Conduct

Pronunciation

• noun
• RP IPA: /ˈkÉ’ndÊŒkt/
• US enPR: kŏn'dÅ­kt, IPA: /ˈkÉ‘ndÊŒkt/
• verb enPR: kÉ™ndÅ­kt', IPA: /kÉ™nˈdÊŒkt/
• Rhymes: -ÊŒkt

Origin

From Late Latin conductus ("defense, escort"), from Latin conductus, perfect passive participle of condūcō ("bring together"); see also conduce and conduit.

Full definition of conduct

Noun

1. The act or method of controlling or directing
• 1785, William Paley, The Principles of Moral and Political PhilosophyThere are other restrictions imposed upon the conduct of war, not by the law of nature primarily, but by the laws of war first, and by the law of nature as seconding and ratifying the laws of war.
• Ld. Broughamthe conduct of the state, the administration of its affairs
2. Skillful guidance or management; generalship.Conduct of armies is a prince's art. - Edmund Waller.
• Robertson... attacked the Spaniards ... with great impetuosity, but with so little conduct, that his forces were totally routed.
3. The manner of guiding or carrying oneself; personal deportment; mode of action; behavior.Good conduct will be rewarded and likewise poor conduct will be punished.
• MacaulayAll these difficulties were increased by the conduct of Shrewsbury.
• DrydenWhat in the conduct of our life appears
  So well designed, so luckily begun,
  But when we have our wish, we wish undone?
4. (of a literary work) Plot; action; construction; manner of development.
• Macaulaythe book of Job, in conduct and diction
5. (obsolete) Convoy; escort; guard; guide.
• Ben JonsonI will be your conduct.
• ShakespeareIn my conduct shall your ladies come.
6. That which carries or conveys anything; a channel; a conduit; an instrument.
• Shakespearealthough thou hast been conduct of my chame

Synonyms

• (act or method of controlling or directing ) control, guidance, management
• (manner of guiding or carrying one's self): bearing, behavior/behaviour, deportment, demeanor/demeanour,
• (plot of a literary work) action, plot, storyline

Verb

1. (archaic, transitive) To lead, or guide; to escort.
• 1634, John Milton, I can conduct you, lady, to a low
  But loyal cottage, where you may be safe.
2. (transitive) To lead, as a commander; to direct; to manage; to carry on.to conduct the affairs of a kingdom
• William H. PrescottLittle skilled in the art of conducting a siege.
3. (transitive) (reflexively to conduct oneself) To behave.He conducted himself well.
4. (transitive) To serve as a medium for conveying; to transmit, as heat, light, electricity, etc.
• 2011, September 20, Matt Day and Tatyana Shumsky, Copper Falls to 2011 Lows, The metal easily conducts electricity and doesn't rust in water, properties that have made it valuable in uses from household plumbing and electric wiring
5. (transitive, music) To direct, as the leader in the performance of a musical composition.
• 2006, Michael R. Waters with Mark Long and William Dickens, Lone Star Stalag: German Prisoners of War at Camp HearneFor a while, Walter Pohlmann, a well-known German conductor, conducted the orchestra in Compound 3. Later, Willi Mets, who had conducted the world-renowned Leipzig Symphony Orchestra, conducted the Compound 3 orchestra.
6. (intransitive) To act as a conductor (as of heat, electricity, etc.); to carry.
7. (transitive) To carry out (something organized)
• 2011, September 11, , Fugro, Royal Philips Electronics: Benelux Equity Preview, The world's largest surveyor of deepwater oil fields won a contract to conduct a survey of the French Gulf of Lion to map sand reserves.

Synonyms

• (lead or guide) accompany, escort, guide, lead, steer, belead
• (direct) direct, lead, manage, oversee, run, supervise, belead
• (reflexively: to behave) act, behave, carry on
• (to serve as a medium for conveying) carry, convey, transmit