concrete
gb/kˈɑŋkɹit/ us/kˈɑŋkɹit/
A2
English
~ 3900
beton, konkrét, kézzelfogható, lebetonoz
NOUN
A2
1
beton
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] made of concrete
The workers poured concrete to form the building's foundation.
A munkások betont öntöttek az épület alapjához.
The path was made of smooth concrete.
Az út sima betonból készült.
Reinforced concrete is stronger than plain concrete.
They laid a concrete floor in the garage.
Learner examples
The wall is made of concrete.
A fal betonból készült.
They use concrete to make the road.
Betont használnak az út megépítéséhez.
Concrete is very strong.
He poured concrete into the hole.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cement' with 'concrete'. Cement is only one part of concrete.
Meaning
Hard building material
Collocations
pour concrete
|set concrete
|reinforced concrete
|concrete block
|concrete slab
Synonyms
cement (Cement is the powder ingredient used to make concrete; not the final material.)
Antonyms
timber (Timber is a building material made from wood, not stone-like concrete.)
Themes
construction
|materials
|engineering
|housing
|work
|science
Definition
A hard material made from cement, water, sand, and stones, used to build things.
A strong, solid material made by mixing cement, water, sand, and small stones, used for building.
B1
2
konkrét
B1
Usage pattern:
concrete [thing/example/result]
She gave a concrete example to support her point.
Konkrét példát hozott fel az álláspontja alátámasztására.
We need concrete evidence before making an arrest.
Kézzelfogható bizonyítékra van szükségünk, mielőtt bárkit letartóztatnánk.
The plan lacks any concrete details.
Learner examples
He gave a concrete example.
Konkrét példát adott.
We need concrete facts.
Konkrét tényekre van szükségünk.
This is a concrete plan.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'concrete' only means the building material and miss its use for 'real' things.
Meaning
Real and physical
Collocations
concrete example
|concrete evidence
|concrete result
Synonyms
tangible (Tangible often means something that can be touched or clearly felt; slightly broader than 'concrete'.)
Antonyms
abstract (Abstract means existing as an idea or concept only, without physical form.)
Themes
descriptions
|philosophy
|core_vocabulary
|science
Definition
Something you can see or touch, not just an idea.
Existing in a real or physical form that can be seen or touched, not abstract.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
3
lebetonoz
B2
Usage pattern:
to concrete [an area/surface]
They decided to concrete over the old garden.
Úgy döntöttek, hogy lebetonozzák a régi kertet.
The driveway will be concreted next week.
A kocsibejárót jövő héten lebetonozzák.
The workers concreted the area to make a new parking lot.
Learner examples
They will concrete the road.
Le fogják betonozni az utat.
We concreted the floor yesterday.
Tegnap lebetonoztuk a padlót.
The workers will concrete the path.
Meaning
Cover with concrete
Collocations
concrete over
|concrete surface
Synonyms
pave (Pave can refer to covering with other materials like asphalt, not just concrete.)
Antonyms
excavate (Excavate means to remove earth or material, opposite of covering with concrete.)
Themes
construction
|materials
|housing
|work
Definition
To put concrete on something to make it hard and solid.
To cover, pave, or fill an area with concrete.
Grammar
Dictionary form
concrete
IPA
GB/kˈɑŋkɹit/
US/kˈɑŋkɹit/
Syllables & stress
con - crete (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (con)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: concrete
Noun
- Base: concrete
- Plural: concrete
Verb
- Base: concrete
- 3rd Person Singular: concretes
- Present Participle: concreting
- Past: concreted
Word family
Forms
concretes
verb
concreting
verb
concreted
verb
Related words
concretely
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
abstract
adjective B2
Expressions
reinforced concrete
1/ɹˌiɪnfˈɔɹst kˈɑŋkɹit/
fixed phrase
technical
Concrete with steel reinforcement
Concrete that has steel inside to make it stronger.
Examples
- The bridge was built using reinforced concrete.
- Reinforced concrete is common in tall buildings.
set in concrete
4/sˈɛt ˈɪn kˈɑŋkɹit/
idiom
Fixed and unchangeable
Not possible to change; permanent.
Examples
- The schedule is not set in concrete yet.
- Our plans are set in concrete now, so we can't make changes.
concrete jungle
2/kˈɑŋkɹit d͡ʒˈʌŋɡəl/
idiom
city of concrete buildings
A city area with many big buildings and almost no trees or green places, often seen as ugly or hard to live in.
Examples
- He grew up in a concrete jungle with hardly any parks.
- Tourists are often surprised by how much green space there is in what looks like a concrete jungle from above.
- She misses the trees and hates living in a concrete jungle.
concrete jungle
3/kˈɑŋkɹit d͡ʒˈʌŋɡəl/
idiom
informal
Crowded urban area
A city area with many buildings and very few trees or plants.
Examples
- He moved from a small town to the concrete jungle of New York City.
- Some people love living in a concrete jungle; others find it stressful.