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conceive definition

con·ceive (kən sēv′)

transitive verb conceived -·ceived′, conceiving -·ceiv′·ing

  1. to become pregnant with; cause to begin life
  2. to form or develop in the mind
  3. to hold as one's conviction or opinion; think; imagine
  4. to understand; apprehend
  5. 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

  1. to become pregnant
  2. to form a concept or idea (of)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical conceive definition - medical

conceive Synonyms

conceive

v.

  1. To form a concept or image of

    imagine, conceptualize, consider, formulate; see imagine 1, invent 1, think 1.

  2. To understand

    grasp, comprehend, perceive; see understand 1.

  3. To become pregnant

    become with child, be impregnated, superfetate, get in the family way*.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

conceive Usage Examples

Object

  • pregnancy: Women do not expect to conceive an unwanted pregnancy or to need an abortion.

Modifying Another Word

  • naturally: The oldest person to conceive naturally in the UK was... 45 50 54 60 20.

Preposition: in

  • womb: And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

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.

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.

Preposition: in

  • term: The linking together of signs was conceived solely in terms of the grammatical possibilities which the system offered.

Preposition: by

  • insemination: Both are the biological children of the respondent conceived by anonymous donor insemination.
conceive usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

conceive quotes

Je pouvais prendre pour re'  gle ge¤  ne¤  rale, que les choses que nous concevons fort clairement et fort distinctement sont toutes vraies. I could take it as a general rule that whatever we conceive very clearly and very distinctly is true.

-Descartes, Rene¤

conceive quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"conceive." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/conceive>

APA Style

conceive. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/conceive

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