/kən'si:v; kən`siv/
v
1 [I, Tn] become pregnant (with a child) 怀孕; 受孕
*She was told she couldn't conceive. 她得知自己不能怀孕.
* The child was conceived on the night of their wedding. 那孩子是在他们新婚之夜怀上的.
2 [Ipr, Tn, Tf, Tw, Cn.n/a] ~ of sth; ~ sth (as sth) form (an idea, a plan, etc) in the mind; imagine sth 想出（主意、计划等）; 构思; 想像某事物
*It was then that I conceived the notion of running away. 就在那时我产生了逃跑的念头.
* I cannot conceive (ie do not believe) that he would wish to harm us. 我不能想像（不相信）他会伤害我们.
* I cannot conceive why you allowed the child to go alone, ie I think you were very foolish to allow it. 我真想不通你为什么让孩子一个人走（我认为你这样做很蠢）.
* The ancients conceived (of) the world as (being) flat, ie They thought it was flat. 古人认为地球是扁的.

v
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French;Origin: conceivre, from Latin concipere 'to take in, conceive', from com- ( COM-) + capere 'to take']
[I and T]formal
to imagine a particular situation or to think about something in a particular way
(cannot) conceive of (doing) sth
　Many people can't conceive of a dinner without meat or fish.
conceive that
　He could not conceive that anything really serious could be worrying his friend.
conceive what/why/how etc
　I can hardly conceive what it must be like here in winter.
conceive of sth/sb as sth
　Language may be conceived of as a process which arises from social interaction.
[T]
to think of a new idea, plan etc and develop it in your mind
　Scientists first conceived the idea of the atomic bomb in the 1930's.
[I and T]
to become pregnant
　fertility treatment for women who have difficulty conceiving