(ˈ)ī|dēə, (ˈ)ī|diə; chiefly in southern US ˈī_dē(ə) or ˈī_di(ə); dial or archaic (ˈ)ī|dē; in NewEng extremely frequent with intrusive r — (ˈ)ī|dēər or (ˈ)ī|di(ə)r noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin, from Greek, from idein to see — more at wit
1.
a. : a presentation of sense, concept, or representation: as
(1) Platonism : an archetype or subsistent form : a transcendent universal
(2) Aristotelianism : the form-giving cause : form
(3) Lockeanism : an immediate object or a compound of immediate objects of sensation or reflection — see complex idea , simple idea
(4) Berkeleianism : an impression of sense or imagination ; especially : percept
(5) Humism : a representation or construct of memory and association as distinguished from direct impression of sense
(6) Kantianism : a transcendent but nonempirical concept of reason : noumenon
(7) Hegelianism : the highest category : the complete and final product of reason ; also : its realization or embodiment — compare absolute
b. : an object of a concept
2.
a. : a conception or standard of any perfection : ideal
b. : a preliminary plan : conception , design ; usually : a plan or purpose of action : project
his idea of going in for law
a new idea for decorating the house
3. archaic : a visible representation of a conception (as an abstract perfection) or of a design : a replica of a pattern or archetype : a realized ideal
4.
a. obsolete : an image or picture recalled by memory
b. : an indefinite or fanciful conception or notion : a figment of the imagination : fancy , supposition , opinion
that is a mere idea of yours
a head full of absurd ideas
I've an idea we'll win
5. : an object of the mind existing in apprehension, conception, or thought : notion , thought , impression
a clear idea of his responsibility
6. : a product of reflection or mental concentration : a formulated thought or opinion
ideas on a subject
clearly defined ideas
7. : whatever is known, believed, or supposed regarding any object
the child's idea of air
8. : the central or key meaning or the chief end of a particular action or situation
get the idea
— see big idea
9. : a musical figure or theme
10. Christian Science : an image in Mind
Synonyms:
idea , concept , conception , thought , notion , impression : idea may apply to an image or formulation of something seen or known, of something imagined and visualized, of something vaguely assumed, guessed at, or sensed
practically every American boy who is not tied to his mother's apron strings is going to encounter other boys whose ideas of fighting are very different from his own — Margaret Mead
success with the steamboat inspired Colonel John Stevens to work on the idea of a steam railroad — American Guide Series: New Jersey
an earlier paper has reviewed the development during the Middle Ages of the idea that the Kingdom of France had natural frontiers which it was her right, even her duty, to attain — N.J.G.Pounds
concept may indicate a fairly definite mental formulation determined by consideration of instances, although the word readily admits of suggesting foundations differing with individuals
thus the popular concept of what news was came more and more to be formed upon what news was printed — F.L.Mott
if his concept of the national security he has sworn to defend impels him to dispatch troops into foreign regions and in situations that may involve the United States in war, the sole responsibility is his — Arthur Krock
the emerging of a fresh concept of architecture needed to produce new forms and revitalize tradition — American Guide Series: Michigan
conception , often interchangeable with concept , may stress the idea of the mental action of imagining and formulating rather than the notion of its result
the conception, building, and profitable sale of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railway, commonly known as the Nickel Plate, was in great measure due to him — K.F.Geiser
the Malays have a whole system of tabooed and substituted words, based as usual on the conception of all Nature as animate and sensitive — J.G.Frazer
thought is a general term but is likely to imply the result of ratiocination, of thinking, reasoning, or meditating, rather than fancying or imagining
the next 10 years Abbot devoted to the final elaboration of his thought in abstruse technical form in The Syllogistic Philosophy — F.A.Christie
Adams' first thought was that Palmerston wished a quarrel; his second, that it might be connected with a desire for mediation — W.C.Ford
there are insights which are spoiled by thought — Lewis Leary b.1906
notion may suggest a vague half-formed idea not resolved by much thought and analysis
the notion that primitive languages lack the power of abstraction — A.A.Hill
the notion that history shows a continual progress and especially a progress in the liberation of the individual is amply refuted by many examples — M.R.Cohen
the British have some queer and quaint notions about Americans — some almost as peculiar as our preconceived ideas about them — Richard Joseph
impression applies to a first notion frankly lacking in analysis, consideration, and thought
when he steps out on the street his first impression is of broad radiating avenues — American Guide Series: Minnesota
the additional real difficulty of eliminating all possibility of adding subjective impressions to objective findings — W.C.Allee