con ‧ sul ‧ ta ‧ tion AC /ˌkɒns ə lˈteɪʃ ə n $ ˌkɑːn-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ consultation , ↑ consultancy , ↑ consultant , ↑ consulting ; adjective : ↑ consultative , ↑ consulting ; verb : ↑ consult ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] a discussion in which people who are affected by or involved in something can give their opinions
consultation with
The decision was reached after consultation with parents and teachers.
consultation between
He’s calling for urgent consultations between the government and the oil industry to resolve the problem.
in consultation with somebody
The plans were drawn up in consultation with engineers.
consultation process/exercise/period
There will be a public consultation exercise to ask for people’s views.
consultation paper/document
2 . [countable] a meeting with a professional person, especially a doctor, for advice or treatment:
A follow-up consultation was arranged for two weeks’ time.
3 . [uncountable] the process of getting advice from a professional person:
Trained parenting experts are available for consultation by telephone.
4 . [uncountable] the process of looking for information or help in a book:
Leaflets were regularly displayed for consultation by students.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ hold a consultation
Further consultations will be held with local residents.
▪ begin a consultation
French and German officials began consultations with officials from the other four nations.
▪ require consultation formal (=need consultation)
Any decision on military action would require consultation.
■ adjectives
▪ public consultation (=asking for for ordinary people's views)
The first public consultations considered environmental and health issues.
▪ full consultation (=including all the details of something)
No decision will be made until there has been full consultation with farmers.
▪ prior consultation (=happening before something is done)
New educational policies should be based on prior consultation with teachers.
▪ proper consultation
Has there been proper consultation with the local communities?
▪ further consultation
It is recommended that further consultation should take place.
▪ close consultation (=in which people, groups etc discuss something carefully together)
The changes followed close consultation with government officials.
▪ wide/widespread/extensive consultation (=involving a lot of people, groups etc)
Strong recommendations were made after wide consultation.
▪ joint consultation (=involving two different groups)
Committees can be used for joint consultation between employers and employees.
▪ formal consultation (=organized in a formal way)
Better methods of formal consultation are needed.
■ consultation + NOUN
▪ a consultation paper/document (=a formal report on a subject that needs to be discussed)
He produced a consultation document on public transport proposals for the city.
▪ the consultation process/period
an eight-week consultation process
▪ a consultation exercise (=an activity that involves getting people's opinions on something)
The public consultation exercise was undertaken to gauge public reaction.