The Wordsmith Dictionary

Thought, n. Etym: [OE. þoght, þouht, AS. þoht, geþoht, fr. þencean to think; akin to D. gedachte thought, MHG. daht, gedaht, Icel. þottr, þotti. See Think. ]

1. The act of thinking; the exercise of the mind in any of its higher forms; reflection; cogitation. Thought can not be superadded to matter, so as in any sense to render it true that matter can become cogitative. Dr. T. Dwight.

2. Meditation; serious consideration. Pride, of all others the most dangerous fault, Proceeds from want of sense or want of thought. Roscommon.

3. That which is thought; an idea; a mental conception, whether an opinion, judgment, fancy, purpose, or intention. Thus Bethel spoke, who always speaks his thought. Pope. Why do you keep alone, ... Using those thoughts which should indeed have died With them they think on Shak. Thoughts come crowding in so fast upon me, that my only difficulty is to choose or to reject. Dryden. All their thoughts are against me for evil. Ps. lvi. 5.

4. Solicitude; anxious care; concern. Hawis was put in trouble, and died with thought and anguish before his business came to an end. Bacon. Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink. Matt. vi. 25.

5. A small degree or quantity; a trifle; as, a thought longer; a thought better. [Colloq. ] If the hair were a thought browner. Shak.

Note: Thought, in philosophical usage now somewhat current, denotes the capacity for, or the exercise of, the very highest intellectual functions, especially those usually comprehended under judgment. This [faculty ], to which I gave the name of the "elaborative faculty, " -- the faculty of relations or comparison, -- constitutes what is properly denominated thought. Sir W. Hamilton.

Syn. -- Idea; conception; imagination; fancy; conceit; notion; supposition; reflection; consideration; meditation; contemplation; cogitation; deliberation.

THOUGHTFUL

THOUGHTFUL Thought "ful, a.

1. Full of thought; employed in meditation; contemplative; as, a man of thoughtful mind. War, horrid war, your thoughtful walks invades. Pope.

2. Attentive; careful; exercising the judgment; having the mind directed to an object; as, thoughtful of gain; thoughtful in seeking truth. Glanvill.

3. Anxious; solicitous; concerned. Around her crowd distrust, and doubt, and fear, And thoughtful foresight, and tormenting care. Prior.

Syn. -- Considerate; deliberate; contemplative; attentive; careful; wary; circumspect; reflective; discreet. -- Thoughtful, Considerate. He who is habitually thoughtful rarely neglects his duty or his true interest; he who is considerate pauses to reflect and guard himself against error. One who is not thoughtful by nature, if he can be made considerate, will usually be guarded against serious mistakes. "He who is thoughtful does not forget his duty; he who is considerate pauses, and considers properly what is his duty. It is a recommendation to a subordinate person to be thoughtful in doing what is wished of him; it is the recommendation of a confidential person to be considerate, as he has often Crabb. -- Thought "ful *ly, adv. -- hought "ful *ness, n.

THOUGHTLESS

THOUGHTLESS Thought "less, adv.

1. Lacking thought; careless; inconsiderate; rash; as, a thoughtless person, or act.

2. Giddy; gay; dissipated. [R.] Johnson.

3. Deficient in reasoning power; stupid; dull. Thoughtless as monarch oaks that shade the plain. Dryden. -- Thought "less *ly, adv. -- Thought "less *ness, n.

THOUGHT TRANSFERENCE

THOUGHT TRANSFERENCE Thought transference.

Defn: Telepathy.

New American Oxford Dictionary

thought

thought 1 |THôt θɔt | ▶noun 1 an idea or opinion produced by thinking or occurring suddenly in the mind: Maggie had a sudden thought | I asked him if he had any thoughts on how it had happened | Mrs. Oliver's first thought was to get help. • (one's thoughts ) one's mind or attention: he's very much in our thoughts and prayers. • an act of considering or remembering someone or something: she hadn't given a thought to Max for some time. • (usu. thought of ) an intention, hope, or idea of doing or receiving something: he had given up all thoughts of making Manhattan his home. 2 the action or process of thinking: Sophie sat deep in thought . • the formation of opinions, esp. as a philosophy or system of ideas, or the opinions so formed: the freedom of thought and action | the traditions of Western thought. • careful consideration or attention: I haven't given it much thought . • concern for another's well-being or convenience: he is carrying on the life of a single man, with no thought for me. PHRASES don't give it another thought informal used to tell someone not to worry when they have apologized for something. it's the thought that counts informal used to indicate that it is the kindness behind an act that matters, however imperfect or insignificant the act may be. a second thought [ with negative ] more than the slightest consideration: not one of them gave a second thought to the risks involved. take thought dated reflect or consider. that's a thought! informal used to express approval of a comment or suggestion. ORIGIN Old English thōht, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gedachte, also to think .

