(~s)
1.
Your ~ is the part of your mind that tells you whether what you are doing is right or wrong. If you have a guilty ~, you feel guilty about something because you know it was wrong. If you have a clear ~, you do not feel guilty because you know you have done nothing wrong.
I have battled with my ~ over whether I should actually send this letter...
What if he got a guilty ~ and brought it back?...
I could go away again with a clear ~.
N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp, oft poss N, adj N
2.
Conscience is doing what you believe is right even though it might be unpopular, difficult, or dangerous.
He refused for reasons of ~ to sign a new law legalising abortion.
...the law on freedom of ~ and religious organizations.
N-UNCOUNT
see also prisoner of ~
3.
Conscience is a feeling of guilt because you know you have done something that is wrong.
I’m so glad he had a pang of ~...
They have shown a ruthless lack of ~.
N-UNCOUNT
4.
If you say that you cannot do something in all ~, in good ~, or in ~, you mean that you cannot do it because you think it is wrong.
She could not, in good ~, back out on her deal with him.
PHRASE: PHR with cl, with brd-neg
5.
If you have something on your ~, you feel guilty because you know you have done something wrong.
Now the murderer has two deaths on his ~.
PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR