n.
Pronunciation: i- ˌ ma-j ə - ' n ā -sh ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin imagination-, imaginatio, from imaginari
Date: 14th century
1 : the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality
2 a : creative ability b : ability to confront and deal with a problem : RESOURCEFULNESS <use your imagination and get us out of here> c : the thinking or active mind : INTEREST <stories that fired the imagination >
3 a : a creation of the mind especially : an idealized or poetic creation b : fanciful or empty assumption