- [uncountable] (disapproving)
the fact of being too proud of yourself and what you do 自负；骄傲自大 I can say without conceit that I have talent. 我可以毫无自负地说我有天赋。
- [countable] (formal)
an artistic effect or device, especially one that is very clever or tries to be very clever but does not succeed 别出心裁但不实用的效果；巧妙但不实用的东西 The ill-advised conceit of the guardian angel dooms the film from the start. 对守护天使的蹩脚设计弄巧成拙，从一开始就注定这部电影要失败。 The director’s brilliant conceit was to film this tale in black and white. 导演把这个传说拍摄成黑白电影的计划很巧妙。
- [countable] (specialist)
a clever expression in writing or speech that involves a comparison between two things 巧妙的言辞；别出心裁的比喻
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘notion’, also ‘quaintly decorative article’): from conceive, on the pattern of pairs such as deceive, deceit.