See Also: conceive(dictionary)
conceive(dictionary)

conceive (oh)



[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: conceivre, from Latin concipere 'to take in, conceive', from com- ( COM-) + capere 'to take']
[I and T] formal to imagine a particular situation or to think about something in a particular way
(cannot) conceive of (doing) sth
::Many people can't conceive of a dinner without meat or fish.
conceive that
::He could not conceive that anything really serious could be worrying his friend.
conceive what/why/how etc
::I can hardly conceive what it must be like here in winter.
conceive of sth/sb as sth
::Language may be conceived of as a process which arises from social interaction.
[T] to think of a new idea, plan etc and develop it in your mind
::Scientists first conceived the idea of the atomic bomb in the 1930's.
[I and T] to become pregnant
::fertility treatment for women who have difficulty conceiving