conduct

conduct

I

con‧duct¹ W2 AC /kənˈdʌkt/ verb1.  CARRY OUT  [transitive] to carry out a particular activity or process, especially in order to get information or prove facts
    conduct a survey/investigation/review etc
    We are conducting a survey of consumer attitudes towards organic food.
    conduct an experiment/a test
    Is it really necessary to conduct experiments on animals?
    conduct a campaign
    They conducted a campaign of bombings and assassinations.
    conduct an interview
    The interview was conducted in English.
    The memorial service was conducted by the Rev. David Prior.
    It was the first time that I had conducted business in Brazil.
  REGISTER
    In everyday English, people usually say do or carry out rather than conduct:
   ▪ They’re doing a survey of opinions about organic food.
2.  MUSIC  [intransitive and transitive] to stand in front of a group of musicians or singers and direct their playing or singing ⇨ conductor
    conduct an orchestra/choir
    The orchestra is conducted by John Williams.
    Who will be conducting?
3.  BEHAVE conduct yourself formal to behave in a particular way, especially in a situation where people judge you by the way you behave:
    The players conducted themselves impeccably, both on and off the field.
4.  ELECTRICITY/HEAT  [transitive] if something conducts electricity or heat, it allows electricity or heat to travel along or through it ⇨ conductor:
    Aluminium, being a metal, readily conducts heat.
5.  SHOW SOMEBODY SOMETHING  [transitive always + adverb/preposition] formal to take or lead someone somewhere
    conduct somebody to something
    On arrival, I was conducted to the commandant’s office.
    conducted tour (of something) (=a tour of a building, city, or area with someone who tells you about that place)
    a conducted tour of Berlin
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ nouns
   ▪ conduct research He’s conducting educational research at the University of Washington.
   ▪ conduct a survey They conducted a survey of students’ careers one year after graduation.
   ▪ conduct a study/review Scientists conducted a study of the area affected by the nuclear disaster.
   ▪ conduct an investigation/inquiry Experts conducted an investigation into the causes of the crash.
   ▪ conduct an interview Here are a few guidelines on how to conduct an interview.
   ▪ conduct a campaign The party was criticized for the way it had conducted its election campaign.
   ▪ conduct a test/experiment Investigators will be conducting tests to determine how the man died.
   ▪ conduct a search The Spanish authorities conducted a nationwide search for the girl.
   ▪ conduct (a) business The company had been conducting a lot of business in Latin America.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ do to do something – used in the following phrases: do your work/homework etc: It usually takes me a couple of hours to do my homework. | do the shopping/cooking/washing etc: She’s gone to the supermarket to do the shopping. | do a test/experiment/some research: The doctor did some tests. | Fraser spent some time in Egypt doing some archaeological research. | Scientists are doing research on two types of vaccine. | do a course: Have you decided which course you want to do at university?
   ▪ make to do something – used in the following phrases: make a speech: The Prince made a short speech. | make a comment/suggestion/joke: Can I make a suggestion? | make a decision: The committee will meet to make their final decision. | make a mistake: I think someone has made a mistake.
   ▪ give to do something – used in the following phrases: give a talk/speech/lecture: They’ve asked him to give a talk. | give a performance: The band gave a brilliant performance.
   ▪ take to do something – used in the following phrases: take a test/exam: Kate’s taking her driving test tomorrow. | take a bath/shower: I think I’ll go and take a shower. | take a walk: Normally, he took a walk in the evenings.
   ▪ commit to do something that is a crime, especially a serious crime: commit a crime: The crime was committed in the early hours of the morning. | commit a robbery/murder etc: Dixon later admitted committing the robbery.
   ▪ carry out something to do something – used in the following phrases: carry out your work: The violence is making it difficult for firefighters to carry out their work. | carry out a task/duty: He still managed to carry out his duties. | carry out a survey/test/some research: The hospital carries out research into skin diseases. | carry out an operation: The operation was carried out at a hospital in Paris. | carry out a threat/promise: They didn’t carry out their threat to kill the hostages. | carry out sb’s orders/instructions/wishes: I’m sure I can rely on you to carry out my instructions.
   ▪ perform to do something. Perform is more formal than carry out, and is used in the following phrases: perform a task/duty: The job mostly involves performing administrative tasks. | perform an operation: A team of surgeons performed the operation.
   ▪ conduct to do something – used in the following phrases: conduct a survey/study/experiment: They conducted a survey of approximately 2,000 people living in the area. | conduct an inquiry/investigation: The police are conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire. | conduct an interview: Knowing how to conduct a successful interview is a skill. | conduct a campaign: People were unimpressed by the way in which the election campaign was conducted.
   ▪ go about something to do your work or the things that you usually do, especially when something serious has happened: go about your work/business: The next day she went about her business as if nothing had happened.
   ▪ get on with something spoken especially British English to start doing something that you should have started already or to continue doing something that you stopped doing for a short time: I need to get on with my homework.
   ▪ be up to something spoken to be doing something that you think is probably bad, although you do not know exactly what it is: I’m sure they’re up to something. | What’s Jake up to? He’s been upstairs in his room all day.

