con ‧ fer AC /kənˈfɜː $ -ˈfɜːr/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle conferred , present participle conferring ) formal
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ confer ; noun : ↑ conference ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: conferre 'to bring together' , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + ferre 'to carry' ]
1 . [intransitive] to discuss something with other people, so that everyone can express their opinions and decide on something
confer with
Franklin leant over and conferred with his attorneys.
2 . confer a title/degree/honour etc to officially give someone a title etc, especially as a reward for something they have achieved SYN bestow
confer a title/degree/honour etc on/upon
An honorary degree was conferred on him by the University.
—conferment noun [uncountable and countable]
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ give to let someone have something, without expecting to be paid for it:
He was always giving me gifts.
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They gave a free drink to all their customers.
▪ donate to give money to an organization that helps people or protects something, or to give your blood or part of your body to save someone’s life:
The company donates 1 per cent of its profits to charity.
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70% of people wanted to donate their organs after death.
▪ award to officially give money or a prize to someone:
She was awarded a million dollars in damages.
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Hollywood awarded him an Oscar for his performance.
▪ present to formally or officially give something to someone by putting it in their hands, especially at a formal ceremony:
They presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
▪ leave ( also bequeath /bɪˈkwiːð, bɪˈkwiːθ/ formal ) to officially arrange for someone to have something that you own after your death:
He left most of his property to his wife.
▪ lavish somebody with something/lavish something on somebody formal to give someone a lot of something, especially praise, attention, or gifts:
After his team won, the press lavished him with praise.
▪ confer formal to give someone an honour, a university degree, or the right or power to do something:
the powers conferred on him by Parliament
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the highest honor that her country could confer on her
▪ bestow formal to give someone something to show how much they are respected, for example an honour, a title, or a gift – a very formal use:
He was also bestowed the title of ‘Cultural Ambassador of Grenada’.