I. con ‧ duct 1 W2 AC /kənˈdʌkt/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: conductus , past participle of conducere ; CONDUCE ]
1 . CARRY OUT [transitive] to carry out a particular activity or process, especially in order to get information or prove facts
conduct a survey/investigation/review etc
We are conducting a survey of consumer attitudes towards organic food.
conduct an experiment/a test
Is it really necessary to conduct experiments on animals?
conduct a campaign
They conducted a campaign of bombings and assassinations.
conduct an interview
The interview was conducted in English.
The memorial service was conducted by the Rev. David Prior.
It was the first time that I had conducted business in Brazil.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say do or carry out rather than conduct :
▪
They’re doing a survey of opinions about organic food.
2 . MUSIC [intransitive and transitive] to stand in front of a group of musicians or singers and direct their playing or singing ⇨ conductor
conduct an orchestra/choir
The orchestra is conducted by John Williams.
Who will be conducting?
3 . BEHAVE conduct yourself formal to behave in a particular way, especially in a situation where people judge you by the way you behave:
The players conducted themselves impeccably, both on and off the field.
4 . ELECTRICITY/HEAT [transitive] if something conducts electricity or heat, it allows electricity or heat to travel along or through it ⇨ conductor :
Aluminium, being a metal, readily conducts heat.
5 . SHOW SOMEBODY SOMETHING [transitive always + adverb/preposition] formal to take or lead someone somewhere
conduct somebody to something
On arrival, I was conducted to the commandant’s office.
conducted tour (of something) (=a tour of a building, city, or area with someone who tells you about that place)
a conducted tour of Berlin
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ conduct research
He’s conducting educational research at the University of Washington.
▪ conduct a survey
They conducted a survey of students’ careers one year after graduation.
▪ conduct a study/review
Scientists conducted a study of the area affected by the nuclear disaster.
▪ conduct an investigation/inquiry
Experts conducted an investigation into the causes of the crash.
▪ conduct an interview
Here are a few guidelines on how to conduct an interview.
▪ conduct a campaign
The party was criticized for the way it had conducted its election campaign.
▪ conduct a test/experiment
Investigators will be conducting tests to determine how the man died.
▪ conduct a search
The Spanish authorities conducted a nationwide search for the girl.
▪ conduct (a) business
The company had been conducting a lot of business in Latin America.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ do to do something – used in the following phrases: do your work/homework etc :
It usually takes me a couple of hours to do my homework.
| do the shopping/cooking/washing etc :
She’s gone to the supermarket to do the shopping.
| do a test/experiment/some research :
The doctor did some tests.
|
Fraser spent some time in Egypt doing some archaeological research.
|
Scientists are doing research on two types of vaccine.
| do a course :
Have you decided which course you want to do at university?
▪ make to do something – used in the following phrases: make a speech :
The Prince made a short speech.
| make a comment/suggestion/joke :
Can I make a suggestion?
| make a decision :
The committee will meet to make their final decision.
| make a mistake :
I think someone has made a mistake.
▪ give to do something – used in the following phrases: give a talk/speech/lecture :
They’ve asked him to give a talk.
| give a performance :
The band gave a brilliant performance.
▪ take to do something – used in the following phrases: take a test/exam :
Kate’s taking her driving test tomorrow.
| take a bath/shower :
I think I’ll go and take a shower.
| take a walk :
Normally, he took a walk in the evenings.
▪ commit to do something that is a crime, especially a serious crime: commit a crime :
The crime was committed in the early hours of the morning.
| commit a robbery/murder etc :
Dixon later admitted committing the robbery.
▪ carry out something to do something – used in the following phrases: carry out your work :
The violence is making it difficult for firefighters to carry out their work.
| carry out a task/duty :
He still managed to carry out his duties.
| carry out a survey/test/some research :
The hospital carries out research into skin diseases.
| carry out an operation :
The operation was carried out at a hospital in Paris.
| carry out a threat/promise :
They didn’t carry out their threat to kill the hostages.
| carry out sb’s orders/instructions/wishes :
I’m sure I can rely on you to carry out my instructions.
