/ aɪˈdɪə; NAmE -ˈdiːə/ noun
PLAN / THOUGHT
1.
[ C ] idea (for sth) | idea (of sth) | idea (of doing sth) a plan, thought or suggestion, especially about what to do in a particular situation :
It would be a good idea to call before we leave.
I like the idea of living on a boat.
He already had an idea for his next novel.
Her family expected her to go to college, but she had other ideas .
The surprise party was Jane's idea.
It might be an idea (= it would be sensible) to try again later.
We've been toying with the idea of (= thinking about) getting a dog.
It seemed like a good idea at the time , and then it all went horribly wrong.
The latest big idea is to make women more interested in sport.
IMPRESSION
2.
[ U , sing. ] idea (of sth) a picture or an impression in your mind of what sb/sth is like :
The brochure should give you a good idea of the hotel.
I had some idea of what the job would be like.
She doesn't seem to have any idea of what I'm talking about.
I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea (= getting the wrong impression about sth) .
An evening at home watching TV is not my idea of a good time.
OPINION
3.
[ C ] idea (about sth) an opinion or a belief about sth :
He has some very strange ideas about education.
FEELING
4.
[ sing. ] idea (that ... ) a feeling that sth is possible :
What gave you the idea that he'd be here?
I have a pretty good idea where I left it—I hope I'm right.
AIM
5.
the idea [ sing. ] idea of sth / of doing sth the aim or purpose of sth :
You'll soon get the idea (= understand) .
What's the idea of the game?
➡ note at purpose
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IDIOMS
- give sb ideas | put ideas into sb's head
- have no idea | not have the faintest, first, etc. idea
- have the right idea
- that's an idea!
- that's the idea!
- you have no idea ...
—more at buck verb
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (as a term in Platonic philosophy): via Latin from Greek idea form, pattern, from the base of idein to see.