thought

thought 2 |θɔt THôt | past and past participle of think.

thought control

thought con trol ▶noun the attempt to restrict ideas and impose opinions through censorship and the control of school curricula.

thoughtcrime

thought crime |ˈTHôtˌkrīm ˈθɔːtkraɪm | ▶noun an instance of unorthodox or controversial thinking, considered as a criminal offense or as socially unacceptable: academia is pandering to politicized pressure groups with courses on feminism and homosexuality, and persecuting colleagues who are guilty of thoughtcrimes.

thought disorder

thought dis or der ▶noun Psychiatry a disorder of cognitive organization, characteristic of psychotic mental illness, in which thoughts and conversation appear illogical and lacking in sequence and may be delusional or bizarre in content.

thought experiment

thought ex per i ment ▶noun an experiment carried out only in the imagination.

thought form

thought form ▶noun (often thought forms ) (esp. in Christian theology ) a combination of presuppositions, imagery, and vocabulary current at a particular time or place and forming the context for thinking on a subject.

thoughtful

thought ful |ˈTHôtfəl ˈθɔtfəl | ▶adjective absorbed in or involving thought: brows drawn together in thoughtful consideration. • showing consideration for the needs of other people: he was attentive and thoughtful | how very thoughtful of you! • showing careful consideration or attention: her work is thoughtful and provocative. DERIVATIVES thought ful ly adverb, thought ful ness noun

thought leader

thought lead er ▶noun one whose views on a subject are taken to be authoritative and influential.

thoughtless

thought less |ˈTHôtləs ˈθɔtləs | ▶adjective (of a person or their behavior ) not showing consideration for the needs of other people: it was thoughtless of her to have rushed out and not said where she would be going. • without consideration of the possible consequences: to think a few minutes of thoughtless pleasure could end in this. DERIVATIVES thought less ly adverb, thought less ness noun

thought pattern

thought pat tern ▶noun a habit of thinking in a particular way, using particular assumptions. • a quality characterizing someone's thought processes as expressed in language: thought patterns such as overgeneralization and illogicality. • another term for thought form.

thought police

thought po lice |θɔt pəˈlis | ▶noun [ treated as pl. ] a group of people who aim or are seen as aiming to suppress ideas that deviate from the way of thinking that they believe to be correct.

thought-provoking

thought-pro vok ing |ˈθɔt prəˌvoʊkɪŋ | ▶adjective stimulating careful consideration or attention: thought-provoking questions.

thought-reader

thought-reader ▶noun a person who can supposedly discern what someone else is thinking. DERIVATIVES thought-reading noun

thought reform

thought re form ▶noun the systematic alteration of a person's mode of thinking, esp. (in communist China ) a process of individual political indoctrination.

thought transference

thought trans fer ence ▶noun another term for telepathy.

thought wave

thought wave ▶noun a supposed pattern of energy by which it is claimed that thoughts are transferred from one person to another.

Oxford Dictionary

thought

thought 1 |θɔːt | ▶noun 1 an idea or opinion produced by thinking, or occurring suddenly in the mind: Maggie had a sudden thought | I asked him if he had any thoughts on how it had happened | Mrs Oliver's first thought was to get help. • (one's thoughts ) one's mind or attention: he's very much in our thoughts and prayers. • an act of considering or remembering someone or something: she hadn't given a thought to Max for some time. • (usu. thought of ) an intention, hope, or idea of doing or receiving something: he had given up all thoughts of making London his home. • [ as adv. ] (a thought ) dated to a small extent; somewhat: those of us who work at home may find our hands a thought freer. 2 [ mass noun ] the action or process of thinking: Sophie sat deep in thought. • careful consideration or attention: I haven't given it much thought. • concern for another's well-being or convenience: he is carrying on the life of a single man, with no thought for me. 3 [ mass noun ] the formation of opinions, especially as a philosophy or system of ideas, or the opinions so formed: the freedom of thought and action | the traditions of Western thought. PHRASES don't give it another thought informal used to tell someone not to worry when they have apologized for something. it's the thought that counts informal used to indicate that it is the kindness behind an act that matters, however imperfect or insignificant the act may be. a second thought [ with negative ] more than the slightest consideration: the admiral dismissed the rumour without a second thought . take thought dated reflect or consider. that's a thought! informal used to express approval of a comment or suggestion. ORIGIN Old English thōht, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gedachte, also to think .

