invent
To design a new process or mechanismTo design a new process or mechanism.
» Who was this machine invented by?
Wer hat diese Maschine erfunden? — Manfredo
Кем была изобретена эта машина? — odexed
Хто винайшов цю машину? — deniko
CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
3 sensesTo design a new process or mechanism.
After weeks of hard work, I invented a new way to alphabetize matchbooks.
erfinden
изобрета́тьizobretátʹ, изобрести́izobrestí, создава́тьsozdavátʹ
винахо́дитиvynaxódyty, ви́найтиvýnajty
To create something fictional for a particular purpose.
I knew I had to invent an excuse, and quickly.
We need a name to put in this form, so let's just invent one.
ausdenken, erfinden
выду́мыватьvydúmyvatʹ, вы́думатьvýdumatʹ, сочиня́тьsočinjátʹ
(obsolete)To come upon; to find; to discover.
- come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
- concoct something artificial or untrue
Examples
342 sentencesWho was this machine invented by?
Хто винайшов цю машину? — deniko
ruКем была изобретена эта машина? — odexed
deWer hat diese Maschine erfunden? — Manfredo
Do you know who invented gunpowder?
Ти знаєш, хто винайшов порох? — deniko
ruВы знаете, кто изобрёл порох? — odexed
deWeißt du, wer das Schießpulver erfunden hat? — al_ex_an_der
Do you know who invented the microscope?
Ти знаєш, хто винайшов мікроскоп? — deniko
ruВы знаете, кто изобрёл микроскоп? — Balamax
deWissen Sie, wer das Mikroskop erfunden hat? — xtofu80
He invented an excuse for being late.
Він придумав виправдання своєму запізненню. — rozmaita
ruОн придумал отговорку, почему опоздал. — Keiden
deEr erfand eine Ausrede für sein Zuspätkommen. — xtofu80
I like to invent useful things.
Мені подобається винаходити корисні речі. — mkazarian
ruМне нравится изобретать полезные вещи. — Balamax
deIch erfinde gerne Nützliches. — Pfirsichbaeumchen
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English inventen, borrowed from Old French inventer, from Latin inventus, perfFrom Middle English inventen, borrowed from Old French inventer, from Latin inventus, perfect passive participle of inveniō (“come upon, meet with, find, discover”), from in (“in, on”) + veniō (“come”); see venture. Compare advent, covent, event, prevent, etc.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
invents, inventing, invented, inventedSynonyms
12 synonyms- come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort:contrivedeviseexcogitateformulateforge
- concoct something artificial or untrue:fabricatemanufacturecook upmake up
Word family
14 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.