conceit: Meaning and Definition of

con•ceit

Pronunciation: (kun-sēt'), [key]
— n.
  1. an excessively favorable opinion of one's own ability, importance, wit, etc.
  2. something that is conceived in the mind; a thought; idea: He jotted down the conceits of his idle hours.
  3. imagination; fancy.
  4. a fancy; whim; fanciful notion.
  5. an elaborate, fanciful metaphor, esp. of a strained or far-fetched nature.
  6. the use of such metaphors as a literary characteristic, esp. in poetry.
  7. a fancy, purely decorative article.
    1. favorable opinion; esteem.
    2. personal opinion or estimation.
  8. the faculty of conceiving; apprehension.
  9. displeased or dissatisfied with.
—v.t.
  1. to flatter (esp. oneself&hasp;).
  2. to take a fancy to; have a good opinion of.
    1. to imagine.
    2. to conceive; apprehend.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: