invent
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++in·vent /ɪnˈvent/ ●●● S3 W3 verb [transitive] 1 INVENTto make, design, or think of a new type of thing 发明，创造 Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. 亚历山大 · 格雷厄姆 · 贝尔于1876年发明了电话。 ► Do not confuse with discover (=to be the first person to find something or to know that it exists): Scientists have discovered a new type of bacteria. 不要与 discover（发现）混淆: Scientists have discovered a new type of bacteria. 科学家发现了一种新的细菌。2 INVENTto think of an idea, story etc that is not true, usually in order to deceive people 捏造，虚构〔观点、故事等，通常为了欺骗别人〕 They invented a very convincing alibi. 他们编造了很有说服力的不在犯罪现场的证据。 THESAURUSinvent to think of an idea for a new product, machine etc, and design it or make it 发明,创造The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. 电话是亚历山大·格雷厄姆·贝尔发明的。Who invented the Internet? 因特网是谁发明的？create to make or design something new and original 创造,设计We decided to create the software ourselves. 我们决定自己来设计这个软件。For her latest book, she has created a whole new group of characters. 她在自己的新书中塑造了一批全新的人物。think of something/think up something to produce a new idea, plan, method, excuse etc by thinking 想出[构思出]某事物I’ve thought of an idea. 我想出了一个主意。They’re always trying to think up new ways to improve efficiency. 他们总是在探索提高效率的新方法。come up with something to produce a new idea, a way of dealing with something etc, especially a good one 想出某事物How did you come up with that idea? 你是怎么想出那个主意的？Ellis came up with the solution to the problem immediately. 埃利斯马上就想出了解决问题的办法。make something up to invent a story, song, game, excuse etc 编（造）出某物My mother used to make up bedtime stories for us. 我妈妈以前常常给我们编睡前故事。I didn’t want to go to the class, so I decided to make up an excuse. 我不想去上课,因此决定编个借口。dream something up to think of an idea or plan, especially one that seems unusual or even crazy 想出〔不同寻常的甚至疯狂的〕主意[计划]It can’t be easy dreaming up new advertisements all the time. 要不断地琢磨出新的广告绝非易事。I wonder who dreamt up that idea! 我在想是谁想出了那个点子！devise formal to invent a way of doing something, especially one that is clever or complicated 发明,设计This system was devised as a way of measuring students’ progress. 这套系统是为了评估学生的进步情况而设计的。conceive formal to think of a new idea, plan etc and develop it in your mind 构思,设想The project was originally conceived by a Dutch businessman two years ago. 这个计划最初是两年前由一位荷兰商人设想出来的。→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
invent• It was proven that one witness's story had been invented.• The geodesic dome was invented by R. Buckminster Fuller in 1947.• He began inventing excuses for why he had done nothing to help.• He invented fictional ancestors and a family history to impress the girls.• Television was invented in the 1920s.• I invented reasons for never seeing him again.• I began to invent reasons for staying away from work.• Kai invented some excuse about having a headache.• Theremin invented the weird electronic instrument that provided soundtracks to 1950s science-fiction movies.From Longman Business Dictionaryinventin‧vent /ɪnˈvent/ verb [transitive]1to make, design or produce something new or a new way of doing somethingPercy Spencer invented the microwave oven.Mr. Monaghan virtually invented the modern pizza delivery business when he founded Domino’s.2to tell people something that is not true in order to deceive themHe told investors the firm had monthly returns of between 10% and 25% but those returns were invented.Perhaps the most popular fraud is to inflate or invent business expenses. → see also not-invented-here syndrome→ See Verb tableOrigin invent (1400-1500) Latin past participle of invenire “to come upon, find”, from venire “to come”in·vent verb →THESAURUS1ChineseSyllable
Business of a type to or of design, think Corpus make, thing new
invent
in‧vent /ɪnˈvent/
verb [transitive]
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.
► Do not confuse with discover (=to be the first person to find something or to know that it exists): Scientists have discovered a new type of bacteria.
2. to think of an idea, story etc that is not true, usually in order to deceive people:
They invented a very convincing alibi.
▪ invent to think of an idea for a new product, machine etc, and design it or make it: The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. | Who invented the Internet?
▪create to make or design something new and original: We decided to create the software ourselves. | For her latest book, she has created a whole new group of characters.
▪think of something/think up something to produce a new idea, plan, method, excuse etc by thinking: I’ve thought of an idea. | They’re always trying to think up new ways to improve efficiency.
▪come up with something to produce a new idea, a way of dealing with something etc, especially a good one: How did you come up with that idea? | Ellis came up with the solution to the problem immediately.
▪make something up to invent a story, song, game, excuse etc: My mother used to make up bedtime stories for us. | I didn’t want to go to the class, so I decided to make up an excuse.
▪dream something up to think of an idea or plan, especially one that seems unusual or even crazy: It can’t be easy dreaming up new advertisements all the time. | I wonder who dreamt up that idea!
▪devise formal to invent a way of doing something, especially one that is clever or complicated: This system was devised as a way of measuring students’ progress.
▪conceive formal to think of a new idea, plan etc and develop it in your mind: The project was originally conceived by a Dutch businessman two years ago.
in‧vent /ɪnˈvent/
verb [transitive] Word Family: noun: invention, inventiveness, inventor; verb: invent, reinvent; adverb: inventively; adjective: inventive
Date: 1400-1500
Language: Latin
Origin: past participle of invenire 'to come upon, find', from venire 'to come'
1. to make, design, or think of a new type of thing:Language: Latin
Origin: past participle of invenire 'to come upon, find', from venire 'to come'
► Do not confuse with discover (=to be the first person to find something or to know that it exists): Scientists have discovered a new type of bacteria.
2. to think of an idea, story etc that is not true, usually in order to deceive people:
| THESAURUS |
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