concentrate

CEFRB1

/ˈkɒn.sən.tɹeɪt/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To give all your attention to something.

  2. 02

    noun

    A substance made stronger by removing extra liquid.

Examples

  • I can't concentrate with all that noise going on.

  • They're making too much noise. I can't concentrate.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
4
Synonyms
2

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To approach or meet in a common center; to consolidate.

  2. To increase the strength and diminish the bulk of, as of a liquid or an ore; to intensify, by getting rid of useless material; to condense.

  3. To bring to, or direct toward, a common center; to unite more closely; to gather into one body, mass, or force.

More examples

In context

  • Turn off the television. I can't concentrate.

  • to concentrate rays of light into a focus

  • to concentrate acid by evaporation

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

To pass the exam, you must blank on the lecture for hours.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

(early 17th century) From a Romance language, see French concentrer, Italian concentràre, Spanish concentrar; alternatively from Medieval Latin/New Latin concentrō + -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare also earlier concentre and German konzentrieren. By surface analysis, con- + center (centr- in compounds) + -ate (verb-forming suffix).