adj.
Pronunciation: ' kän(t)-sh ə s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin conscius, from com- + scire to know
Date: 1592
1 : perceiving, apprehending, or noticing with a degree of controlled thought or observation < conscious of having succeeded> <was conscious that someone was watching>
2 archaic : sharing another's knowledge or awareness of an inward state or outward fact
3 : personally felt < conscious guilt>
4 : capable of or marked by thought, will, design, or perception
5 : SELF-CONSCIOUS
6 : having mental faculties undulled by sleep, faintness, or stupor : AWAKE <became conscious after the anesthesia wore off>
7 : done or acting with critical awareness <a conscious effort to do better>
8 a : likely to notice, consider, or appraise <a bargain- conscious shopper> b : being concerned or interested <a budget- conscious businessman> c : marked by strong feelings or notions <a race- conscious society>
synonyms see AWARE
– con · scious · ly adverb