Meaning

9 senses

  1. An abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect approximations; pure essence, as opposed to actual examples.

    иде́яidéja

    іде́яidéja

  2. An image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory.

    The mere idea of you is enough to excite me.

    Idee, Ahnung, Begriff

    иде́яidéja, мысльmyslʹ

    іде́яidéja, ду́мкаdúmka

  3. More generally, any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking.

    представле́ниеpredstavlénije, поня́тиеponjátije

    уя́вленняujávlennja, поня́ттяponjáttja

  4. A conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an intention.

    I have an idea of how we might escape.

    иде́яidéja, планplan, за́мыселzámysel

  5. A purposeful aim or goal; intent.

    Yeah, that's the idea.

  6. A vague or fanciful notion; a feeling or hunch; an impression.

    He had the wild idea that if he leant forward a little, he might be able to touch the mountain-top.

  7. A musical theme or melodic subject.

    те́маtéma

    (music) melodic subject of a musical composition

  8. (obsolete)The conception of someone or something as representing a perfect example; an ideal.

  9. (obsolete)The form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic.

Examples

6604 sentences

  1. A bright idea occurred to me.

    Мені в голову прийшла блискуча ідея. — deniko

    ruМне в голову пришла блестящая идея. — odexed

    CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  2. I hit on a good idea.

    Мені прийшла до голови добра ідея. — deniko

    deIch bin auf eine gute Idee gekommen. — al_ex_an_der

    CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · A2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  3. I'm sorry, I have no idea.

    Мені прикро, але я не маю уяви. — deniko

    ruМне очень жаль, но я понятия не имею. — Lenin_1917

    deTut mir leid, ich habe keine Ahnung. — MUIRIEL

    CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · A1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  4. He has too many wild ideas.

    У нього забагато божевільних ідей. — deniko

    ruУ него слишком много безумных идей. — shanghainese

    CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · A2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  5. A good idea occurred to me.

    Мені до голови прийшла добра ідея. — deniko

    ruМне в голову пришла хорошая идея. — ae5s

    CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

Translations

9 languages
Українська
By meaning 3
philosophy: abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect:
an image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory:
any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking:
Русский
By meaning 5
philosophy: abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect:
an image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory:
any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking:
a conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an intention:
a musical theme or melodic subject:
Deutsch
By meaning 1
an image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory:

Origin

Borrowed from Latin idea (“a (Platonic) idea; archetype”), from Ancient Greek ἰδέα (idéa,

Borrowed from Latin idea (“a (Platonic) idea; archetype”), from Ancient Greek ἰδέα (idéa, “notion, pattern”), from εἴδω (eídō, “to see”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- (“to know; see”). Cognate with French idée. Doublet of idée. Related to idol, idolum, and eidolon.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

plural: ideas
Singularidea
Pluralideas

regular

Synonyms

9 synonyms
mental transcript, image, or picture:imageA2
Close in meaning

Word family

34 related words
RelatedidealA1ideologyB2idealismidealistidealityidealizeideateideocracyideologuein idea
Derivedabsolute ideaabstract ideabusiness ideacounterideafixed ideaidea artidea dinnerideaedideafulidea futureideagenousidea hamsterideahoodidealessideamongerideascapeideathonidea virusmonoideismno ideanonideaovervalued ideasubideaunideaed

Collocations

12 patterns
  • had no idea
  • a good idea
  • no idea
  • good idea
  • have any idea
  • no idea what
  • any idea
  • a bad idea
  • no idea that
  • good idea to
  • any idea what
  • bad idea

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
iconographyicyB2IDA2idealA1idealismidealist
idea — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto