CONCEPT
concept, conception, construct
(noun) an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
concept (plural concepts)
An abstract and general idea; an abstraction.
Understanding retained in the mind, from experience, reasoning and imagination; a generalization (generic, basic form), or abstraction (mental impression), of a particular set of instances or occurrences (specific, though different, recorded manifestations of the concept).
(programming) In generic programming, a description of supported operations on a type, including their syntax and semantics.
Synonyms
• conception
• notion
• abstraction
Hyponyms
• conceptualization, conceptualisation, conceptuality
• notion
• scheme
• rule, regulation
• property, attribute, dimension
• abstraction, abstract
• quantity
• part, section, division
• whole
• law, natural law, law of nature
• hypothesis
• possibility
• theory
• fact
• rule
Source: Wiktionary
Con"cept, n. Etym: [L. conceptus (cf. neut. conceptum fetus), p. p.
of concipere to conceive: cf. F. concept. See Conceit.]
Definition: An abstract general conception; a notion; a universal.
The words conception, concept, notion, should be limited to the
thought of what can not be represented in the imagination; as, the
thought suggested by a general term. Sir W. Hamilton.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition