idea, thought (noun)

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

"it was not a good idea"; "the thought never entered my mind"

mind, idea (noun)

your intention; what you intend to do

"he had in mind to see his old teacher"; "the idea of the game is to capture all the pieces"

idea (noun)

a personal view

"he has an idea that we don't like him"

estimate, estimation, approximation, idea (noun)

an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth

"an estimate of what it would cost"; "a rough idea how long it would take"

theme, melodic theme, musical theme, idea (noun)

(music) melodic subject of a musical composition

"the theme is announced in the first measures"; "the accompanist picked up the idea and elaborated it"

idea (Noun)

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.

idea (Noun)

The conception of someone or something as representing a perfect example; an ideal.

idea (Noun)

The form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic.

idea (Noun)

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

idea (Noun)

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

idea (Noun)

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

idea (Noun)

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

idea (Noun)

A musical theme or melodic subject.

Idea

In philosophy, the term idea has been used to cover a range of concepts. Ideas are often construed as mental representational images; i.e., images of some object. In other contexts, ideas are taken to be concepts, although abstract concepts do not necessarily appear as images. Many philosophers have considered ideas to be a fundamental ontological category of being. The capacity to create and understand the meaning of ideas is considered to be an essential and defining feature of human beings. In a popular sense, an idea arises in a reflex, spontaneous manner, even without thinking or serious reflection, for example, when we talk about the idea of a person or a place.