Word
conception
Meanings
an idea, mental picture, or understanding of something
the creation or development of an idea, plan, or work
the start of pregnancy when an egg is fertilized
Definition
A conception is an idea or understanding of something, or the moment a baby is first formed in the womb.
A conception is the way someone forms an idea about something or understands it in their mind. It can also mean the creation or origin of an idea, plan, or artistic work. In biology, it refers to the point when a pregnancy begins, when an egg is fertilized.
Examples
- My conception of leadership changed after I managed a cross-functional team for a year.
- Her conception of the novel began with a single image and gradually expanded into a full plot.
- Their conception of the project was ambitious, but they refined it into a workable plan.
- Our conception of what counts as evidence depends heavily on the methods we use.
- His conception of time is unusually strict, so he arrives early even for informal meetings.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse conception (an idea or beginning) with perception (how something is noticed or interpreted).
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More nouns
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- empathy Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings.
- metaphor A metaphor is a way of describing something by saying it is something else to create a clear image …