# consult

Pronunciation: say "kuhn-SULT" /kənˈsʌlt/

## Verb

1. To ask a person for advice or to seek their opinion on a matter.
   - Simple: To ask a person for their advice or opinion.
   - _Before changing the dosage, patients should consult their doctor._
   - _The committee consulted several experts before reaching a verdict._
2. To refer to a book, document, or other source in order to find information.
   - Simple: To look something up in a book, map, or other source for information.
   - _Researchers consult primary sources to verify historical claims._
   - _He consulted the timetable before leaving for the station._
3. To take counsel with others, deliberating together to reach a shared view.
   - Simple: To talk with others to share advice and make a decision together.
   - _The partners consulted at length before issuing a joint statement._
   - _Department heads consult regularly to keep their work aligned._
4. To provide expert advice or specialized knowledge to others.
   - Simple: To give expert advice to people or businesses.
   - _He now consults for tech startups on data security._
   - _Many retired engineers consult rather than leave the field entirely._
5. To work as a consultant or contractor rather than as a firm's full-time employee.
   - Simple: To work as an independent advisor instead of being a company's full-time worker.
   - _After leaving the agency, she chose to consult independently._
   - _Many programmers consult so they can set their own schedules._
6. To have regard to something when judging or acting; to take it into account.
   - Simple: To think about something carefully when you decide what to do.
   - _Wise planners consult the long-term costs, not just immediate gains._
   - _She consulted her conscience before signing the agreement._

## Noun

Pronunciation: say "KON-sult" US /ˈkɑnsʌlt/, UK /ˈkɒnsʌlt/

7. A visit made to get advice from a professional, especially a doctor; a consultation. *(US)*
   - Simple: A visit to get advice from someone, especially a doctor.
   - _The surgeon ordered a consult with the oncology team._
   - _He waited a week for a consult with the specialist._

## Noun

Pronunciation: say "KON-sult" US /ˈkɑnsʌlt/, UK /ˈkɒnsʌlt/

8. The process of seeking advice or thinking or talking a matter over. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: The act of talking things over with others.
   - _The council reached its verdict after grave consult._
   - _Nothing was decided without careful consult between the ministers._
9. The decision or determination reached as the result of consultation. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A decision that comes from talking something over.
10. A council or meeting gathered for the purpose of consultation. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A meeting where people gather to give advice.
   - _The bishops held a consult to address the growing unrest._
   - _A grand consult of generals convened before the campaign._
13. Agreement or harmony of purpose between parties; concert. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A state of full agreement between people.

## Verb

11. To deliberate upon a matter; to weigh and consider it. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To think carefully about a matter before deciding.
12. To bring something about by counsel or contrivance; to devise or plot it. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To plan or bring something about by clever scheming.
   - _The ministers consulted the overthrow of their rival._
   - _He gathered loyal men to consult the seizure of the throne._

## Origin

**Meanings 7–10, 13** — From Middle French "consulte." In the sense "council," it represents Latin "cōnsultum" and Italian "consulto," and it may often have been taken as a direct formation from the verb.
**Meanings 1–6, 11–12** — From Middle French "consulter," from Latin "cōnsultō" ("to deliberate, consult"), a frequentative of "cōnsulō" ("to consult, consider, ask advice"), from "com-" ("together") plus "-sulō," from Proto-Indo-European "*selh₁-" ("to take, grab").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/consult (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).