concrete Definition
- 1a building material made from a mixture of cement, sand, gravel, and water that hardens to a stone-like mass
- 2existing in a material or physical form; not abstract
Using concrete: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "concrete" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The new building was made of concrete and steel.
Example
The concept of love is too abstract to be concrete.
Example
She gave me concrete evidence to support her claim.
Example
The plan needs to be more concrete before we can move forward.
concrete Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for concrete
- material
- solid
- real
- tangible
- substantial
Antonyms for concrete
- abstract
- theoretical
- immaterial
Idioms Using concrete
pour concrete
to lay a foundation or create a solid structure
Example
The workers are going to pour concrete for the new driveway tomorrow.
set in concrete
to be firmly established and difficult to change
Example
The plans for the project are not set in concrete yet, so there is still room for adjustments.
concrete overcoat
a humorous term for a layer of concrete used to bury a dead body
Example
In the movie, the mafia boss ordered his henchmen to give the victim a concrete overcoat.
Phrases with concrete
concrete jungle
an urban area that is heavily developed and lacks greenery or open spaces
Example
I prefer living in the countryside because I don't like the concrete jungle of the city.
concrete idea
a clear and specific understanding of something
Example
We need to come up with some concrete ideas for how to improve sales.
concrete proof
evidence that is definite and conclusive
Example
The DNA test provided concrete proof of his guilt.
Origins of concrete
from Latin 'concretus', meaning 'grown together'
Summary: concrete in Brief
The term 'concrete' [ˈkɒŋkriːt] refers to a building material made from a mixture of cement, sand, gravel, and water that hardens to a stone-like mass. It also means existing in a material or physical form, not abstract. Examples include 'The new building was made of concrete and steel.' and 'The concept of love is too abstract to be concrete.' Phrases like 'concrete jungle' denote an urban area lacking greenery, while 'concrete idea' refers to a clear understanding of something.
