concretize
UK[ˈkɒŋkriːtaɪz]US[ˈkɑːnkriːtaɪz]
v
To make something concrete, specific, or definite, especially an abstract idea.
v
To represent something in a tangible or physical form.
Morpheme Breakdown
concret
ize
concret
concrete
ize
verb-forming suffix
Etymology
The word "concretize" is a modern formation built upon the established adjective "concrete". The base "concrete" originates from the Latin past participle 'concretus', from the verb 'concrescere', meaning "to grow together, harden, condense". This verb itself is a composite of 'con-' (together) and 'crescere' (to grow). The suffix "-ize", a prolific verb-forming element in English derived from Greek '-izein' via Latin and French, was appended to this base, following a common pattern of creating verbs from adjectives (e.g., "realize", "finalize"). Thus, "concretize" literally means "to make grow together into a solid mass," a process metaphorically extended to describe giving abstract thoughts a definite, tangible, or realized form.
Analysis
Structure: concret (concrete) + ize (verb-forming suffix)
- concret: From Latin 'concretus', meaning "grown together, hardened, condensed". In this word, it functions as the base meaning "solid, real, tangible".
- ize: A verb-forming suffix of Greek origin (via Latin '-izare' and French '-iser'), indicating "to make, to become, to render".
Examples
The architect used a model to concretize her vision for the new building.
The meeting helped to concretize the plans that had only been discussed in theory.
It is difficult to concretize such a complex philosophical concept in a simple diagram.