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[ahy-dee-uh, ahy-deeuh ] /aɪˈdi ə, aɪˈdiə/

noun
1.
any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity.
2.
a thought, conception, or notion:
That is an excellent idea.
3.
an impression:
He gave me a general idea of how he plans to run the department.
4.
an opinion, view, or belief:
His ideas on raising children are certainly strange.
5.
a plan of action; an intention:
the idea of becoming an engineer.
6.
a groundless supposition; fantasy.
7.
Philosophy.

8.
Music. a theme, phrase, or figure.
9.
Obsolete.

/aɪˈdɪə/
noun
1.
any content of the mind, esp the conscious mind
2.
the thought of something: the very idea appals me
3.
a mental representation of something: she’s got a good idea of the layout of the factory
4.
the characterization of something in general terms; concept: the idea of a square circle is self-contradictory
5.
an individual’s conception of something: his idea of honesty is not the same as yours and mine
6.
the belief that something is the case: he has the idea that what he’s doing is right
7.
a scheme, intention, plan, etc: here’s my idea for the sales campaign
8.
a vague notion or indication; inkling: he had no idea of what life would be like in Africa
9.
significance or purpose: the idea of the game is to discover the murderer
10.
(philosophy)

11.
(music) a thematic phrase or figure; motif
12.
(obsolete) a mental image
13.
get ideas, to become ambitious, restless, etc
14.
not one’s idea of, not what one regards as (hard work, a holiday, etc)
15.
that’s an idea, that is worth considering
16.
the very idea!, that is preposterous, unreasonable, etc
/aɪˈdɪə/
noun
1.
another name for Form
n.

late 14c., “archetype of a thing in the mind of God; Platonic `idea,'” from Latin idea “idea,” and in Platonic philosophy “archetype,” from Greek idea “ideal prototype,” literally “the look of a thing (as opposed to the reality); form; kind, sort, nature,” from idein “to see,” from PIE *wid-es-ya-, suffixed form of root *weid- “to see” (see vision). Sense of “result of thinking” first recorded 1640s.

Men of one idea, like a hen with one chicken, and that a duckling. [Thoreau, “Walden”]

Idée fixe (1836) is from French, literally “fixed idea.”

idea i·de·a (ī-dē’ə)
n.
Something, such as a thought or conception, that potentially or actually exists in the mind as a product of mental activity.

Related Terms

what’s the big idea

1. Interactive Data Entry/Access.
2. International Data Encryption Algorithm.
(1996-02-16)
1.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
2.
International Data Encryption Algorithm
see: