Con

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /kÉ’n/
• US IPA: /kÉ‘n/
• Rhymes: -É’n

From Middle English connen, from Old English cunnan ("to know, know how"). More at can.

Full definition of con

Verb

1. (rare) To study, especially in order to gain knowledge of.
• WordsworthFixedly did look
  Upon the muddy waters which he conned
  As if he had been reading in a book.
• BurkeI did not come into Parliament to con my lesson.
• 1963, D'Arcy Niland, Dadda jumped over two elephants: short stories:The hawk rested on a crag of the gorge and conned the terrain with a fierce and frowning eye.''
2. (rare, archaic) To know, understand, acknowledge.
• 1579, Edmund Spenser, , Iune:Of Muses Hobbinol, I conne no skill
3. Variant spelling of conn: to conduct the movements of a ship at sea.

Related terms

• ken
• unconned

Abbreviation of Latin contra ("against").

Noun

1. A disadvantage of something, especially when contrasted with its advantages (pros).pros and cons

Synonyms

• disadvantage

Antonyms

• pro

Related terms

• pros and cons

Shortened from convict.

Noun

1. (slang) A convicted criminal, a convict.

From con trick, shortened from confidence trick.

Noun

1. (slang) A fraud; something carried out with the intention of deceiving, usually for personal, often illegal, gain.

Synonyms

Verb

1. (transitive, slang) To trick or defraud, usually for personal gain.

Synonyms

• (to be conned) be sold a pup idiomatic, British, Australian

Related terms

From earlier cond, from Middle English conduen, from Old French conduire, from Latin condūcere, present active infinitive of condūcō ("draw together; conduct").

Verb

1. (nautical) To give the necessary orders to the helmsman to steer a ship in the required direction through a channel etc. (rather than steer a compass direction)

Noun

1. (nautical) The navigational direction of a ship

Derived terms

or conference.

Noun

1. An organized gathering such as a convention or conference.

Anagrams

• NCO, NOC