ˈkɒn.sɛpt kənˈsɛpʃən ˈkɒn.stɹʌkt ˈkɑn.stɹʌkt kənˈstɹʌkt kɹiːˈeɪʃən dɪˈzaɪn ˌɪnəˈveɪʃən ɪnˈvɛnʃən the act of becoming pregnant; fertilization of an ovum by a spermatozoon the creation of something in the mind an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances the event that occurred at the beginning of something from its creation the plan was doomed to failure