idea in English dictionary

  • idea

    Meanings and definitions of "idea"

    • (philosophy) An abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect approximations; pure essence, as opposed to actual examples. [from 14th c.]
    • (obsolete) The conception of someone or something as representing a perfect example; an ideal. [16th-19th c.]
    • (obsolete) The form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic. [16th-18th c.]
    • An image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory. [from 16th c.]
    • More generally, any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking. [from 17th c.]
    • A conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an intention. [from 17th c.]
    • A vague or fanciful notion; a feeling or hunch; an impression. [from 17th c.]
    • (music) A musical theme or melodic subject. [from 18th c.]
    • noun
      (philosophy)
      An abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect approximations; pure essence, as opposed to actual examples. [from 14th c.]
    • noun
      (obsolete)
      The conception of someone or something as representing a perfect example; an ideal. [16th-19th c.]
    • noun
      (obsolete)
      The form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic. [16th-18th c.]
    • noun
      An image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory. [from 16th c.]
    • noun
      More generally, any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking. [from 17th c.]
    • noun
      A conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an intention. [from 17th c.]
    • noun
      A vague or fanciful notion; a feeling or hunch; an impression. [from 17th c.]
    • noun
      (music)
      A musical theme or melodic subject. [from 18th c.]
    • image formed in the mind
    • thought, notion
    • A plan or notion that is formed and exists in the mind as a result of mental activity.
    • plan, intention
    • musical theme
    • expression (e.g. in music)
    • Initial idea or element that inspires an artistic or literary work.
    • noun
      an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth; "an estimate of what it would cost"; "a rough idea how long it would take"
    • noun
      a personal view; "he has an idea that we don't like him"
    • noun
      (music) melodic subject of a musical composition; "the theme is announced in the first measures"; "the accompanist picked up the idea and elaborated it"
    • noun
      (philosophy) An abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect approximations; pure essence, as opposed to actual examples.
      Plato argued in dialogues such as the Phadeo, Symposium, Republic, and Timaeus that there is a realm of ideas or forms (eidei), which exist independently of anyone who may have thoughts of these ideas, and it is the ideas which distinguish mere opinion from knowledge, for unlike material things which are transient and liable to contrary properties, ideas are unchanging and nothing but just what they are.
    • noun
      the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about; "it was not a good idea"; "the thought never entered my mind"
    • noun
      your intention; what you intend to do; "he had in mind to see his old teacher"; "the idea of the game is to capture all the pieces"

    Synonyms of "idea" in English dictionary

    theme, intent, approximation are the top synonyms of "idea" in the English thesaurus.

    Grammar and declension of idea

    • idea ( plural  ideæ  or ideas)
    • idea (plural ideas or (rare) ideæ)
  • IDeA
  • Idea
  • IDEA

Sample sentences with "idea"

Available translations

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