ˈnōshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin notion-, notio idea, conception, act of coming to know, from notus + -ion-, -io -ion
1.
a.
(1) : a mental apprehension or picture of whatever may be known or imagined : the meaning or content assigned by the mind to a term : conception , idea
my notion of the country gentleman of the 17th century — T.B.Macaulay
have no adequate notion of what we mean by causation — Edward Sapir
outraged her mother's notions of economic and amorous propriety — New York Times
her notion of a delta was a lot of channels and islands — C.S.Forester
(2) obsolete : a form, character, or sense in which a thing is taken or exists
(3) obsolete : connotation , meaning
(4) : phrase , term
the meaning of the notion law
b. : a general or universal concept
introduced the notion of organism into the world of minute beings — A.N.Whitehead
the notion of an established body of alphabetical symbols — Charlton Laird
arriving at the notion of law — Irving Babbitt
c.
(1) Lockeanism : a complex idea that has its original and constant existence in the thoughts of men rather than in the reality of things
(2) Berkeleianism : a conception that in distinction from an idea has no corresponding sense impression but nevertheless has something real corresponding to it (as minds and their operations, including God)
it must be owned at the same time that we have some notion of soul, spirit, and the operations of the mind, such as willing, loving, hating, inasmuch as we know or understand the meaning of these words — George Berkeley
(3)
[translation of German begriff ]
Hegelianism : the organized unity of a differentiated whole corresponding to some universal ; specifically : the dialectical synthesis of Being and Essence approaching the Absolute Idea
(4) Kantianism : a pure concept of reason — compare noumenon
2.
a. : an idea, theory, or belief held by someone
had a vague notion that some supervision should be exercised — Robertson Davies
disliked this notion of begging of strange people — Pearl Buck
this notion of a basically honest mankind — L.A.Fiedler
man's notions about his history have altered tremendously — L.C.Eiseley
b.
(1) : an inclination, whim, or fancy
it's a queer notion of the old gentleman — George Meredith
— often used in the phrase take a notion
took the notion of having a ball in costume — Winston Churchill
rocks their ancestors had taken a notion to — Willa Cather
(2) : a perverse, crotchety, or flighty idea or fancy
don't go getting any notions into your head — Maeve Brennan
get notions before he was fifty — Jean Stafford
some of it was just notions that the poor woman had got into her head — B.A.Williams
c. dialect chiefly Britain : a fondness for one of the opposite sex
3.
a. obsolete : mind , intellect
b. : understanding , knowledge , inkling
has not the least notion of what it's all about
has no more notion of how to run a business than a child
had no notion … that you analysed people like that — Walter de la Mare
4.
a. : an ingenious device : any of various small articles or wares : knickknack
b. notions plural : small articles usually sold in one department of a store (as findings for sewing, ribbons, buttons, small personal and clothing items)
Synonyms: see idea