i|de|a

i|de|a «y DEE uh», noun.

1. a) a picture or notion of anything in the mind; mental image: »

to have an idea about how a thing should look. Eating candy and playing with toys are that little child's idea of happiness. What space does the idea of a pyramid occupy more than the idea of a grain of corn? (Samuel Johnson).

b) any result of mental activity or understanding; a thought, fancy, or opinion; view; belief: »

old-fashioned ideas. The new boy had no idea that work at school was so easy. I had an idea that the man might be a spy.

2. a) an understanding of what is to be aimed at or what is desirable or ought to be; a governing principle; point or purpose: »

The idea of a vacation is to get a rest. The statue has been restored and…because the idea is perfect and indestructible, all these injuries do not…impair the effect (Hawthorne).

SYNONYM(S): conception, concept. b) a notion of something to be done; plan of action; intention: »

the idea of an election by ballot (Edmund Burke). It's a good idea, if you can carry it out.

SYNONYM(S): conception, concept.

3. Music. a theme, phrase, or figure.

4. a) (in Platonic philosophy) one of the patterns of which things are imperfect copies and from which they derive their existence. b) the immediate object of thought or mental perception according to René Descartes and John Locke.

5. Obsolete. a person or thing regarded as perfect of its kind.

6. Obsolete. the mental image or picture of something previously seen or known: »

Though I despaired of possessing you…I doated still on your charming idea (Henry Fielding).

7. Obsolete. a figure; representation; likeness.

╂[< Latin idea < Greek idéā < ideîn to see]

–i|de´a|less, adjective.

Synonym Study 1a, b Idea, notion, thought mean something understood or formed in the mind. Idea is the general word applying to something existing in the mind as the result of understanding, thinking, reasoning, imagination, etc.: »

Learn to express your ideas clearly.

Notion applies to an idea not fully, clearly, plainly, or completey formed or understood: »

I have only a notion of what you mean.

Thought applies to an idea formed by reflection or reasoning, rather than by the imagination: »

Tell me your thoughts on this proposal.

Usage idea. With a dependent verb, the idiom is idea of plus a gerund: »

They got the happy idea of climbing Sugarloaf Hill. Not: They got the happy idea to climb Sugarloaf Hill.