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Glite Dictionary
concrete noun

concrete noun

3.2
A word that names a physical thing you can see or touch
  • noun
  • /kənˈkriːt naʊn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sustantivo concreto
  • It was found that concrete nouns were well understood by the students in all three age groups.

Examples

  • It has been hypothesized that concrete nouns are easier.

    Academic text (2012)

  • For example, concrete nouns such as fox, train, and strawberry can evoke vivid visual, auditory, tactile, or olfactory images that can help to support their meanings.

    Academic text (2012)

  • A concrete noun like "dog" can be seen, heard, and touched.

  • Common concrete nouns include items such as "chair," "tree," and "car."

  • When teaching children, using concrete nouns helps them connect words with real-world objects.

Antonyms

abstract
16 8.0

A general idea not tied to a specific example

How Abstract

construct
  • Specialized
65 8.0
concept
∞ 4.5
concrete noun
  • Specialized
3.2
physical
798 2.7

Surface Forms

concrete noun singular
concrete nouns plural

Morphology

concrete + noun

The meaning is directly compositional: 'concrete' (material, perceivable) modifies 'noun' (a word class), so a 'concrete noun' is straightforwardly a noun naming something physical. This construction follows common cross-linguistic patterns and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Concrete noun uses concrete like the hard building material as a simple picture you can imagine. Think of a solid block you can touch. So a concrete noun is 'a word for something you can see or touch'.