concept

[kon-sept]

noun

1. a general notion or idea; conception.

2. an idea of something formed by mentally combining all its characteristics or particulars; a construct.

3. a directly conceived or intuited object of thought.

adjective

1. functioning as a prototype or model of new product or innovation.

   a concept car,

   a concept phone.

verb (used with object)

1. Informal.,  to develop a concept of; conceive.

   He concepted and produced three films.

concept

/ ˈkɒnsɛpt /

noun

1. an idea, esp an abstract idea

   the concepts of biology

2. philosophy a general idea or notion that corresponds to some class of entities and that consists of the characteristic or essential features of the class

3. philosophy

   1. the conjunction of all the characteristic features of something

   2. a theoretical construct within some theory

   3. a directly intuited object of thought

   4. the meaning of a predicate

4. (modifier) (of a product, esp a car) created as an exercise to demonstrate the technical skills and imagination of the designers, and not intended for mass production or sale

Word History and Origins

Origin of concept¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin conceptum “something conceived,” originally neuter of conceptus “conceived,” past participle of concipere “to conceive,” equivalent to con- con- ( def. ) + -cipere, combining form of capere “to seize”

Word History and Origins

Origin of concept¹

C16: from Latin conceptum something received or conceived, from concipere to take in, _conceive

Example Sentences

The concept can be imagined as a marble maze that organizes itself.

Read more on Science Daily

"I'm not really that into concept albums, but it's got an amazing story from beginning to end - and it never compromises the songs," agrees Oddie.

Read more on BBC

The concept of "romanticising" the colder months has also become popular on TikTok, with videos of crunchy autumn leaves, flickering candles and steaming hot drinks.

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The edge is not “a simple concept,” the author explains, but rather, a “relative” one.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The concept of a civic memorial has long and often been, in Western culture, the privilege of classical music.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• approach 
• conception 
• image 
• notion 
• perception 
• theory 
• thought 
• view