CONCEPTION

Pronunciation (US):

• CONCEPTION (noun)
  The noun CONCEPTION has 4 senses:

1. an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
2. the act of becoming pregnant; fertilization of an ovum by a spermatozoon
3. the event that occurred at the beginning of something
4. the creation of something in the mind

  Familiarity information: CONCEPTION used as a noun is uncommon.

• CONCEPTION (noun)

Meaning:

An abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

concept; conception; construct

Hypernyms ("conception" is a kind of...):

idea; thought (the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "conception"):

linguistic rule; rule ((linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice)

fact (a concept whose truth can be proved)

hypothesis; possibility; theory (a tentative theory about the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena)

lexicalized concept (a concept that is expressed by a word (in some particular language))

law; law of nature (a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature)

law; natural law (a rule or body of rules of conduct inherent in human nature and essential to or binding upon human society)

whole (all of something including all its component elements or parts)

division; part; section (one of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole)

quantity (something that has a magnitude and can be represented in mathematical expressions by a constant or a variable)

abstract; abstraction (a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance)

attribute; dimension; property (a construct whereby objects or individuals can be distinguished)

regulation; rule (a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior)

category (a general concept that marks divisions or coordinations in a conceptual scheme)

notion (a general inclusive concept)

conceptualisation; conceptuality; conceptualization (an elaborated concept)

Antonym:

misconception (an incorrect conception)

Meaning:

The act of becoming pregnant; fertilization of an ovum by a spermatozoon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("conception" is a kind of...):

sex; sex activity; sexual activity; sexual practice (activities associated with sexual intercourse)

Meaning:

The event that occurred at the beginning of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

conception; creation

Context example:

from its creation the plan was doomed to failure

Hypernyms ("conception" is a kind of...):

beginning (the event consisting of the start of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "conception"):

fecundation; fertilisation; fertilization; impregnation (creation by the physical union of male and female gametes; of sperm and ova in an animal or pollen and ovule in a plant)

Meaning:

The creation of something in the mind

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

invention; excogitation; innovation; conception; design

Hypernyms ("conception" is a kind of...):

creative thinking; creativeness; creativity (the ability to create)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "conception"):

concoction (the invention of a scheme or story to suit some purpose)

contrivance (the faculty of contriving; inventive skill)