I. thought 1 /θɔːt $ θɒːt/ BrE AmE
the past tense and past participle of ↑ think 1
II. thought 2 S1 W1 BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ thought , ↑ thoughtfulness ≠ ↑ thoughtlessness ; adverb : ↑ thoughtfully ≠ ↑ thoughtlessly ; adjective : ↑ thoughtful ≠ ↑ thoughtless ]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: thoht ]
1 . SOMETHING YOU THINK ABOUT [countable] something that you think of, remember, or realize SYN idea :
It’s an interesting thought.
The thought that I might not have a job next year is a bit troubling.
2 . IDEAS/OPINIONS thoughts [plural] a person’s ideas or opinions about something:
What are your thoughts, Michael?
thoughts on
Any thoughts on how we should spend the money?
3 . CAREFUL CONSIDERATION [uncountable] careful and serious consideration:
With more thought and care this would have been a first-class essay.
give something thought/give thought to something (=think carefully about something)
I’ve been giving your proposal a lot of thought.
Have you given any more thought to going back to school?
4 . ACT OF THINKING [uncountable] the act or process of thinking
lost/deep in thought (=thinking so much that you do not notice what is happening around you)
Derek was staring out of the window, lost in thought.
Piaget’s research focused on children’s thought processes (=the way their minds work) .
5 . CARING ABOUT SOMETHING [uncountable and countable] a feeling of worrying or caring about something
thought for
He went back into the burning building with no thought for his own safety.
Have you no thought for anyone but yourself?
You are always in my thoughts (=used to tell someone that you think and care about them a lot) .
6 . INTENTION [uncountable and countable] intention or hope of doing something
thought of doing something
I had no thought of gaining any personal advantage.
Lucy gave up all thought of finishing the essay that day.
7 . WAY OF THINKING [uncountable] a way of thinking that is typical of a particular group, period of history etc
ancient Greek/feminist/18th-century etc thought
Kant’s ideas had a strong influence on political thought.
8 . spare a thought for somebody British English used to tell someone that they should think about someone who is in a worse situation than they are:
Spare a thought for those who don’t have enough to eat.
9 . it’s just a thought spoken used to say that what you have just said is only a suggestion and you have not thought about it very much:
It was just a thought, Duncan. I didn’t mean any offence.
10 . it’s/that’s a thought! spoken used to say that someone has made a good suggestion:
‘Why don’t you ask Walter?’ ‘That’s a thought! I’ll phone him right away.’
11 . don’t give it another thought spoken used to tell someone not to worry after they have told you they are sorry
12 . it’s the thought that counts spoken used to say that you are grateful for a gift from someone even though it is small or unimportant
⇨ perish the thought! at ↑ perish (3), ⇨ on second thoughts at ↑ second 1 (8), ⇨ school of thought at ↑ school 1 (8)
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have a thought
I just had a funny thought.
▪ express your thoughts (=say what they are or tell other people about them)
He was finding it difficult to express his thoughts.
▪ a thought occurs to/comes to/strikes somebody (=someone suddenly has a thought)
The thought occurred to him that she might be lying.
▪ a thought crosses sb’s mind (=someone has a thought)
The thought never crossed my mind that I could be wrong.
▪ can’t bear the thought of something
I can’t bear the thought of you being hurt.
▪ sb’s thoughts turn to something (=they start thinking about something)
As summer approaches, people’s thoughts turn to holidays.
■ adjectives
▪ sb’s first thought
My first thought was that a bomb had gone off.
▪ a passing thought (=a quick, not very serious thought)
He never gives his appearance more than a passing thought.
▪ a sobering thought (=one that makes you feel serious)
We have the power to destroy the world, which is a sobering thought.
▪ horrible/disturbing
A horrible thought struck her: could he be having an affair?
▪ a comforting thought
‘People might not have noticed we’re late.’ ‘That’s a comforting thought.’
▪ a sudden thought
A sudden thought struck her and she began to laugh.
■ phrases
▪ the very thought (=even the idea of doing something)
The very thought of going on stage made her feel ill.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ idea something that you think of, especially something that you could do or suggest:
I think that’s an excellent idea.
|
Let me know if you have any good ideas.
▪ thought something that comes into your mind:
The thought had entered my mind that he might be lying.
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It was a worrying thought.
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She was lost in her thoughts.
▪ impression the idea that you have in your mind about what someone or something is like:
What was your impression of him?
▪ inspiration a good and original idea, which makes you think of doing or creating something:
Where did you get your inspiration from for the book?
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He suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
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The design for the house was entirely the inspiration of the architect.
▪ brainwave British English , brainstorm American English a sudden new and clever idea, especially one that solves a problem:
I thought I’d have to sell the house, but then I had a brainwave.
▪ concept an idea of how something is, or how something should be done:
Concepts of beauty are different in different cultures.
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the traditional concept of marriage
▪ notion an idea about life or society, especially one that is a little silly or old-fashioned:
There is no evidence to support the notion that poverty is caused by laziness.