imag·i·na·tion
Pronounced:
/ɪˌmæʤəˈneɪʃən/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural imag·i·na·tionsMeaning:
1 a : the ability to imagine things that are not real : the ability to form a picture in your mind of something that you have not seen or experienced [noncount] ▪ You can find a solution if you use a little imagination. ▪ His plans to build a new stadium are the product of pure imagination. [=they are not based on reality; they are not likely to happen] [count] ▪ children with vivid/fertile/overactive imaginations ▪ The author does not tell us what happens to the characters. We have to use our imagination. ▪ He insists that these dangers are real and not just a figment of his imagination. [=something that he has imagined] b [noncount] : the ability to think of new things ▪ Her painting shows a great deal of imagination. [=creativity] ▪ He's a competent writer, but he lacks imagination. ▪ He has no imagination.
2 [noncount] : something that only exists or happens in your mind ▪ Is it just my imagination, or is it getting warm in here?
2 [noncount] : something that only exists or happens in your mind ▪ Is it just my imagination, or is it getting warm in here?
by any/no stretch of the imagination —see 2stretch
capture/catch someone's imagination
: to make someone very interested or excited ▪ Her books have captured the imaginations of children from around the world. ▪ The story caught the public imagination. [=the public became very interested in the story]
leave (something) to the imagination
: to not show or describe all of the parts or details of (something) ▪ Try to leave something to the imagination. ▪ The movie's sex scenes leave nothing to the imagination. [=they show everything] ▪ His explicit description of the crime scene left little to the imagination.