| Front | conceive |
|---|---|
| Back | con‧ceive AC /kənˈsiːv/ verb 1[intransitive and transitive] formal to imagine a particular situation or to think about something in a particular way (cannot) conceive of (doing) something Many people can’t conceive of a dinner without meat or fish. conceive that He could not conceive that anything really serious could be worrying his friend. conceive what/why/how etc I can hardly conceive what it must be like here in winter. conceive of something/somebody as something Language may be conceived of as a process which arises from social interaction. 2[transitive] to think of a new idea, plan etc and develop it in your mind → conception: Scientists first conceived the idea of the atomic bomb in the 1930s. 3[intransitive and transitive] to become pregnant → conception: fertility treatment for women who have difficulty conceiving THESAURUS invent to think of an idea for a new product, machine etc, and design it or make it: The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. | Who invented the Internet? create to make or design something new and original: We decided to create the software ourselves. | For her latest book, she has created a whole new group of characters. think of something/think up something to produce a new idea, plan, method, excuse etc by thinking: I’ve thought of an idea. | They’re always trying to think up new ways to improve efficiency. come up with something to produce a new idea, a way of dealing with something etc, especially a good one: How did you come up with that idea? | Ellis came up with the solution to the problem immediately. make something up to invent a story, song, game, excuse etc: My mother used to make up bedtime stories for us. | I didn’t want to go to the class, so I decided to make up an excuse. dream something up to think of an idea or plan, especially one that seems unusual or even crazy: It can’t be easy dreaming up new advertisements all the time. | I wonder who dreamt up that idea! devise formal to invent a way of doing something, especially one that is clever or complicated: This system was devised as a way of measuring students’ progress. conceive formal to think of a new idea, plan etc and develop it in your mind: The project was originally conceived by a Dutch businessman two years ago. |
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