conception

[ kuhn-sep-shuhn ]
See synonyms for: conceptionconceptionsconceptive on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the act of conceiving; the state of being conceived.

  2. fertilization; inception of pregnancy.

  1. a notion; idea; concept: She has some odd conceptions about life.

  2. something that is conceived: That machine is the conception of a genius.

  3. origination; beginning: The organization has been beset by problems from its conception.

  4. a sketch of something not actually existing: an artist's conception of ancient Athens.

  5. the act or power of forming notions, ideas, or concepts.

Origin of conception

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English concepcion from Latin conceptiōn- (stem of conceptiō ), equivalent to Latin concept- (see concept) + -iōn- -ion

Other words from conception

  • con·cep·tion·al, adjective
  • con·cep·tive, adjective
  • post·con·cep·tion, adjective
  • re·con·cep·tion, noun

Words that may be confused with conception

Words Nearby conception

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use conception in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for conception

conception

/ (kənˈsɛpʃən) /


noun
  1. something conceived; notion, idea, design, or plan

  2. the description under which someone considers something: her conception of freedom is wrong

  1. the fertilization of an ovum by a sperm in the Fallopian tube followed by implantation in the womb

  2. origin or beginning: from its conception the plan was a failure

  3. the act or power of forming notions; invention

Origin of conception

1
C13: from Latin conceptiō, from concipere to conceive

Derived forms of conception

  • conceptional or conceptive, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for conception

conception

[ kən-sĕpshən ]


  1. The formation of a zygote resulting from the union of a sperm and egg cell; fertilization.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for conception

conception

Fertilization; the union of the sperm and ovum to form a zygote. (See reproductive systems.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.