Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

4 N‑SING Your unconscious is the part of your mind that contains feelings and ideas that you do not know about or cannot control. □  In examining the content of the unconscious, Freud called into question some deeply-held beliefs.

un|con|sti|tu|tion|al /ʌ nkɒnst I tjuː ʃən ^ə l, [AM ] -tuː -/ ADJ If something is unconstitutional , it breaks the rules of a political system. □  Parliament has declared the elections unconstitutional. □  Women's rights groups argue that the ban is unconstitutional .

un|con|trol|lable /ʌ nkəntroʊ ləb ^ə l/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a feeling or physical action as uncontrollable , you mean that you cannot control it or prevent yourself from feeling or doing it. □  It had been a time of almost uncontrollable excitement. □  He burst into uncontrollable laughter at something I'd said. ●  un|con|trol|lably /ʌ nkəntroʊ ləbli/ ADV [usu ADV after v] □  I started shaking uncontrollably and began to cry.

2 ADJ If you describe a person as uncontrollable , you mean that their behaviour is bad and that nobody can make them behave more sensibly. □  Mark was withdrawn and uncontrollable. □  Uncontrollable children grow into young criminals.

3 ADJ If you describe a situation or series of events as uncontrollable , you believe that nothing can be done to control them or to prevent things from getting worse. □  If political and ethnic problems are not resolved, the situation could become uncontrollable.

un|con|trolled /ʌ nkəntroʊ ld/

1 ADJ [ADJ n, ADJ after v, v-link ADJ ] If you describe someone's behaviour as uncontrolled , you mean they appear unable to stop it or to make it less extreme. □  His uncontrolled behaviour disturbed the entire class. □  Julia blows her nose, but her sobbing goes on uncontrolled.

2 ADJ If a situation or activity is uncontrolled , no-one is controlling it or preventing it from continuing or growing. □  …the central bank's uncontrolled printing of money.

un|con|ven|tion|al /ʌ nkənve nʃən ^ə l/

1 ADJ If you describe a person or their attitude or behaviour as unconventional , you mean that they do not behave in the same way as most other people in their society. □  Linus Pauling is an unconventional genius. □  He had rather unconventional work habits, preferring to work through the night.

2 ADJ An unconventional way of doing something is not the usual way of doing it, and may be rather surprising. □  The vaccine had been produced by an unconventional technique. □  Despite his unconventional methods, he has inspired pupils more than anyone else.

un|con|vinced /ʌ nkənv I nst/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , oft ADJ that] If you are unconvinced that something is true or right, you are not at all certain that it is true or right. □  Most consumers seem unconvinced that the recession is over.

un|con|vinc|ing /ʌ nkənv I ns I ŋ/

1 ADJ If you describe something such as an argument or explanation as unconvincing , you find it difficult to believe because it does not seem real. □  Mr Patel phoned the University for an explanation, and he was given the usual unconvincing excuses. □  To many readers it sounded unconvincing. ●  un|con|vinc|ing|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  'It's not that I don't believe you, Meg,' Jack said, unconvincingly.

2 ADJ If you describe a story or a character in a story as unconvincing , you think they do not seem likely or real. □  …an unconvincing love story.

un|cooked /ʌ nkʊ kt/ ADJ Uncooked food has not yet been cooked.