i·de·a ( -d   )n. 1. Something, such as a thought or conception, that potentially or actually exists in the mind as a product of mental activity. 2. An opinion, conviction, or principle: has some strange political ideas. 3. A plan, scheme, or method. 4. The gist of a specific situation; significance: The idea is to finish the project under budget. 5. A notion; a fancy. 6. Music A theme or motif. 7. Philosophy a. In the philosophy of Plato, an archetype of which a corresponding being in phenomenal reality is an imperfect replica. b. In the philosophy of Kant, a concept of reason that is transcendent but nonempirical. c. In the philosophy of Hegel, absolute truth; the complete and ultimate product of reason. 8. Obsolete A mental image of something remembered. [Middle English, from Latin, from Greek; see weid- in Indo-European roots.] i·de a·less adj.Synonyms: idea, thought, notion, concept, conception These nouns refer to what is formed or represented in the mind as the product of mental activity. Idea has the widest range: "Human history is in essence a history of ideas" (H.G. Wells). Thought is distinctively intellectual and stresses contemplation and reasoning: "Language is the dress of thought" (Samuel Johnson). Notion often refers to a vague, general, or even fanciful idea: "She certainly has some notion of drawing" (Rudyard Kipling). Concept and conception are applied to mental formulations on a broad scale: You seem to have absolutely no concept of time. "Every succeeding scientific discovery makes greater nonsense of old-time conceptions of sovereignty" (Anthony Eden). |
idea
Noun
1. any product of mental activity; thought
2. a scheme, intention, or plan
3. the thought of something: the idea excites me
4. a belief or opinion
5. a vague notion; inkling: they had no idea of the severity of my injuries
6. a person's conception of something: his idea of integrity is not the same as mine
7. aim or purpose: the idea is to economize on transport
8. Philosophy (in Plato) a universal model of which all things in the same class are only imperfect imitations [Greek: model, outward appearance]
USAGE: It is usually considered correct to say that someone has the idea of doing something, rather than the idea to do it: he had the idea of taking (not the idea to take) a short holiday.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  idea - the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about; "it was not a good idea"; "the thought never entered my mind"cognitive content, mental object, content - the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned inspiration - arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity cogitation - a carefully considered thought about something; "his cogitations were dutifully recorded in his daybook" concept, conception, construct - an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances preoccupation - an idea that preoccupies the mind and holds the attention misconception - an incorrect conception plan, program, programme - a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished; "they drew up a six-step plan"; "they discussed plans for a new bond issue" figment - a contrived or fantastic idea; "a figment of the imagination" generalisation, generality, generalization - an idea or conclusion having general application; "he spoke in broad generalities" suggestion - an idea that is suggested; "the picnic was her suggestion" impression, notion, belief, feeling, opinion - a vague idea in which some confidence is placed; "his impression of her was favorable"; "what are your feelings about the crisis?"; "it strengthened my belief in his sincerity"; "I had a feeling that she was lying" reaction - an idea evoked by some experience; "his reaction to the news was to start planning what to do" theorem - an idea accepted as a demonstrable truth whimsey, whimsy, whim, notion - an odd or fanciful or capricious idea; "the theatrical notion of disguise is associated with disaster in his stories"; "he had a whimsy about flying to the moon"; "whimsy can be humorous to someone with time to enjoy it" burden - the central idea that is expanded in a document or discourse theme, motif - a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work; "it was the usual `boy gets girl' theme" ideal - the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain idealisation, idealization - something that exists only as an idea keynote - a fundamental or central idea kink - an eccentric idea |
| 2. | idea - 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" aim, intent, intention, purpose, design - an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions; "his intent was to provide a new translation"; "good intentions are not enough"; "it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs"; "he made no secret of his designs" | |
| 3. | idea - a personal view; "he has an idea that we don't like him" opinion, persuasion, sentiment, thought, view - a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty; "my opinion differs from yours"; "I am not of your persuasion"; "what are your thoughts on Haiti?" | |
| 4. |  idea - an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth; "an estimate of what it would cost"; "a rough idea how long it would take"scalage - estimation of the amount of lumber in a log credit rating, credit - an estimate, based on previous dealings, of a person's or an organization's ability to fulfill their financial commitments guesstimate, guestimate - an estimate that combines reasoning with guessing overrating, overreckoning, overestimate, overestimation - a calculation that results in an estimate that is too high underestimate, underestimation, underrating, underreckoning - an estimation that is too low; an estimate that is less than the true or actual value | |
| 5. |  idea - (music) melodic subject of a musical composition; "the theme is announced in the first measures"; "the accompanist picked up the idea and elaborated it"music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner melodic line, melodic phrase, melody, tune, strain, air, line - a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; "she was humming an air from Beethoven" statement - (music) the presentation of a musical theme; "the initial statement of the sonata" variation - a repetition of a musical theme in which it is modified or embellished |
idea
noun 1. plan, scheme, proposal, design, theory, strategy, method, solution, suggestion, recommendation, proposition
noun 2. notion, thought, view, understanding, teaching, opinion, belief, conclusion, hypothesis, impression, conviction, judgment, interpretation, sentiment, doctrine, conception, viewpoint
noun 3. impression, estimate, guess, hint, notion, clue, conjecture, surmise, inkling, approximation, intimation, ballpark figure
noun 4. understanding, thought, view, sense, opinion, concept, impression, judgment, perception, conception, abstraction, estimation
noun 5. intention, aim, purpose, object, end, plan, reason, goal, design, objective, motive
USAGE It is usually considered correct to say that someone has the idea of doing something, rather than the idea to do something. For example, you would say he had the idea of taking a holiday, not he had the idea to take a holiday.
Translations
idea [aɪˈdɪə] n → idea;
good idea! → ¡buena idea!;
I haven't the least idea → no tengo ni (la más remota) idea
idea [aɪˈdɪə] n → idea;
good idea! → buon'idea!;
to have an idea that ... → aver l'impressione che ...;
n idea [aiˈdiə]
1 opinion; belief I have an idea that it won't work. idee فِكْرَه идея nápad idé die Meinung γνώμη creencia, impresión arvamus نظر käsitys idée רַעיוֹן विचार misao elképzelés gagasan hugmynd idea 考え 의견 nuomonė ideja; doma idea idee idé, tanke, forestilling przeświadczenie ideia idee мнение predstava, tušenie mnenje mišljenje uppfattning, åsikt ความคิด fikir, düşünce, görüş 意見 думка, гадка تصور quan niệm; ý tưởng 意见
2 a plan I've an idea for solving this problem. idee خِطَّه план plán idé; plan die Idee ιδέα idea mõte نقشه idea idée רַעיוֹן योजना ideja terv rencana hugmynd, áætlun idea 着想 계획 mintis, idėja nodoms; plāns cadangan idee idé, plan, påfunn pomysł ideia idee идея plán, nápad ideja, načrt ideja idé แผนการ düşünce, fikir, öneri 計劃 ідея منصوبہ ý định 计划
3 mental picture This will give you an idea of what I mean. idee صورَه представа představa idé die Vorstellung ιδέα, αντίληψη idea ettekujutus پنداشت käsitys idée מוּשָׂג दिमागी खाका predodžba fogalom gambaran hugmynd idea 概念 상상, 직관 supratimas priekšstats gambaran idee idé, forestilling, anelse pojęcie ideia idee представление predstava predstava ideja begrepp, föreställning มโนภาพ fikir, düşünce 概念 поняття; уявлення ذہنی خاکہ sự hình dung 概念
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