thought

thought 2 |θɔːt | past and past participle of think.

thought control

thought con |trol ▶noun [ mass noun ] the attempt to restrict ideas and impose opinions through censorship and the control of curricula in schools.

thoughtcrime

thought |crime |θɔːtkrʌɪm | ▶noun an instance of unorthodox or controversial thinking, considered as a criminal offence or as socially unacceptable. ORIGIN 1949: from George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four.

thought disorder

thought dis |order ▶noun [ mass noun ] Psychiatry a disorder of cognitive organization, characteristic of psychotic mental illness, in which thoughts and conversation appear illogical and lacking in sequence and may be delusional or bizarre in content.

thought experiment

thought ex |peri |ment ▶noun a mental assessment of the implications of a hypothesis.

thought form

thought form ▶noun a combination of presuppositions, imagery, and vocabulary current at a particular time or place and forming the context for thinking on a subject.

thoughtful

thought |ful |ˈθɔːtfʊl, -f (ə )l | ▶adjective 1 absorbed in or involving thought: brows drawn together in thoughtful consideration. • showing careful consideration or attention: her work is thoughtful and provocative. 2 showing consideration for the needs of other people: he was attentive and thoughtful | how very thoughtful of you! DERIVATIVES thoughtfully adverb, thoughtfulness noun

thought leader

thought lead er ▶noun one whose views on a subject are taken to be authoritative and influential.

thoughtless

thought |less |ˈθɔːtlɪs | ▶adjective 1 (of a person or their behaviour ) not showing consideration for the needs of other people: it was thoughtless of her to have rushed out and not said where she would be going. 2 without consideration of the possible consequences: to think a few minutes of thoughtless pleasure could end in this. DERIVATIVES thoughtlessly adverb, thoughtlessness noun

thought pattern

thought pat |tern ▶noun a habit of thinking in a particular way, using particular assumptions. • another term for thought form.

thought police

thought po ¦lice ▶noun [ treated as pl. ] a group of people who aim or are seen as aiming to suppress ideas that deviate from the way of thinking that they believe to be correct.

thought-provoking

thought-provoking ▶adjective stimulating careful consideration or attention: thought-provoking questions.

thought-reader

thought-reader ▶noun a person who can supposedly discern what someone else is thinking. DERIVATIVES thought-reading noun

thought reform

thought re ¦form ▶noun [ mass noun ] the systematic alteration of a person's mode of thinking, especially (in Communist China ) a process of individual political indoctrination.

thought transference

thought trans ¦fer |ence ▶noun another term for telepathy.

thought wave

thought wave ▶noun a supposed pattern of energy by which it is claimed that thoughts are transferred from one person to another.

American Oxford Thesaurus

thought

thought noun 1 what are your thoughts on the matter? idea, notion, opinion, view, impression, feeling, theory; judgment, assessment, conclusion. 2 he gave up any thought of getting a degree: hope, aspiration, ambition, dream; intention, idea, plan, design, aim. 3 it only took a moment's thought: thinking, contemplation, musing, pondering, consideration, reflection, introspection, deliberation, rumination, meditation, brooding, reverie, concentration; formal cogitation.

thoughtful

thoughtful adjective 1 a thoughtful expression: pensive, reflective, contemplative, musing, meditative, introspective, philosophical, ruminative, absorbed, engrossed, rapt, preoccupied, lost in thought, deep in thought, in a brown study, brooding; formal cogitative. ANTONYMS vacant. 2 how very thoughtful of you! considerate, caring, attentive, understanding, sympathetic, solicitous, concerned, helpful, obliging, neighborly, unselfish, kind, compassionate, charitable. ANTONYMS inconsiderate.

thoughtless

thoughtless adjective 1 I'm so sorry —how thoughtless of me: inconsiderate, uncaring, insensitive, uncharitable, unkind, flippant, tactless, undiplomatic, indiscreet, remiss. ANTONYMS considerate. 2 a few minutes of thoughtless pleasure: unthinking, heedless, careless, unmindful, unguarded, absentminded; injudicious, ill-advised, ill-considered, imprudent, unwise, foolish, frivolous, silly, stupid, reckless, rash, precipitate, negligent, neglectful. ANTONYMS careful.

thought-provoking

thought-provoking adjective a thought-provoking lecture: interesting, provocative, stimulating, intriguing, inspiring, meaty.

