concrete

Everyday

1. A hard building material made by mixing cement, sand, small stones and water; it is soft when wet and sets very hard. tree →
2. As an adjective, made of concrete. tree →
3. Real and definite, something you can see or touch, not just an idea: "concrete evidence", "concrete objects". tree →

In the lessons

In building and science, concrete is used for footpaths, bridges and buildings; it sets as a chemical reaction, not just by drying. In maths, "concrete" materials are real objects such as blocks and counters used to help count. In grammar, a concrete noun names something you can see or touch, like "table"; an abstract noun names an idea, like "kindness". Phrases: wet concrete, concrete path, concrete mixer, concrete evidence, concrete noun.

Examples

• The workers poured wet concrete for the new path. tree →
• Don't write in wet concrete. tree →
• The bridge is made of concrete and steel. tree →
• "Dog" is a concrete noun, but "joy" is abstract. tree →
• Use concrete objects like cubes to show the sum. tree →
• We need concrete proof, not guesses. tree →
• I scraped my knee on the concrete. tree →

Note

As a material it is uncountable: "some concrete", not "a concrete". Confusion: "cement" is only one ingredient of concrete. Safety: wet cement and concrete can burn the skin, and building sites are not for playing. Concrete noun = can be sensed (seen, touched, heard); abstract noun = an idea or feeling.

In Jewish tradition

In building and science, concrete is used for footpaths, bridges and buildings; it sets as a chemical reaction, not just by drying. In maths, "concrete" materials are real objects such as blocks and counters used to help count. In grammar, a concrete noun names something you can see or touch, like "table"; an abstract noun names an idea, like "kindness". Phrases: wet concrete, concrete path, concrete mixer, concrete evidence, concrete noun.

Examples

• The Talmuds were first collected into a concrete whole, and printed in Venice, 1520 a.d. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• The Talmuds were first collected into a concrete whole, and printed in Venice, 1520 A.D. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• He endeavors to show how the ideal became, after numerous emanations, more condensed, palpable and concrete. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

As a material it is uncountable: "some concrete", not "a concrete". Confusion: "cement" is only one ingredient of concrete. Safety: wet cement and concrete can burn the skin, and building sites are not for playing. Concrete noun = can be sensed (seen, touched, heard); abstract noun = an idea or feeling.