conception

[kuh n-sep-shuh n] /kənˈsɛp ʃən/
noun
1.
the act of conceiving; the state of being conceived.
2.
fertilization; inception of pregnancy.
3.
a notion; idea; concept:
She has some odd conceptions about life.
4.
something that is conceived:
That machine is the conception of a genius.
5.
origination; beginning:
The organization has been beset by problems from its conception.
6.
a design; plan.
7.
a sketch of something not actually existing:
an artist's conception of ancient Athens.
8.
the act or power of forming notions, ideas, or concepts.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English concepcion < Latin conceptiōn- (stem of conceptiō), equivalent to Latin concept- (see concept) + -iōn- -ion
Related forms
conceptional, adjective
conceptive, adjective
postconception, adjective
reconception, noun
Can be confused
concept, conception, inception.
Synonyms
3. See idea.
Examples from the web for conception
  • His conception of a vengeful deity didn't help his equanimity.
  • It was a profoundly unjust use of government power against an individual-a case flawed in both conception and execution.
  • In any case, it's important for the production and the artistic conception to be in sync.
  • For another, a lot of time is spent making plans that never get beyond the conception stage.
  • The will is conceived as a faculty of determining oneself to action in accordance with the conception of certain laws.
  • He chooses his characters because they embody concretely and so exemplify the conception he has formed of a significant situation.
  • Nearly half feel troubled by the role of money in their conception.
  • One incident has bearing upon his conception of performance of duty without fear or favor.
  • It is out of the bounty and abundance of his own nature that he is as amusing in the execution as in the conception of his work.
  • Individuals have unique experiences from the moment of conception.
British Dictionary definitions for conception

conception

/kənˈsɛpʃən/
noun
1.
something conceived; notion, idea, design, or plan
2.
the description under which someone considers something: her conception of freedom is wrong
3.
the fertilization of an ovum by a sperm in the Fallopian tube followed by implantation in the womb
4.
origin or beginning: from its conception the plan was a failure
5.
the act or power of forming notions; invention
Derived Forms
conceptional, conceptive, adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Latin conceptiō, from concipere to conceive
Word Origin and History for conception
n.

early 14c., "act of conceiving," from Old French concepcion (Modern French conception) "conception, grasp, comprehension," from Latin conceptionem (nominative conceptio) "a comprehending, conception," noun of action from stem of concipere (see conceive). Originally in the womb sense (also with reference to Conception Day in the Church calendar); mental sense "process of forming concepts" is late 14c. Meaning "that which is conceived in the mind" is from 1520s; "general notion" is from 1785.

conception in Medicine

conception con·cep·tion (kən-sěp'shən)
n.

  1. The act of forming a general idea or notion.

  2. The formation of a viable zygote by the union of a spermatozoon and an ovum; fertilization.

  3. See concept.

conception in Science
conception
  (kən-sěp'shən)   
The formation of a zygote resulting from the union of a sperm and egg cell; fertilization.
conception in Culture

conception definition


Fertilization; the union of the sperm and ovum to form a zygote. (See reproductive systems.)