adj., n., & v.
--adj.
1. a existing in a material form; real. b specific, definite (concrete evidence; a concrete proposal).
2 Gram. (of a noun) denoting a material object as opposed to an abstract quality, state, or action.
--n. (often attrib.) a composition of gravel, sand, cement, and water, used for building.
--v.
1. tr. a cover with concrete. b embed in concrete.
2 a tr. & intr. form into a mass; solidify. b tr. make concrete instead of abstract.
Phrases and idioms:
concrete-mixer a machine, usu. with a revolving drum, used for mixing concrete. concrete music music constructed by mixing recorded sounds. concrete poetry poetry using unusual typographical layout to enhance the effect on the page. in the concrete in reality or in practice.
Derivatives:
concretely adv. concreteness n.
Etymology: F concret or L concretus past part. of concrescere (as com-, crescere cret- grow)