Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[river1974]

Dear teachers:

(a) Who first *conceived* the idea of building nuclear power plants?
(b) Who first *conceived of* the idea of building nuclear power plants?

Does (a) have the same meaning as (b)?

Thanks.

[luckyman]

1 If you cannot conceive of something, you cannot imagine it or believe it. I just can't even conceive of that quantity of money...
He was immensely ambitious but unable to conceive of winning power for himself.
VERB: usu with brd-neg, V of n/-ing, V of n/-ing, also V that

2 If you conceive something as a particular thing, you consider it to be that thing.
The ancients conceived the earth as afloat in water...
We conceive of the family as being in a constant state of change...
Elvis conceived of himself as a ballad singer.
VERB: V n as n/-ing, V of n as n/-ing, V of n as n/-ing

3 If you conceive a plan or idea, you think of it and work out how it can be done.
She had conceived the idea of a series of novels...
He conceived of the first truly portable computer in 1968.
VERB: V n, V of n

4 When a woman conceives, she becomes pregnant.
Women, he says, should give up alcohol before they plan to conceive...
A mother who already has non-identical twins is more likely to conceive another set of twins.
VERB: V, V n

(c) HarperCollins Publishers.

[river1974]