conceive

[kuh n-seev] /kənˈsiv/
verb (used with object), conceived, conceiving.
1.
to form (a notion, opinion, purpose, etc.):
He conceived the project while he was on vacation.
2.
to form a notion or idea of; imagine.
3.
to hold as an opinion; think; believe:
I can't conceive that it would be of any use.
4.
to experience or form (a feeling):
to conceive a great love for music.
5.
to express, as in words.
6.
to become pregnant with.
7.
to beget.
8.
to begin, originate, or found (something) in a particular way (usually used in the passive):
a new nation conceived in liberty.
9.
Archaic. to understand; comprehend.
verb (used without object), conceived, conceiving.
10.
to form an idea; think (usually followed by of).
11.
to become pregnant.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French conceivre < Latin concipere to take fully, take in, equivalent to con- con- + -cipere, combining form of capere to take
Related forms
conceiver, noun
nonconceiving, noun, adjective
reconceive, verb, reconceived, reconceiving.
unconceived, adjective
well-conceived, adjective
Synonyms
2, 8. See imagine.
Examples from the web for conceive
  • As a result, females take longer to conceive again after producing each calf.
  • In many ways, its tough to conceive of an idea, much less a business to wrap around it.
  • Scientists generally conceive of aging as a sort of cellular wear and tear.
  • Let us conceive for a moment, however, that the singularity was a device.
  • There is a reason why our gametocytes must compete to conceive.
  • If someone else can't conceive of or believe it, it's no skin off my nose.
  • Most voters could not conceive of him as a plausible prime minister.
  • At that time, no one could conceive of waves which were not vibrations in some medium.
  • Even he, however, did not conceive of the idea of melting that ice by human agency.
  • Anything the human imagination can conceive of is story-worthy, regardless.
British Dictionary definitions for conceive

conceive

/kənˈsiːv/
verb
1.
when intr, foll by of; when tr, often takes a clause as object. to have an idea (of); imagine; think
2.
(transitive; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to hold as an opinion; believe
3.
(transitive) to develop or form, esp in the mind: she conceived a passion for music
4.
to become pregnant with (young)
5.
(transitive) (rare) to express in words
Derived Forms
conceiver, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Old French conceivre, from Latin concipere to take in, from capere to take
Word Origin and History for conceive
v.

late 13c., conceiven, "take (seed) into the womb, become pregnant," from stem of Old French conceveir (Modern French concevoir), from Latin concipere (past participle conceptus) "to take in and hold; become pregnant," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + comb. form of capere "to take," from PIE *kap- "to grasp" (see capable). Meaning "take into the mind" is from mid-14c., a figurative sense also found in the Old French and Latin words. Related: Conceived; conceiving.

conceive in Medicine

conceive con·ceive (kən-sēv')
v. con·ceived, con·ceiv·ing, con·ceives

  1. To become pregnant.

  2. To apprehend mentally; to understand.