View synonyms for idea

idea

[ ahy-dee-uh, ahy-deeuh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity.
a thought, conception, or notion:
That is an excellent idea.
an impression:
He gave me a general idea of how he plans to run the department.
an opinion, view, or belief:
His ideas on raising children are certainly strange.
Synonyms: judgment, sentiment
a plan of action; an intention:
the idea of becoming an engineer.
a groundless supposition; fantasy.
Philosophy.
1. a concept developed by the mind.
2. a conception of what is desirable or ought to be; ideal.
3. (initial capital letter) Platonism. Also called form. an archetype or pattern of which the individual objects in any natural class are imperfect copies and from which they derive their being.
4. Kantianism. idea of pure reason.
Music. a theme, phrase, or figure.
Obsolete.
1. a likeness.
2. a mental image.

Idea

/ aɪˈdɪə /

noun

another name for Form

idea

/ aɪˈdɪə /

noun

any content of the mind, esp the conscious mind
the thought of something
the very idea appals me
a mental representation of something
she's got a good idea of the layout of the factory
the characterization of something in general terms; concept
the idea of a square circle is self-contradictory
an individual's conception of something
his idea of honesty is not the same as yours and mine
the belief that something is the case
he has the idea that what he's doing is right
a scheme, intention, plan, etc
here's my idea for the sales campaign
a vague notion or indication; inkling
he had no idea of what life would be like in Africa
significance or purpose
the idea of the game is to discover the murderer
philosophy
1. a private mental object, regarded as the immediate object of thought or perception
2. a Platonic Idea or Form
music a thematic phrase or figure; motif
obsolete.
a mental image
get ideas
to become ambitious, restless, etc
not one's idea of
not what one regards as (hard work, a holiday, etc)
that's an idea
that is worth considering
the very idea!
that is preposterous, unreasonable, etc

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Usage

It is usually considered correct to say that someone has the idea of doing something, rather than the idea to do it: he had the idea of taking (not the idea to take ) a short holiday

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Derived Forms

iˈdealess, adjective

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Other Words From

i·dea·less adjective
prei·dea noun
subi·dea noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of idea¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Late Latin from Greek idéā “form, pattern,” equivalent to ide- (stem of ideîn “to see”) + -ā feminine noun ending; replacing late Middle English idee from Middle French from Late Latin, as above; akin to wit ¹

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Word History and Origins

Origin of idea¹

C16: via Late Latin from Greek: model, pattern, notion, from idein to see

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Idioms and Phrases

see bright idea ; put ideas in someone's head ; what's the idea .

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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