Concept: Definition, Usage & Key Examples

Meaning 1：abstract idea (concept)

concept 🔊

/ˈkɒn.sept/

A thought or idea, like the plan in your head before you make something real.

abstract idea 🔊

➕

/ˈæb.strækt aɪˈdɪə/

An abstract notion or general idea that represents something, often serving as a foundational understanding before it is realized or made concrete.

📁 Category：Language Evolution 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'conceptus' (past participle of 'concipere'), meaning 'to conceive, take in'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a CONCENTRATE of a SCRIPT. It's the concentrated essence of an idea, like a script for a thought.

📖 Example

The yoga teacher explained the concept of balance, comparing it to a tree standing strong in the wind. 🔊 The yoga teacher explained the abstract idea of balance, using the analogy of a sturdy tree in the wind.

🔗 Collocations

core concept – A fundamental, essential idea.

to grasp a concept – To understand an idea.

marketing concept – A strategic idea or plan in the field of marketing.

🔄 Synonyms

notion (n.) – A general understanding or vague idea.

idea (n.) – A thought or suggestion about a possible course of action.

abstraction (n.) – An idea not based on physical reality.

🌱 Derivatives

conceptual (adj.) – Relating to or based on ideas or concepts.

conceptualize (v.) – To form a concept or idea of something.

misconception (n.) – A wrong or mistaken idea.

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Latin philosophical discourse, 'conceptus' described a mental conception or thought formed by the mind, influencing later use in logic, science, and modern business to denote foundational ideas.