CONSCIOUS


Meaning of CONSCIOUS in English

con ‧ scious S2 W3 /ˈkɒnʃəs $ ˈkɑːn-/ BrE AmE adjective

[ Word Family: noun : ↑ subconscious , ↑ unconscious , ↑ consciousness , ↑ unconsciousness ; adverb : ↑ subconsciously , ↑ consciously ≠ ↑ unconsciously ; adjective : ↑ conscious ≠ ↑ unconscious , ↑ subconscious ]

[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: conscius , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + scire 'to know' ]

1 . AWARE [not before noun] noticing or realizing something SYN aware

conscious of (doing) something

I became conscious of someone watching me.

I was very conscious of the fact that I had to make a good impression.

conscious that

She was conscious that Marie was listening to every word.

2 . AWAKE awake and able to understand what is happening around you OPP unconscious :

The driver was still conscious when the ambulance arrived.

3 . conscious effort/decision/attempt etc an effort etc that is deliberate and intended:

Vivien had made a conscious effort to be friendly.

4 . CONCERNED thinking a lot about or concerned about something

politically/environmentally/socially etc conscious

environmentally conscious consumers

health-conscious/fashion-conscious etc

Many employers are becoming more safety-conscious.

conscious of

She was very conscious of security.

⇨ ↑ self-conscious

5 . THOUGHTS conscious thoughts, memories etc are ones which you know about ⇨ subconscious :

the conscious mind

Without conscious thought, she instinctively placed a hand on his arm.

It affects the audience at a deeper, less conscious level.

—consciously adverb :

She was probably not consciously aware of her true feelings.

• • •

COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 4)

■ adverbs

▪ socially/politically/environmentally etc conscious (=conscious of social/political etc issues)

We have all become more environmentally conscious.

■ NOUN + conscious

▪ health conscious

People are health conscious nowadays and careful about what they eat.

▪ fashion conscious

Young girls are always very fashion conscious.

▪ security conscious

Most airports are extremely security conscious.

▪ safety conscious

Workers are encouraged to be safety conscious.

▪ cost conscious

Companies keen to increase their profits have to be cost conscious.

▪ class conscious (=concerned about what class of society people come from)

In the past, people were much more class conscious.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.