n.
Pronunciation: k ə n- ' sep-sh ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English concepcioun, from Anglo-French concepcion, from Latin conception-, conceptio, from concipere
Date: 14th century
1 a (1) : the process of becoming pregnant involving fertilization or implantation or both (2) : EMBRYO , FETUS b : BEGINNING <joy had the like conception in our eyes ― Shakespeare>
2 a : the capacity, function, or process of forming or understanding ideas or abstractions or their symbols b : a general idea : CONCEPT c : a complex product of abstract or reflective thinking d : the sum of a person's ideas and beliefs concerning something
3 : the originating of something in the mind
synonyms see IDEA
– con · cep · tion · al \ -shn ə l, -sh ə -n ə l \ adjective
– con · cep · tive \ - ' sep-tiv \ adjective