idea

[I*de·a]

When you suddenly know what to do and a cartoon light bulb appears above your head, you've probably just had an idea. After burning the roast and dropping the mashed potatoes, ordering pizza seemed like your best idea all night.

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The transcript, image, or picture of a visible object, that is formed by the mind; also, a similar image of any object whatever, whether sensible or spiritual.

Noun
an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth; "an estimate of what it would cost"; "a rough idea how long it would take"

Noun
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about; "it was not a good idea"; "the thought never entered my mind"

Noun
a personal view; "he has an idea that we don''t like him"

Noun
your intention; what you intend to do; "he had in mind to see his old teacher"; "the idea of the game is to capture all the pieces"

Noun
(music) melodic subject of a musical composition; "the theme is announced in the first measures"; "the accompanist picked up the idea and elaborated it"

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n.
The transcript, image, or picture of a visible object, that is formed by the mind; also, a similar image of any object whatever, whether sensible or spiritual.

n.
A general notion, or a conception formed by generalization.

n.
Hence: Any object apprehended, conceived, or thought of, by the mind; a notion, conception, or thought; the real object that is conceived or thought of.

n.
A belief, option, or doctrine; a characteristic or controlling principle; as, an essential idea; the idea of development.

n.
A plan or purpose of action; intention; design.

n.
A rational conception; the complete conception of an object when thought of in all its essential elements or constituents; the necessary metaphysical or constituent attributes and relations, when conceived in the abstract.

n.
A fiction object or picture created by the imagination; the same when proposed as a pattern to be copied, or a standard to be reached; one of the archetypes or patterns of created things, conceived by the Platonists to have excited objectively from eternity in the mind of the Deity.

Idea

I*de"a , n.; pl. Ideas . [L. idea, Gr. , fr. to see; akin to E. wit: cf. F. id'82e. See Wit.] 1. The transcript, image, or picture of a visible object, that is formed by the mind; also, a similar image of any object whatever, whether sensible or spiritual.

Her sweet idea wandered through his thoughts.

Being the right idea of your father Both in your form and nobleness of mind.

This representation or likeness of the object being transmitted from thence [the senses] to the imagination, and lodged there for the view and observation of the pure intellect, is aptly and properly called its idea.

2. A general notion, or a conception formed by generalization.

Alice had not the slightest idea what latitude was.

3. Hence: Any object apprehended, conceived, or thought of, by the mind; a notion, conception, or thought; the real object that is conceived or thought of.

Whatsoever the mind perceives in itself, or as the immediate object of perception, thought, or undersanding, that I call idea.

4. A belief, option, or doctrine; a characteristic or controlling principle; as, an essential idea; the idea of development.

That fellow seems to me to possess but one idea, and that is a wrong one.

What is now "idea" for us? How infinite the fall of this word, since the time where Milton sang of the Creator contemplating his newly-created world, - "how it showed . . . Answering his great idea," - to its present use, when this person "has an idea that the train has started," and the other "had no idea that the dinner would be so bad!"

5. A plan or purpose of action; intention; design.

I shortly afterwards set off for that capital, with an idea of undertaking while there the translation of the work.

6. A rational conception; the complete conception of an object when thought of in all its essential elements or constituents; the necessary metaphysical or constituent attributes and relations, when conceived in the abstract. 7. A fiction object or picture created by the imagination; the same when proposed as a pattern to be copied, or a standard to be reached; one of the archetypes or patterns of created things, conceived by the Platonists to have excited objectively from eternity in the mind of the Deity.

Thence to behold this new-created world, The addition of his empire, how it showed In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, Answering his great idea.

&hand; "In England, Locke may be said to have been the first who naturalized the term in its Cartesian universality. When, in common language, employed by Milton and Dryden, after Descartes, as before him by Sidney, Spenser, Shakespeare, Hooker, etc., the meaning is Platonic." Sir W. Hamilton. Abstract idea, Association of ideas, etc. See under Abstract, Association, etc. Syn. -- Notion; conception; thought; sentiment; fancy; image; perception; impression; opinion; belief; observation; judgment; consideration; view; design; intention; purpose; plan; model; pattern. There is scarcely any other word which is subjected to such abusive treatment as is the word idea, in the very general and indiscriminative way in which it is employed, as it is used variously to signify almost any act, state, or content of thought.

The transcript, image, or picture of a visible object, that is formed by the mind; also, a similar image of any object whatever, whether sensible or spiritual.

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Usage Examples

A healthful hunger for a great idea is the beauty and blessedness of life.

A bachelor never quite gets over the idea that he is a thing of beauty and a boy forever.

A few years ago I lost 30 pounds, and people still wanted to criticize. And honestly, I'm happy with myself if I'm a little heavier. I realized: 'Why am I trying to conform to someone else's idea of beauty?' I think I'm beautiful either way.

A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition.

A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn it can be stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown on the right man's brow.

'I Know You Care' is really personal and fragile for me. For me, it's about losing a family member and also about a breakup. It's about this idea of losing someone for good.

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy.

A lot of people out there pay good lip service to the idea of personal freedom... right up to the point that someone tries to do something that they don't personally approve of.

Misspelled Form

idea, uidea, 8idea, 9idea, oidea, jidea, kidea, udea, 8dea, 9dea, odea, jdea, kdea, iudea, i8dea, i9dea, iodea, ijdea, ikdea, isdea, iedea, ifdea, ixdea, icdea, isea, ieea, ifea, ixea, icea, idsea, ideea, idfea, idxea, idcea, idwea, id3ea, id4ea, idrea, idsea, iddea, idwa, id3a, id4a, idra, idsa, idda, idewa, ide3a, ide4a, idera, idesa, ideda, ideqa, idewa, idesa, ideza, ideq, idew, ides, idez, ideaq, ideaw, ideas, ideaz.

Other Usage Examples

A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don't have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.

A good idea is about ten percent and implementation and hard work, and luck is 90 percent.

A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one.

A good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into place but a seed to be planted and to bear more seed toward the hope of greening the landscape of idea.

A good idea will keep you awake during the morning, but a great idea will keep you awake during the night.

A movie goes from several stages, from idea to script. As you continue shooting, you will make some adjustments. You're constantly adjusting. It's like a piece of music. You're constantly trying to make it better.

'Snow White' is an old fairy tale, so obviously the idea of vanity and obsession with youth is long-standing. With today's science, people have become crazy with trying to move their face around. It's bizarre.

A person with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.