to form an idea or conception of

  • 1idea — idea, concept, conception, thought, notion, impression mean what exists in the mind as a representation of something that it apprehends or comprehends or as a formulation of an opinion, a plan, or a design. Idea is the most comprehensive and… …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 2idea — idealess, adj. /uy dee euh, uy deeeu /, n. 1. any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity. 2. a thought, conception, or notion: That is an excellent idea. 3. an impression: He gave me a general… …

    Universalium

  • 3idea — i•de•a [[t]aɪˈdi ə, aɪˈdiə[/t]] n. 1) any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity 2) a thought, conception, or notion 3) an impression: Give me a general idea of what happened[/ex] 4) an opinion …

    From formal English to slang

  • 4Idea — I*de a, n.; pl. {Ideas}. [L. idea, Gr. ?, fr. ? to see; akin to E. wit: cf. F. id[ e]e. See {Wit}.] 1. The transcript, image, or picture of a visible object, that is formed by the mind; also, a similar image of any object whatever, whether… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5Conception — Con*cep tion, n. [F. conception, L. conceptio, fr. concipere to conceive. See {Conceive}.] 1. The act of conceiving in the womb; the initiation of an embryonic animal life. [1913 Webster] I will greaty multiply thy sorrow and thy conception. Gen …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6Idea — • The word was originally Greek, but passed without change into Latin. It seems first to have meant form, shape, or appearance, whence, by an easy transition, it acquired the connotation of nature, or kind Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight.… …

    Catholic encyclopedia

  • 7idea — [ī dē′ə] n. [L < Gr, form or appearance of a thing as opposed to its reality < IE * widswo < base * weid , to see, know > L videre, to see, Gr idein, to see, OE witan, to know] 1. something one thinks, knows, or imagines; a thought;… …

    English World dictionary

  • 8Form — (f[=o]rm; in senses 8 & 9, often f[=o]rm in England), n. [OE. & F. forme, fr. L. forma; cf. Skr. dhariman. Cf. {Firm}.] 1. The shape and structure of anything, as distinguished from the material of which it is composed; particular disposition or… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 9idea — [n] something understood, planned, or believed abstraction, aim, approximation, belief, brainstorm*, clue, concept, conception, conclusion, conviction, design, doctrine, end, essence, estimate, fancy, feeling, flash*, form, guess, hint,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 10Form of the Good — Plato describes The Idea of the Good in his dialogue, The Republic , speaking through the character of Socrates. The Idea of the Good is the child or offspring (ekgonos) of the Good, the ideal or perfect nature of goodness, and so an absolute… …

    Wikipedia