conquercon‧quer /ˈkɒŋkə $ ˈkɑːŋkər/ ●●○ verb 
The Normans conquered England in 1066. Egypt was conquered by the Persian King Kambyses.2[intransitive, transitive] to defeat an enemy: The Zulus conquered all the neighbouring tribes.3[transitive] to gain control over something that is difficult, using a lot of effortconquer your nerves/fear She was determined to conquer her fear of flying. efforts to conquer inflation drugs to conquer the disease4[transitive] to succeed in climbing to the top of a mountain when no one has ever climbed it before: an attempt to conquer the peaks of Everest5[transitive] to become very successful in a place: In the last few years, the company has succeeded in conquering the European market.—conqueror noun [countable]—conquering adjective: conquering heroes
WORD ORIGINconquer
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French conquerre, from Latin conquirere ‘to look for, collect’, from com- ( ➔ COM-) + quaerere ‘to ask, search’VERB TABLE
conquer
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | conquer |
| he, she, it | conquers | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | conquered |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have conquered |
| he, she, it | has conquered | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had conquered |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will conquer |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have conquered |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am conquering |
| he, she, it | is conquering | |
| you, we, they | are conquering | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was conquering |
| you, we, they | were conquering | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been conquering |
| he, she, it | has been conquering | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been conquering |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be conquering |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been conquering |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Ari not only conquered his drinking problem, but he's found a new career.
- Disney's quest is to conquer the worlds of entertainment and leisure.
- Hernan Cortes led Spanish troops to conquer the Aztecs.
- Julius Caesar conquered Gaul, which we know today as France.
- Sailors travelled to the New World with the urge to conquer and explore.
- Sir Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing made history in 1953 by conquering Mount Everest.
- The Zulus conquered all the neighboring tribes.
- Consider this stirring quotation and its possible ecological implications: We must discover and conquer the country in which we live.
- Each country has its own geography where the spirit dwells and where physical force can never conquer even an inch of ground.
- He was using the treaty not so much to conquer as to acquire legitimately what he regarded as his own by right.
- Rich had conquered his own temper enough to take and not to spoil this rare second shot at school.
- So, if legions from the north had conquered the south, the spirit of the south was defeating the north.
- The Yasa says that we can enslave only those we conquer in battle.
- They want the women to be a sort of role model for them, out there conquering and achieving.
Longman Language Activatorto defeat an enemy in war
to completely defeat an enemy's army because your armed forces are much larger, have better equipment etc: · The army was well-trained and well-armed, and had little difficulty defeating the rebels.heavily defeat: · The Republicans were heavily defeated in the Spanish Civil War.
to completely defeat an enemy's army because your armed forces are much larger, have better equipment etc: · Napoleon's army was strong enough to overwhelm nearly any potential enemy.· With its greatly superior technology, the government forces completely overwhelmed the rebels.
to completely defeat an enemy's army in a war and to destroy all their armed forces: · After a long and bloody battle the army succeeded in annihilating Seged's forces.· In 1945 Japan was helpless, with its military power annihilated.
to completely defeat an enemy's army in battle: · The general was killed and his armies were routed in a magnificent cavalry charge.
to cause the final defeat of an enemy, especially after a long war, so that they are too weak to fight back: · The disastrous Battle of the Boyne finally brought the Catholics to their knees.· After years of trench warfare, the Kaiser's army had finally been brought to its knees.
to completely defeat the armed forces of an enemy country, with the result that you have complete control over it: · Sailors travelled to the New World with the urge to conquer and explore.· Julius Caesar conquered Gaul, which we know today as France.
to stop yourself from having or showing a feeling to try hard to stop yourself laughing, crying, or showing anger: hold back something: · Jack held back his tears and pretended not to be disappointed.· Sarah held back a sob of relief.hold something back: · I wanted to laugh, but I managed to hold it back.· She struggled to hold her feelings back.