▪ perform to do something. Perform is more formal than carry out , and is used in the following phrases: perform a task/duty :
The job mostly involves performing administrative tasks.
| perform an operation :
A team of surgeons performed the operation.
▪ conduct to do something – used in the following phrases: conduct a survey/study/experiment :
They conducted a survey of approximately 2,000 people living in the area.
| conduct an inquiry/investigation :
The police are conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire.
| conduct an interview :
Knowing how to conduct a successful interview is a skill.
| conduct a campaign :
People were unimpressed by the way in which the election campaign was conducted.
▪ go about something to do your work or the things that you usually do, especially when something serious has happened: go about your work/business :
The next day she went about her business as if nothing had happened.
▪ get on with something spoken especially British English to start doing something that you should have started already or to continue doing something that you stopped doing for a short time:
I need to get on with my homework.
▪ be up to something spoken to be doing something that you think is probably bad, although you do not know exactly what it is:
I’m sure they’re up to something.
|
What’s Jake up to? He’s been upstairs in his room all day.
II. con ‧ duct 2 W3 AC /ˈkɒndʌkt $ ˈkɑːn-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable] formal
1 . the way someone behaves, especially in public, in their job etc SYN behaviour :
The Senator’s conduct is being investigated by the Ethics Committee.
an inquiry into the conduct of the police
ethical/professional etc conduct
the Law Society’s Code of Professional Conduct
improper/violent/offensive etc conduct
his arrest for disorderly conduct (=noisy violent behaviour)
2 . conduct of something the way in which an activity is organized and carried out:
complaints about the conduct of the elections
Disclosure of information would compromise the proper conduct of the investigation.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ professional conduct
There are strict rules that regulate lawyers’ professional conduct.
▪ sexual conduct
The politician’s sexual conduct had caused scandal.
▪ violent conduct
Their goalkeeper was sent off the field for violent conduct.
▪ disorderly conduct (=behaving in a noisy or violent way in public)
Her husband was arrested for drunkenness and disorderly conduct.
▪ criminal conduct
In some cases of bullying, pupils may be guilty of criminal conduct.
▪ proper/improper conduct (=correct/incorrect behaviour according to the normal rules or standards)
There was no evidence of improper conduct on the part of the police.
▪ personal conduct
You are expected to maintain a high standard of personal conduct at work.
▪ unsportsmanlike conduct (=behaviour that is not acceptable in a fair competition)
He swore at the referee, and was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.
▪ human conduct
Societies have certain rules for normal human conduct.
■ phrases
▪ a code of conduct (=a set of rules stating how you must behave)
All professions have a code of conduct.
▪ rules/standards of conduct
In war, there are established rules of conduct.
▪ a course of conduct (=a set of actions)
The court said that when Harris had embarked on this course of conduct, he knew that it would put lives at risk.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ behaviour British English , behavior American English the way someone behaves:
Chemicals added to food may be responsible for children’s bad behaviour.
|
Tatsuya apologized for his behaviour towards me.
▪ conduct formal the way someone behaves in public or in their job – used mainly in official or legal contexts:
Bates was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct (=noisy and violent) .
|
The committee found him guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct.
▪ manner the way someone behaves when they are talking to or dealing with other people, which is shown in their expression, their voice etc:
She had a pleasant friendly manner.
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Suddenly his whole manner changed, and he started shouting.
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His initial manner towards her had been rather formal.
▪ demeanour British English , demeanor American English formal the way someone looks and behaves, which shows you something about their character or feelings:
She maintained a calm demeanour at all times.
|
Wenger’s demeanour suggested that he was not happy with the situation.
▪ antics someone’s behaviour – used when you think it is silly, funny, strange, or annoying:
The drunken antics of some English football fans has brought shame on the country.
|
The actor is becoming known for his increasingly bizarre off-screen antics.