Invention Story ɪnˈvenʃn Apparently Complete Parents Quick Thinking—That’s

• fax machines were a wonderful invention at the time.
• such changes have not been seen since the invention of the printing press.
• this story is apparently a complete invention.
• what would he tell his parents? some invention and quick thinking—that’s what was needed.

invention

1. a thing or an idea that has been invented
• Fax machines were a wonderful invention at the time.
2. the act of inventing something
• Such changes have not been seen since the invention of the printing press.
3. the act of inventing a story or an idea and pretending that it is true; a story invented in this way
• This story is apparently a complete invention.
• What would he tell his parents? Some invention and quick thinking—that’s what was needed.
4. the ability to have new and interesting ideas
• John was full of invention—always making up new dance steps and sequences.
5. a difficult new problem forces people to think of a solution to it

Extra Examples

• He failed to patent his invention and never made a penny from it.
• His powers of invention are somewhat limited.
• Most of what he says is pure invention!
• The two friends started a company to market their invention.
• The story is apparently a complete invention.
• This combination of cheese and apples is not an invention of the north of England.
• What would he tell his parents? Some invention and quick thinking—that’s what was needed.

Word Origin

• Middle English (in the sense ‘finding out, discovery’): from Latin inventio(n-), from invenire ‘discover’, from in- ‘into’ + venire ‘come’.