Main Entry:
con·cep·tion Pronunciation:
k&n-'sep-sh&n Function:
noun Etymology: Middle English
concepcioun, from Old French
conception, from Latin
conception-, conceptio, from
concipere Date: 14th century
1 a (1)
: the process of becoming pregnant involving fertilization or implantation or both (2)
: EMBRYO, FETUS b : BEGINNING <joy had the like
conception in our eyes -- Shakespeare>
2 a : the capacity, function, or process of forming or understanding ideas or abstractions or their symbols
b : a general idea
: CONCEPT c : a complex product of abstract or reflective thinking
d : the sum of a person's ideas and beliefs
concerning something
3 : the originating of something in the mind
synonym see
IDEA-
con·cep·tion·al /
-shn&l, -sh&-n&l/
adjective-
con·cep·tive /
-'sep-tiv/
adjectiveMain Entry: con·tra·cep·tion
Pronunciation: "kän-tr&-'sep-sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: contra- + conception
Date: 1886
: deliberate prevention of conception or impregnation
- con·tra·cep·tive /-'sep-tiv/ adjective or noun