Ideas Definition: The Meaning of Ideas
Quick answer
Ideas (noun, plural of idea) means thoughts, suggestions, or mental pictures formed in the mind; concepts or impressions; opinions or beliefs; and plans or intentions. Example: The meeting produced several good ideas.
Ideas is the plural form of the noun idea. Defined simply, ideas are thoughts, concepts, opinions, or plans that exist in the mind. The word functions only as a noun and always refers to more than one idea.
This entry gives a clean, dictionary-style definition: each distinct sense of ideas with its part of speech and an example sentence, followed by pronunciation and an etymology note.
Definition
noun (plural)
1.Thoughts, suggestions, or mental pictures of possible actions.
We wrote down all our ideas before choosing one.
noun (plural)
2.Concepts or mental impressions formed in the mind; abstract notions.
The course introduces the central ideas of economics.
noun (plural)
3.Opinions, beliefs, or convictions.
Their political ideas were shaped by the war.
noun (plural)
4.Plans, intentions, or purposes.
He has big ideas about where the company should go.
noun (plural)
5.A sense or understanding of something; a rough impression.
They had no ideas of the risks involved until later.
noun (plural)
6.In philosophy, mental representations or archetypes; in Platonic thought, eternal forms.
Plato's theory of Ideas holds that perfect forms exist beyond the physical world.
Part of speech
Ideas is a noun, the plural of idea. It is a countable noun, so it takes plural agreement: the ideas are ready, not the ideas is ready. The singular possessive is idea's (the idea's appeal) and the plural possessive is ideas' (the ideas' impact).
Pronunciation
Ideas is pronounced eye-DEE-uhz, with the stress on the second syllable, matching idea (eye-DEE-uh) with a plural z sound at the end.
Etymology
Idea entered English in the late 14th century and comes, through Latin idea, from the Greek idea, meaning a form, pattern, or model, and in Platonic philosophy an ideal archetype. The Greek word is related to the root meaning to see, so the earliest sense is close to a mental image or form seen in the mind. Ideas is simply the regular English plural, formed by adding s.
Usage note
Because ideas covers thoughts, concepts, opinions, and plans, precise writing often prefers a narrower word: concepts for abstract ideas, proposals for suggested plans, or beliefs for opinions. Note also the common mix-up with ideals, which are values or standards rather than thoughts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the definition of ideas?
Ideas is the plural noun form of idea, defined as thoughts, suggestions, or mental pictures formed in the mind. It also covers concepts, opinions or beliefs, and plans or intentions, with the exact sense set by context.
What part of speech is ideas?
Ideas is a noun, specifically the plural of the countable noun idea. It takes plural verb agreement, as in the ideas are strong.
How do you spell the plural of idea?
The plural of idea is ideas, formed by simply adding s. Do not use an apostrophe for the plural: idea's is the singular possessive, not the plural.
Where does the word idea come from?
Idea comes through Latin from the Greek idea, meaning form, pattern, or model, tied to a root meaning to see. It entered English in the late 14th century. Ideas is the regular plural.
Is ideas the same as ideals?
No. Ideas are thoughts, concepts, or plans in the mind. Ideals are values or standards of perfection you aspire to. The words are close in spelling but distinct in meaning.
You have the word. Now unleash the idea behind it.
Every big business started as one idea and the decision to move on it. Test yours free, or let Kenny map your first step.