idea
English · Español · Italiano · Română · Thesaurus
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
idea¹
- /aɪ̯ˈdɪə̯/ UK
- [ɑjˈdɪː(‿ɹ)]
- /aɪ̯ˈdi.ə/ US
- /aɪ̯ˈdiə/ US
- /aːˈdɪɹ/
- /aɪ̯ˈdiə̯/ New Zealand
- [ɑeˈdiə] New Zealand
- [-ˈdeə] New Zealand
- /aɪˈdiː/ Southern US, obsolete
- /ˈa(ɪ)di/ Southern US, obsolete
Rhymes with -ɪə, -iːə
Where it comes from
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.
noun ideas · ideæ
- 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. The idea that the same experiments always get the same results, no matter who performs them, is one of the cornerstones of science’s claim to objective truth. If a systematic campaign of replication does not lead to the same results, then either the original research is flawed (as the replicators cl
- The conception of someone or something as representing a perfect example; an ideal.
- The form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic. The remembrance whereof (which yet I beare deepely imprinted in my minde) representing me her visage and Idea so lively and so naturally, doth in some sort reconcile me unto her.
- 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.
- More generally, any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking. Now all this was very fine, but not at all in keeping with the Celebrity's character as I had come to conceive it. The idea that adulation ever cloyed on him was ludicrous in itself. In fact I thought the whole story fishy, and came very near to saying so.
- 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.
- A purposeful aim or goal; intent. Yeah, that's the idea.
- 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.
- A musical theme or melodic subject.
Similar: image
IDEA²
proper noun
- Acronym of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance "To fight back, democracies need to protect key elements of democracy, like elections and the rule of law, but also profoundly reform government so that it delivers fairness, inclusion and shared prosperity," the IDEA said.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: thought, theme, mind, estimation, approximation, estimate, melodic theme, musical theme, philosophy, concept, conceptual, thing, mentality, paradigm, notion, objective
noun
Similar: image
Translations
Every language
noun philosophy: abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect
| 中文 | 構想 /构想 gòuxiǎng, 構思 /构思 gòusī, 理念 lǐniàn |
|---|---|
| Italiano | concetto, principio |
| Русский | иде́я idéja |
noun (obsolete in English) the conception of someone or something as representing an ideal
| Italiano | ideale, archetipo |
|---|
noun (obsolete in English) the form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic
| Italiano | aspetto, forma |
|---|
noun an image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory
| Español | idea |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 생각 saenggak, 아이디어 aidieo, 사상 sasang |
| 日本語 | 着想 chakusō, 考え kangae, 主意 shui, アイデア aidea, 思想 shisō |
| 中文 | 主意 zhǔyi, 思想 sīxiǎng, 想法 xiǎngfǎ |
| हिन्दी | विचार vicār |
| Kiswahili | wazo |
| Português | ideia |
| Français | idée |
| Deutsch | Idee, Ahnung, Begriff |
| Italiano | idea, pensata |
| Ελληνικά | ιδέα idéa |
| Română | idee |
| Русский | иде́я idéja, мысль myslʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | ý định, tư tưởng, ý niệm |
| العربية | فِكْرَة fikra, فِكْر fikr |
| עברית | רַעֲיוֹן ra'ayón, מֻשָּׂג muság |
noun any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking
| हिन्दी | विचार vicār |
|---|---|
| Português | ideia |
| Français | pensée |
| Italiano | parere, idea, pensiero, nozione |
| Română | părere |
| Русский | представле́ние predstavlénije, поня́тие ponjátije |
| العربية | فِكْرَة fikra, فِكْر fikr |
noun a conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an intention
| Español | plano, idea, ideal |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 구상 gusang |
| 日本語 | 構想 kōsō |
| 中文 | 構想 /构想 gòuxiǎng |
| हिन्दी | विचार vicār |
| Português | plano, ideia |
| Français | idée |
| Italiano | pensiero, piano, progetto, intuizione, intento, idea |
| Ελληνικά | ιδέα idéa |
| Română | idee |
| Русский | иде́я idéja, план plan, за́мысел zámysel |
noun a vague or fanciful notion; a feeling or hunch; an impression
| हिन्दी | विचार vicār |
|---|---|
| Português | noção |
| Italiano | impressione |
| Română | bănuială |
| עברית | מֻשָּׂג muság |
Talk about this word "idea." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/idea. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. idea. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/idea "idea." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/idea.Cite this
@misc{idea_2026,
title = {idea},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/idea},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
