/ ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃn; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U , C ] the ability to create pictures in your mind; the part of your mind that does this :
a vivid / fertile imagination
He's got no imagination.
It doesn't take much imagination to guess what she meant.
I won't tell you his reaction— I'll leave that to your imagination .
Don't let your imagination run away with you (= don't use too much imagination) .
The new policies appear to have caught the imagination of the public (= they find them interesting and exciting) .
Nobody hates you—it's all in your imagination .
( informal )
Use your imagination! (= used to tell sb that they will have to guess the answer to the question they have asked you, usually because it is obvious or embarrassing)
2.
[ U ] something that you have imagined rather than sth that exists :
She was no longer able to distinguish between imagination and reality.
Is it my imagination or have you lost a lot of weight?
3.
[ U ] the ability to have new and exciting ideas :
His writing lacks imagination.
With a little imagination , you could turn this place into a palace.
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IDIOMS
- leave nothing / little to the imagination
—more at figment , stretch noun
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : via Old French from Latin imaginatio(n-) , from the verb imaginari picture to oneself, from imago , imagin- image.