con ‧ cep ‧ tion AC /kənˈsepʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ conceive ; noun : ↑ conception ; adjective : ↑ conceivable ≠ ↑ inconceivable ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin conceptio , from concipere ; ⇨ ↑ conceive ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] an idea about what something is like, or a general understanding of something ⇨ concept
conception of
the conception of parliamentary democracy
changing conceptions of the world
have (no) conception of something
They have no conception of what women really feel and want.
2 . [uncountable] a process in which someone forms a plan or idea ⇨ conceive :
the original conception of the book
3 . [uncountable and countable] the process by which a woman or female animal becomes ↑ pregnant , or the time when this happens ⇨ conceive :
the moment of conception