/ kənˈsepʃn; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U ] the process of forming an idea or a plan :
The plan was brilliant in its conception but failed because of lack of money.
2.
[ C , U ] conception (of sth) | conception (that ... ) an understanding or a belief of what sth is or what sth should be :
Marx's conception of social justice
He has no conception of how difficult life is if you're unemployed.
3.
[ U , C ] the process of an egg being fertilized inside a woman's body so that she becomes pregnant :
the moment of conception
—see also conceive
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : via Old French from Latin conceptio(n-) , from the verb concipere , from com- together + capere take.