conceive
verbWord Family
- conceive verb
- conceivable adjective (≠ inconceivable)
- conceivably adverb
- concept noun
- conception noun
- conceptual adjective
- [transitive] conceive something (formal)
to form an idea, a plan, etc. in your mind 想出（主意、计划等）；想象；构想；设想 He conceived the idea of transforming the old power station into an arts centre. 他想出了把旧发电站改造为艺术中心的主意。 The dam project was originally conceived in 1977. 该水坝工程最初构想于 1977 年。
Extra ExamplesThey conceived of a theory and stuck to it. 他们构想出一个理论并为之坚持下去。 The course is very broadly conceived. 这门课程涵盖的范围很广。 The plan was brilliantly conceived. 这个计划设计得很高明。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- brilliantly
- carefully
- well
- …
- cannot
- be difficult to
- be impossible to
- …
- of
- [transitive]
(often used in negative sentences 常用于否定句 to imagine something 想出（主意、计划等）；想象；构想；设想 - conceive of somebody/something (as something)
God is often conceived of as male. 上帝常常被想象为男性。 - conceive (that)…
I cannot conceive (= I do not believe) (that) he would wish to harm us. 我无法想象他会存心伤害我们。 - conceive what/how, etc…
I cannot conceive what it must be like. 我想象不出它会是什么样子。
Extra ExamplesIt is difficult to conceive of a society without money. 很难想象一个没有货币的社会会是什么样。 I cannot conceive why you paid out so much money. 我不能理解你为什么付了这么多钱。 We conceive of ourselves as individuals. 我们把自己看成独立的个体。
- conceive of somebody/something (as something)
- [intransitive, transitive]
when a woman conceives or conceives a child, she becomes pregnant 怀孕；怀胎 She is unable to conceive. 她不能怀孕。 - conceive somebody
Their first child was conceived on their wedding night. 他们的第一个小孩是在新婚之夜怀上的。 She was unable to conceive a child naturally and was offered fertility treatment. 她因不能自然怀孕而接受不孕治疗。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- naturally
- immaculately
- be able to
- be unable to
see also conception
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French concevoir, from Latin concipere, from com- ‘together’ + capere ‘take’.