concuss: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Medical, Legal
Quick answer
What does “concuss” mean?
To injure the brain temporarily by a severe blow to the head, causing unconsciousness or confusion.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To injure the brain temporarily by a severe blow to the head, causing unconsciousness or confusion.
To forcefully shake or jar someone or something; to overwhelm or shock mentally or emotionally.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Strong medical/legal connotation in both variants.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, confined to specific registers.
Grammar
How to Use “concuss” in a Sentence
[Subject] concussed [Object] (transitive)[Object] was concussed (passive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “concuss” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The rugby player was concussed in a heavy tackle.
- The fall could concuss him seriously.
American English
- The football player was concussed during the play.
- The explosion was powerful enough to concuss anyone nearby.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form. 'Concussingly' is non-standard/rare.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form. 'Concussingly' is non-standard/rare.]
adjective
British English
- The concussed cyclist was taken to A&E.
- She was visibly concussed and confused.
American English
- The concussed boxer was helped from the ring.
- A concussed patient should not be left alone.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Possibly metaphorical: 'The market news concussed investors.'
Academic
Used in medical, sports science, and legal papers discussing head injuries.
Everyday
Rare. Would typically use 'give someone a concussion' or 'get a concussion'.
Technical
Standard term in neurology, emergency medicine, and sports medicine.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “concuss”
- Using 'concuss' for minor bumps to the head.
- Incorrect: *'He concussed his knee.' Correct: 'He injured his knee.'
- Using the adjective 'concussed' without a form of 'to be': Incorrect: *'He felt concussed.' Correct: 'He was concussed.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Concuss' is the verb for the action of causing the injury. 'Have a concussion' is the state of being injured. A blow concusses you; as a result, you have a concussion.
Rarely and figuratively. Its primary meaning is physical/medical. For emotional shock, words like 'stun', 'shock', or 'devastate' are more common.
Overwhelmingly yes. While you might see 'the concussed animal' in veterinary contexts, it is almost exclusively used for sentient beings capable of brain injury.
The direct noun is 'concussion'. The gerund 'concussing' is possible but uncommon (e.g., 'The risk of concussing is high').
To injure the brain temporarily by a severe blow to the head, causing unconsciousness or confusion.
Concuss is usually formal, medical, legal in register.
Concuss: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈkʌs/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈkʌs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CONCUSS sounds like 'can cause' a serious head injury.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPACT IS DAMAGE (physical impact causing mental disruption).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'concuss' MOST appropriately used?