II

con‧duct² W3 AC /ˈkɒndʌkt $ ˈkɑːn-/ noun [uncountable] formal
1. the way someone behaves, especially in public, in their job etc
   SYN  behaviour:
    The Senator’s conduct is being investigated by the Ethics Committee.
    an inquiry into the conduct of the police
    ethical/professional etc conduct
    the Law Society’s Code of Professional Conduct
    improper/violent/offensive etc conduct
    his arrest for disorderly conduct (=noisy violent behaviour)
2. conduct of something the way in which an activity is organized and carried out:
    complaints about the conduct of the elections
    Disclosure of information would compromise the proper conduct of the investigation.
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ adjectives
   ▪ professional conduct There are strict rules that regulate lawyers’ professional conduct.
   ▪ sexual conduct The politician’s sexual conduct had caused scandal.
   ▪ violent conduct Their goalkeeper was sent off the field for violent conduct.
   ▪ disorderly conduct (=behaving in a noisy or violent way in public) Her husband was arrested for drunkenness and disorderly conduct.
   ▪ criminal conduct In some cases of bullying, pupils may be guilty of criminal conduct.
   ▪ proper/improper conduct (=correct/incorrect behaviour according to the normal rules or standards) There was no evidence of improper conduct on the part of the police.
   ▪ personal conduct You are expected to maintain a high standard of personal conduct at work.
   ▪ unsportsmanlike conduct (=behaviour that is not acceptable in a fair competition) He swore at the referee, and was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.
   ▪ human conduct Societies have certain rules for normal human conduct.
■ phrases
   ▪ a code of conduct (=a set of rules stating how you must behave) All professions have a code of conduct.
   ▪ rules/standards of conduct In war, there are established rules of conduct.
   ▪ a course of conduct (=a set of actions) The court said that when Harris had embarked on this course of conduct, he knew that it would put lives at risk.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ behaviour British English, behavior American English the way someone behaves: Chemicals added to food may be responsible for children’s bad behaviour. | Tatsuya apologized for his behaviour towards me.
   ▪ conduct formal the way someone behaves in public or in their job – used mainly in official or legal contexts: Bates was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct (=noisy and violent). | The committee found him guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct.
   ▪ manner the way someone behaves when they are talking to or dealing with other people, which is shown in their expression, their voice etc: She had a pleasant friendly manner. | Suddenly his whole manner changed, and he started shouting. | His initial manner towards her had been rather formal.
   ▪ demeanour British English, demeanor American English formal the way someone looks and behaves, which shows you something about their character or feelings: She maintained a calm demeanour at all times. | Wenger’s demeanour suggested that he was not happy with the situation.
   ▪ antics someone’s behaviour – used when you think it is silly, funny, strange, or annoying: The drunken antics of some English football fans has brought shame on the country. | The actor is becoming known for his increasingly bizarre off-screen antics.