Oxford Thesaurus

thought

thought noun 1 a thought came to me as to how we should proceed: idea, notion, line of thinking, belief, concept, conception, conviction, opinion, view, impression, image, perception, mental picture; assumption, presumption, hypothesis, theory, supposition, postulation, abstraction, apprehension, understanding, conceptualization; feeling, funny feeling, suspicion, sneaking suspicion, hunch. 2 the mere thought of being confined made her breathless: anticipation, expectation, prospect, contemplation, likelihood, possibility, fear. 3 he gave up any thought of taking a degree: hope, aspiration, ambition, dream; intention, idea, plan, design, purpose, aim. 4 it only took a moment's thought: thinking, reasoning, contemplation, musing, pondering, consideration, reflection, introspection, deliberation, study, rumination, cogitation, meditation, brooding, mulling over, reverie, brown study, concentration, debate, speculation; rare cerebration. 5 I'll give the matter some thought: attention, consideration, heed, regard, notice, scrutiny, care. 6 have you no thought for others? compassion, sympathy, caring, concern, regard, solicitude, solicitousness, empathy; consideration, kindness, kindliness, kind-heartedness, tender-heartedness, tenderness, warmth, warm-heartedness; understanding, sensitivity, thoughtfulness, charity, charitableness, benignity, benevolence, philanthropy, altruism, magnanimity.

thoughtful

thoughtful adjective 1 Uncle Albert paused, looking thoughtful: pensive, thinking, reflective, contemplative, musing, meditative, introspective, prayerful, philosophical, cogitative, ruminative, absorbed, engrossed, rapt, preoccupied, deep /immersed /lost in thought, in a brown study, brooding, broody, serious, studious, solemn, dreamy, dreaming, wistful, melancholy, sad; rare ruminant. ANTONYMS vacant. 2 how very thoughtful of you! considerate, attentive, caring, understanding, sympathetic, solicitous, concerned, helpful, friendly, obliging, accommodating, neighbourly, unselfish, kind, kindly, compassionate, tender, charitable, benevolent. ANTONYMS inconsiderate, self-centred. 3 her work is thoughtful and provocative: profound, deep, intelligent, studious, philosophical, sensitive, pithy, serious, meaty, weighty. ANTONYMS superficial.

thoughtless

thoughtless adjective 1 I'm so sorry —how thoughtless of me: inconsiderate, uncaring, heedless, unmindful, regardless, insensitive, uncharitable, unkind; tactless, undiplomatic, indiscreet, careless, selfish, impolite, rude. ANTONYMS considerate. 2 to think a few minutes of thoughtless pleasure could end in such a terrible way: unthinking, heedless, careless, unmindful, absent-minded, injudicious, ill-advised, ill-considered, imprudent, unwise, foolish, silly, stupid, reckless, rash, precipitate, negligent, neglectful, remiss. ANTONYMS careful. CHOOSE THE RIGHT WORD thoughtless, careless, heedless See careless . These notes show fine distinctions in meaning between closely related synonyms to help you find the best word.

