invent
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in·vent
(ĭn-vĕnt′)tr.v. in·vent·ed, in·vent·ing, in·vents
1. To produce or contrive (something previously unknown) by the use of ingenuity or imagination.
2. To make up; fabricate: invent a likely excuse.
[Latin invenīre, invent-, to find : in-, on, upon; see in-2 + venīre, to come; see gwā- in Indo-European roots.]
in·vent′i·ble adj.
in·ven′tor n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
invent
(ɪnˈvɛnt)vb
1. to create or devise (new ideas, machines, etc)
2. to make up (falsehoods); fabricate
[C15: from Latin invenīre to find, come upon, from in-2 + venīre to come]
inˈventible, inˈventable adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
in•vent
(ɪnˈvɛnt)v.t.
1. to originate as a product of one's own ingenuity, experimentation, or contrivance: to invent a better mousetrap.
2. to produce or create with the imagination: to invent a story.
3. to make up or fabricate (something fictitious or false): to invent excuses.
4. Archaic. to come upon; find.
[1425–75; late Middle English invented (past participle) discovered < Latin invenīre to encounter, come upon, find =in- in-2 + venīre to come]
in•vent′i•ble, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
invent
– discover1. 'invent'
If someone invents something new, they are the first person to think of it or make it.
Walter Hunt and Elias Howe invented the sewing machine.
2. 'discover'
You do not use 'invent' to say that someone finds out about something which exists but which was not previously known. The word you use is discover.
Herschel discovered a new planet.
Having found these fragments, the team of researchers discovered a way to date them.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
invent
Past participle: invented
Gerund: inventing
Imperative |
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invent |
invent |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Verb | 1. | invent - come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort; "excogitate a way to measure the speed of light" create by mental act, create mentally - create mentally and abstractly rather than with one's hands |
2. | ![]() dream up, think up, hatch, concoct, think of - devise or invent; "He thought up a plan to get rich quickly"; "no-one had ever thought of such a clever piece of software" mythologise, mythologize - construct a myth; "The poet mythologized that the King had three sons" confabulate - unconsciously replace fact with fantasy in one's memory spin - make up a story; "spin a yarn" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
invent
verb
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
invent
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Spanish / Español
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
invent
(inˈvent) verb1. to be the first person to make or use (eg a machine, method etc). Who invented the microscope?; When was printing invented?inventar
2. to make up or think of (eg an excuse or story). I'll have to invent some excuse for not going with him.inventarse
inˈvention (-ʃən) noun1. the act of inventing or the ability to invent. He had great powers of invention.invención
2. something invented. What a marvellous invention the sewing-machine was!invento
inˈventive (-tiv) adjective good at inventing. an inventive mind.inventivo
inˈventiveness nouninˈventor noun a person who invents. Alexander Graham Bell was the inventor of the telephone.inventor
see also discover.Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
invent
→ inventarMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009