/ ɪnˈvent; NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
to produce or design sth that has not existed before :
Who invented the steam engine?
2.
to say or describe sth that is not true, especially in order to trick people :
What excuse did he invent this time?
Many children invent an imaginary friend.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent. (in the sense find out, discover ): from Latin invent- contrived, discovered, from the verb invenire , from in- into + venire come.