v. 1 intr. become pregnant. 2 tr. become pregnant with (a child). 3 tr. (often foll. by that + clause) a imagine, fancy, think (can't conceive that he could be guilty). b (usu. in passive) formulate, express (a belief, a plan, etc.). conceive of form in the mind; imagine.
[ ME f. OF conceiv- stressed stem of concevoir f. L concipere concept- (as com-, capere take) ]