangible.
Memory tip
Think of concrete as the opposite of abstract – it's something you can touch.
Word Origin
"to grow together"