: stifle a yawn/a smile/laughter etc to try to stop yourself showing that you are tired, amused etc especially because you do not want to seem rude: · She stifled a yawn as the boss read out the sales figures.· Maria looked away and stifled a giggle.
written to make a strong effort to stop yourself from showing feelings of anger, sadness etc: · I suppressed an urge to laugh.· He looked at me, waiting with suppressed anger.· It's not good to suppress your feelings.
to manage to stop feeling something that affects you very strongly, for example fear, pain etc: · She managed to overcome her shyness, and stepped forward to introduce herself.· Hilton stepped into the room, fighting to conquer his feelings of disgust.
WORD SETSaction stations, nounaide-de-camp, nounairborne, adjectiveaircraft carrier, nounairlift, nounallied, adjectivearmour, nounarms control, nounarms race, nounarray, verbassault course, nounAWOL, adjectivebalance of power, nounbandmaster, nounbandsman, nounbase, nounbattle, nounbattle, verbbattle cry, nounbattlefield, nounbattlements, nounbeachhead, nounbivouac, nounblackout, nounblast, verbblitz, nounblockade, nounblockade, verbblockhouse, nounbloodshed, nounbody bag, nounbody count, nounbomb, verbbombard, verbbombardment, nounbomb disposal, nounboot camp, nounbowman, nounbreastplate, nounbridgehead, nounbunker, nouncall-up, nouncannonade, nouncapability, nouncaptain, nouncapture, nouncarrier, nouncashier, verbcenotaph, nounchief of staff, nouncitation, nouncivil defence, nounC.O., nouncommand, nouncommand, verbcommandant, nouncommander, nouncommander in chief, nouncommand post, nouncommissariat, nouncommissary, nouncommission, nouncommissioned officer, nounconquer, verbconquest, nounconscientious objector, nounconscript, verbconscript, nounconscription, nounconvoy, verbcookhouse, nounCorp., corporal, nouncorps, nouncounterinsurgency, nouncounterintelligence, nouncountermand, verbcounter-revolution, nouncourt-martial, nouncourt-martial, verbcross, noundawn raid, noundeath camp, noundemilitarize, verbdemobilize, verbdeploy, verbdetonate, verbdisarm, verbdisarmament, noundispatch, noundraft board, noundraft card, noundraft dodger, noundraftee, noundress uniform, noundrum major, noundump, nounechelon, nounencamp, verbenemy, nounengage, verbengagement, nounenlist, verbenlisted, adjectiveexchange, nounex-serviceman, nounex-servicewoman, nounfield, verbfirst lieutenant, nounfirst strike, nounflak jacket, nounflash, nounfort, nounfortress, nounfoxhole, nounFPO, front, noungas mask, noungeneral headquarters, nounGHQ, nounguardhouse, nounheadquarters, nounhigh command, nounHQ, nounincursion, nounindefensible, adjectiveinsignia, nouninstallation, nouninsubordination, nounintelligence, nouninternment, nouninvade, verbinvader, nouninvasion, nounkit bag, nounKP, nounlieutenant, nounline, nounMaj., major, nounmajor general, nounman, nounmarch, verbmarch, nounmarch-past, nounmarshal, nounmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmess, nounmess, verbmilitarism, nounmilitarized, adjectiveMilitary Academy, nounMilitary Cross, nounmilitary service, nounmilitia, nounmilitiaman, nounminuteman, nounmission, nounMP, nounmutineer, nounmutinous, adjectivemutiny, nounnational service, nounNATO, nounNCO, nounno-man's-land, nounnon-aggression, nounnon-aligned, adjectivenon-combatant, nounobjective, nounobservation post, nounoccupation, nounoccupy, verboffence, nounoffensive, adjectiveoffensive, nounofficer, nounoperation, nounorderly, nounoutflank, verboutpost, nounoverthrow, verboverwhelm, verbpact, nounpadre, nounparade, nounparamilitary, adjectiveparapet, nounpartisan, nounpassword, nounpatrol, nounperilous, adjectiveperiscope, nounpillbox, nounpincer movement, nounpost, verbPOW, nounpre-war, adjectiveprisoner, nounprisoner of war, nounPurple Heart, nounpush, nounputsch, nounPX, nounquarter, verbquartermaster, nounquell, verbR & R, nounraid, nounraid, verbrank, nounrebellion, nounrecapture, verbreconnaissance, nounreconnoitre, verbrecruit, verbrecruit, nounreinforce, verbrelieve, verbRemembrance Day, nounrepel, verbrequisition, verbretake, verbretire, verbretreat, verbretreat, nounreview, nounreview, verbribbon, nounsabre-rattling, nounsally, nounsalute, verbsalute, nounsalvo, nounsamurai, nounscorched earth policy, nounscout, nounscout, verbscramble, verbsecond lieutenant, nounsentinel, nounsentry, nounsentry