Concept

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒn.sɛpt/

Definitions

1. An abstract idea or general notion that represents something in the mind
2. A mental construct or general principle that embodies an idea or category of understanding
3. An overarching notion or theoretical framework that helps to capture and communicate various ideas or phenomena

Etymology: The Latin "conceptus" meant "a conceiving" or "a taking in," and it was the past participle of "concipere," which combined "com-" (together) with "capere" (to take). So the root image is grasping and holding something whole. The Latin noun also came to mean a thought or purpose, which is the sense that eventually crossed into English. That path ran through Middle French, where "concept" was borrowed before English took it. The word is a doublet of "conceit" and "concetto," meaning that these three English-facing forms all descend from the same Latin source but reached their languages by different routes and picked up different shades. "Conceit" kept the sense of a fanciful notion, while "concept" settled into the plainer meaning of a general idea.

Synonyms: idea, notion, thought, principle, theory

Antonyms: reality, fact, truth