conceive Definition
con·ceive (kən sēv′)
transitive verb -·ceived′, -·ceiv′·ing
- to become pregnant with; cause to begin life
- to form or develop in the mind
- to hold as one's conviction or opinion; think; imagine
- to understand; apprehend
- to put in words; couch; express
Etymology: ME conceiven < OFr conceveir < L concipere (pp. conceptus), to take in, receive < com-, together + capere, to take: see have
intransitive verb
- to become pregnant
- to form a concept or idea (of)
conceive Synonyms
conceive
v.
To form a concept or image of
imagine, conceptualize, consider, formulate; see imagine 1, invent 1, think 1.To understand
grasp, comprehend, perceive; see understand 1.To become pregnant
become with child, be impregnated, superfetate, get in the family way*.
conceive Usage Examples
Object
- idea: Joe conceived the idea of getting some talk out of him.
- baby: The extraordinary feelings of having conceived a baby is wonderful.
- passion: The housekeeper, Hannah Calcutt, later gave evidence that the couple had already ' conceived a criminal passion for each other ' .
- twin: Q. What are the chances of conceiving twins more than once?
- desire: Long ago in my crude unhappy youth, I conceived the desire of writing a book.
- pregnancy: Women do not expect to conceive an unwanted pregnancy or to need an abortion.
Preposition: on
scale: Conceived on a grand scale, the Palais Garnier is the largest opera house in the world and one of the finest.
Subject
insemination: Both are the biological children of the respondent conceived by anonymous donor insemination.
Preposition: as
means: The site was originally conceived as a means for French property owners wishing to car share on the Plymouth to Roscoff route.
Modifying Another Word
- brilliantly: Holidays to Florida â A brilliantly conceived fantasy world Walt Disney World Resort holidays inhabit a unique brilliantly conceived magical fantasy world.
- originally: The number is one less than was originally conceived.
- broadly: Business broadly conceived: Report of the Business Archives Council of Scotland Surveying Officer, 1994-95, by Frank Rankin.
- naturally: The oldest person to conceive naturally in the UK was... 45 50 54 60 20.
- narrowly: African politics is often conceived narrowly in terms of either ' patrimonialism ' or coercive authoritarianism.
- immaculately: Is it the case that Mary was a perpetual Virgin, was conceived immaculately, and ascended bodily into Heaven?
Preposition: in
- womb: And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
- term: The linking together of signs was conceived solely in terms of the grammatical possibilities which the system offered.
- spirit: But the UN Charter itself was conceived in a spirit of violation of its own principles.
Preposition: of
possibility: Maharishi said that every government is so saturated with problems that its leaders cannot conceive of the possibility of rising to invincibility.
Preposition: by
insemination: Both are the biological children of the respondent conceived by anonymous donor insemination.
Browse dictionary entries near conceive
- ‹ conceivable
- ‹ conceited
- ‹ conceit
- ‹ concede
- ‹ concealment rule
- ‹ concealment
- ‹ concealed weapon
- ‹ concealed carry law
- ‹ concealed
- ‹ conceal

