ideate (redirected from ideating)

i·de·ate  (d-t)

v. i·de·at·ed, i·de·at·ing, i·de·ates

v.tr.

To form an idea of; imagine or conceive: "Such characters represent a grotesquely blown-up aspect of an ideal man . . . if not realizable, capable of being ideated" (Anthony Burgess).

v.intr.

To conceive mental images; think.

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ide·ation n.

ide·ation·al adj.

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ideate [ˈaɪdɪˌeɪt]

vb (tr) to form or have an idea of; to imagine or conceive

[from Medieval Latin ideat- formed as an idea, from ideare, from Greek idea model, pattern, notion]

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

ideate - form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case; "Can you conceive of him as the president?" conceive of, envisage, imagine create by mental act, create mentally - create mentally and abstractly rather than with one's hands envision, fancy, picture, visualize, image, visualise, figure, see, project - imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind; "I can't see him on horseback!"; "I can see what will happen"; "I can see a risk in this strategy" visualise, visualize - form a mental picture of something that is invisible or abstract; "Mathematicians often visualize" envision, foresee - picture to oneself; imagine possible; "I cannot envision him as President" fantasise, fantasize - portray in the mind; "he is fantasizing the ideal wife" prefigure - imagine or consider beforehand; "It wasn't as bad as I had prefigured" think - imagine or visualize; "Just think--you could be rich one day!"; "Think what a scene it must have been!" fantasise, fantasize, fantasy - indulge in fantasies; "he is fantasizing when he says he plans to start his own company" daydream, dream, woolgather, stargaze - have a daydream; indulge in a fantasy