Definition: conduct

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

conduct
     n 1: manner of acting or conducting yourself [syn: behavior, behaviour,
           doings]
     2: behavioral attributes [syn: demeanor, demeanour, behavior,
         behaviour, deportment]
     v 1: direct the course of; manage or control; "You cannot conduct
          business like this" [syn: carry on, deal]
     2: lead, as in the performance of a musical composition;
        "conduct an orchestra; Bairenboim conducted the Chicago
        symphony for years" [syn: lead, direct]
     3: behave in a certain manner; "She carried herself well"; "he
        bore himself with dignity"; "They conducted themselves
        well during these difficult times" [syn: behave, acquit,
         bear, deport, comport, carry]
     4: transmit or serve as the medium for transmission, as of
        sounds or images; "Sound carries well over water"; "The
        airwaves carry the sound"; "Many metals conduct heat"
        [syn: transmit, convey, carry, channel]
     5: take somebody somewhere; "We lead him to our chief"; "can
        you take me to the main entrance?"; "He conducted us to
        the palace" [syn: lead, take, direct, guide]
     6: lead musicians in the performance of; "Bernstein conducted
        Mahler like no other conductor"; "she cannot conduct
        modern pieces"

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Conduct \Con*duct"\, v. i.
   1. To act as a conductor (as of heat, electricity, etc.); to
      carry.

   2. To conduct one's self; to behave. [U. S.]
Conduct \Con"duct\ (k[o^]n"d[u^]kt), n. [LL. conductus defense,
   escort, fr. L. conductus, p. p. of conducere. See Conduce,
   and cf. Conduit.]
   1. The act or method of conducting; guidance; management.

            Christianity has humanized the conduct of war.
                                                  --Paley.

            The conduct of the state, the administration of its
            affairs.                              --Ld.
                                                  Brougham.

   2. Skillful guidance or management; generalship.

            Conduct of armies is a prince's art.  --Waller.

            Attacked the Spaniards . . . with great impetuosity,
            but with so little conduct, that his forces were
            totally routed.                       --Robertson.

   3. Convoy; escort; guard; guide. [Archaic]

            I will be your conduct.               --B. Jonson.

            In my conduct shall your ladies come. --Shak.

   4. That which carries or conveys anything; a channel; a
      conduit; an instrument. [Obs.]

            Although thou hast been conduct of my shame. --Shak.

   5. The manner of guiding or carrying one's self; personal
      deportment; mode of action; behavior.

            All these difficulties were increased by the conduct
            of Shrewsbury.                        --Macaulay.

            What in the conduct of our life appears So well
            designed, so luckily begun, But when we have our
            wish, we wish undone?                 --Dryden.

   6. Plot; action; construction; manner of development.

            The book of Job, in conduct and diction. --Macaulay.

   Conduct money (Naut.), a portion of a seaman's wages
      retained till the end of his engagement, and paid over
      only if his conduct has been satisfactory.

   Syn: Behavior; carriage; deportment; demeanor; bearing;
        management; guidance. See Behavior.
Conduct \Con*duct"\ (k[o^]n*d[u^]kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Conducted; p. pr. & vb. n. Conducting.] [See Conduct,
   n.]
   1. To lead, or guide; to escort; to attend.

            I can conduct you, lady, to a low But loyal cottage,
            where you may be safe.                --Milton.

   2. To lead, as a commander; to direct; to manage; to carry
      on; as, to conduct the affairs of a kingdom.

            Little skilled in the art of conducting a siege.
                                                  --Prescott.

   3. To behave; -- with the reflexive; as, he conducted himself
      well.

   4. (Physics) To serve as a medium for conveying; to transmit,
      as heat, light, electricity, etc.

   5. (Mus.) To direct, as the leader in the performance of a
      musical composition.