English Dictionary

Definition of “concept

concept (ˈkɒnsɛptPronunciation for concept

Definitions

noun

  1. an idea, esp an abstract idea  ⇒ the concepts of biology 
  2. philosophy a general idea or notion that corresponds to some class of entities and that consists of the characteristic or essential features of the class
  3. philosophy 
    1. the conjunction of all the characteristic features of something
    2. a theoretical construct within some theory
    3. a directly intuited object of thought
    4. the meaning of a predicate
  4. (modifier) (of a product, esp a car) created as an exercise to demonstrate the technical skills and imagination of the designers, and not intended for mass production or sale

Word Origin

C16: from Latin conceptum  something received or conceived, from concipere to take in, conceive

Usage examples

  • Now I understand that the concept of "better" is just an evil myth put about by fascist medical practitioners.
    Nicola Barker, BEHINDLINGS (2002)
  • So the concept of'other' from which one must shrink can depend on geography as much as skin colour.
    Country Life (2004)
  • Deferring is the concept of pushing a tax bill from the current year to a year in the future.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • It has 900 stores employing 30,000 people and it is rolling out a superstore concept , Big W, pioneered in Edinburgh.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Coppola called the test `electric', but De Niro's concept didn't fit the part.
    John Baxter, DE NIRO: A Biography (2002)

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