imagination

Everyday

1. The ability to make pictures, ideas and stories in your mind about things that are not real or not present. tree →
2. The ability to think of new and clever ideas. tree →
3. Something that is only in your mind: «It's just your imagination». tree →

In the lessons

In school: creative writing, art and play need imagination; teachers say «use your imagination». In science imagination helps scientists think of ideas to test. «It's just your imagination» tells you a fear or idea is not real. Phrases: «use your imagination», «a vivid/lively imagination», «capture someone's imagination», «leave little to the imagination».

Examples

• Use your imagination to write a story about a dragon. tree →
• She has a wonderful imagination. tree →
• The noise in the dark was just my imagination. tree →
• The book captured the children's imagination. tree →
• With a bit of imagination, a box becomes a spaceship. tree →
• Einstein said imagination is important for scientists. tree →
• Children's imaginations are full of monsters and fairies. tree →
• And this was enough to excite Jurgen's imagination. tree →

Note

Usually uncountable; countable when talking about several people's minds: «their imaginations». Verb: imagine; adjectives: imaginary (not real), imaginative (full of ideas) — do not mix them up.

In Jewish tradition

Here it means the plans or inclinations of the heart. In the flood story, every imagination was only evil.

Interpretation. The rabbis speak of the yetzer, the inclination, and read this verse as being about human nature that can lean to evil. They teach that people can choose good.

Examples

• And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Torah GEN.6.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart. (Writings PSA.73.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• O LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever, even the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of Thy people, and direct their heart unto Thee; (Writings 1CH.29.18, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Usually uncountable; countable when talking about several people's minds: «their imaginations». Verb: imagine; adjectives: imaginary (not real), imaginative (full of ideas) — do not mix them up.