box, nounsergeant, nounsergeant major, nounserviceman, nounservicewoman, nounSgt., shell, verbshelling, nounsiege, nounskirmish, nounstaff officer, nounstaging area, nounstandard-issue, adjectivestar, nounstation, nounstation, verbstrategic, adjectivestrategist, nounstrategy, nounstripe, nounstronghold, nounsuperpower, nounsuppress, verbsurgical strike, nounsurrender, verbsurrender, nountactical, adjectivetarget, nountarget, verbtask force, nountattoo, nountheatre, nountrench warfare, nountripwire, nountruce, nounturret, noununarmed, adjectiveunoccupied, adjectivevalour, nounveteran, nounvolunteer, nounvolunteer, verbwar chest, nounwar crime, nounwar cry, nounwar dance, nounwar effort, nounwarfare, nounwarhorse, nounwarlike, adjectivewarlord, nounwar memorial, nounwarmonger, nounwarrant officer, nounwarring, adjectivewarrior, nounwar-torn, adjectivewar widow, nounwar zone, nounwounded, adjectivezero hour, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She was determined to conquer her fear of flying.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
She was determined to conquer her fear of flying. (=stop being afraid)· She managed to conquer her fear of flying.
(=someone who has defeated someone else)· Team members were greeted like conquering heroes on their return.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· We have to learn to communicate and that means conquering our fear of that process.· The only way to conquer a fear is to face it, and to do so as frequently as possible.· Janine conquered her fear before I did.· Yet Laura failed to conquer fully her fear of water or enclosed places and was never able to use underground trains.· Into Water I believe that to conquer fear of water, gentle persuasion is the best tack.
· I reckon most little boys believe that their favourite big brother can conquer the world and can do no wrong.· And maybe that explains how this 18-year-old from Houston has arrived here in Atlanta ready to conquer the world.· Reading them lifts my spirits so much I feel I could conquer the world.· I was one and felt that I could conquer the world.· No man with legs that would make his own horse laugh ever conquered the world.· Having conquered the fashion world, she is now being courted by Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks film company.· You had a vision of yourself conquering new worlds, not spending time trying to collect old receivables.
VERB· That was interesting, he thought. Divide and conquer.
· She stared up into his blue eyes, trying to conquer the urge to scoot further up the bed.· Later, it tried in vain to conquer the whole of the subcontinent.· Claudia threw herself into the rehearsal for the show, trying to conquer her nerves by sheer will-power.· Since June, Spencer-Devlin has been trying to conquer her demons.· And would be most unwise to try to conquer!· One of those elements is the story of an all-powerful race who tried to conquer and destroy Creation.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[intransitive, transitive] to get control of a country by fighting: - Britain did not divide and rule.
- He preferred to divide and rule.
- Here too the Party could fend off opposition by a policy of divide and rule.
- Power to appoint is power to divide and rule.
- That if you play the game of divide and rule long enough then you end up with Sister Souljah?
- The well-tried Roman policy of divide and rule had been the basis of Augustan diplomacy and continued during the conquest.
- They haven't shown the political will to sort out the problem - there has been an element of divide and rule.
The Normans conquered England in 1066. Egypt was conquered by the Persian King Kambyses.2[intransitive, transitive] to defeat an enemy: The Zulus conquered all the neighbouring tribes.3[transitive] to gain control over something that is difficult, using a lot of effortconquer your nerves/fear She was determined to conquer her fear of flying. efforts to conquer inflation drugs to conquer the disease4[transitive] to succeed in climbing to the top of a mountain when no one has ever climbed it before: an attempt to conquer the peaks of Everest5[transitive] to become very successful in a place: In the last few years, the company has succeeded in conquering the European market.—conqueror noun [countable]—conquering adjective: conquering heroes