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

thought

thought 1 /θɔːt / (! -ough-は /ɔː /) →think (形 )thoughtful 名詞複～s /-ts /1 C 考え (!ideaより知的で冷静な考え ) ; 〖単数形で〗思いつき, 提案 ; 〖the thought (that )節〗…だという考え ▸ I was struck by the thought that he might have lost his way .私は彼が道に迷ったのかもしれないという気がした ▸ The thought never crossed my mind .その考えは思いつかなかった ▸ A thought occurred to her .彼女にある考えが浮かんだ ▸ I cannot bear the thought of leaving my parents .親元を離れるなんて考えられない ▸ smile at the thought そのことを考えてにっこりする ▸ It's just a thought .｟話｠ちょっと考えただけだ (!自分の発言に対して ) 表現 1 …な考え ▸ a happy ～名案 ▸ a final ～最終案 ▸ a negative ～否定的な考え ▸ the very ～ of …まさに …という考え 2 考えを …する ▸ have [｟文｠entertain ] a ～ that ……だという考えを抱く ▸ express [collect, gather ] one's ～自分の考えを表現する [まとめる ]2 C U 〖通例one 's ～s 〗気持ち , 思い ; « …に対する » 配慮 «for » ▸ My thoughts are filled with my family .私の心は家族への思いで満ちあふれている ▸ Our thoughts turned to the next game .私たちは次の試合が気になり始めた ▸ have no thought for privacy プライバシーへの配慮がない ▸ It's the thought that counts .｟話｠大事なのは気持ちです (!相手のささやかながらも親切な行為に対して ) 3 U 思考 (力 ), 想像力 ; 熟考 ▸ I'll give it some [much ] thought .それについて少し [よく ]考えてみます ▸ the lack of thought 考えの欠如 ▸ beyond thought 想像を絶する ▸ be lost [deep ] in thought 物思いにふける ▸ I was delighted at the thought of returning to my home .家に帰ると思うと私は大喜びだった ▸ a thought process 思考回路 .4 U C 〖しばしばone 's ～s 〗 «…に関する » 意見 «on , about » ▸ express one's thoughts on that matter その件に関する意見を示す ▸ What are your thoughts on the movie? ≒Do you have any thoughts on the movie? ｟話｠その映画をどう思いますか 5 U C 〖しばしば疑問文否定文で〗 «… (する )という » 意向, 意図, 期待 «of (do ing )» ▸ the thought of killing oneself ≒the thought of suicide 自殺したいという気持ち ▸ Lucy had no thought of marriage .ルーシーには結婚の意向はなかった ▸ I gave up [abandoned ] all thoughts of becoming a doctor .医者になる望みはすっかり捨てた 6 U (特定の時代階級地域の )思想 ▸ Eastern thought 東洋思想 ▸ a school of thought that advocates free trade 自由貿易推進派 7 〖a ～; 副詞的に〗少し, いくらか (a little ).D ò n't give it an ò ther th ó ught .｟話｠ご心配にはおよびません (!相手の謝罪に対して ) .P è rish the th ó ught .｟くだけた話｠とんでもない, 冗談じゃない .Th á t's a th ò ught .｟話｠それはいい考えだ (!相手の提案に賛成して ) .without a m ò ment's th ó ught ただちに .～́ r è ader ＝mind reader .～́ r è ading ＝mind reading .

thought

thought 2 /θɔːt /動詞 thinkの過去形過去分詞 .

thoughtful

thought ful /θɔ́ːtf (ə )l /→think (名 )thought 形容詞 more ～; most ～1 〈人表情などが〉考え込んでいる , 思案ありげな ▸ Martha looks thoughtful .マーサは考え事をしているようだ ▸ a thoughtful expression 考え込んだ表情 2 〈人が〉 «…に対して » 親切な , 思いやりのある , 配慮を持った (considerate ) «of , about , for » (↔thoughtless )▸ It was thoughtful of you to help me .助けてくださってありがとうございました ▸ a thoughtful boy 思いやりのある少年 ▸ That's very thoughtful of you .ご親切にどうもありがとうございます 3 〈本演説などが〉思慮深い, 思想豊かな ▸ a thoughtful essay 思慮に富んだエッセイ 4 〖be ～〗〈人が〉 «…に » 用心深い, 気をつける «of » .～ness 名詞 U 思いやり ; 思慮深さ .

thoughtfully

th ó ught ful ly 副詞 1 考え込んで, 考え込んだ様子で〈見る言うなど〉.2 用心 [思慮 ]深く .3 親切に .

thoughtless

th ó ught less 形容詞 1 〈人言葉などが〉思いやりのない, 配慮に欠ける, 薄情な (↔thoughtful ); 〖it is ～ of A to do 〗…するとはA 〈人〉は心ない, 不親切だ ▸ a thoughtless remark 心ない一言 2 〈人行為などが〉軽率な, 不注意な .～ly 副詞～ness 名詞

thought-out

th ò ught- ó ut 形容詞〖通例wellなどの副詞の後で〗考え抜いた .

thought-provoking

th ó ught-prov ò king 形容詞〈言葉書物などが〉深く考えさせる, 示唆に富んだ .