invention
gb/ɪnvˈɛnʃən/ us/ɪnvˈɛnʃən/
B1
Inglese
~ 7200
Accezioni
0 accezioni
Sostantivo
B1
entity
1
newly created device, method, or idea
A new machine, tool, method, or idea that a person creates to solve a problem or do something better.
Schema d'uso:
an invention for [doing something]
Errore comune:
Learners often confuse 'invention' with 'discovery'. An 'invention' is something people create (like the telephone), while a 'discovery' is something that already existed but people did not know about before (like a new planet). Another confusion is with 'innovation': 'invention' is usually completely new, while 'innovation' can be an improvement to something that already exists.
Sinonimi
innovation (Often stresses the introduction of something new or improved in a field, not always a completely original thing.)
|
device (Refers specifically to a physical object or machine, while 'invention' can also be a method or process.)
Contrari
imitation (An imitation copies something that already exists, while an invention is something newly created.)
Collocazioni
new invention
|latest invention
|useful invention
|technological invention
|patent an invention
|labor-saving invention
Temi
technology
|science
|business
|core_vocabulary
Esempi
- The smartphone is often described as the most important invention of the early 21st century.
- Her latest invention is a portable water filter for hikers.
- That simple plastic clip is a clever invention that saves a lot of time in the factory.
- Many modern inventions are designed to save energy and reduce waste.
- He hopes to sell his invention to a major technology company.
Esempi per chi studia
- The light bulb was a very important invention.
- My uncle showed me his new invention for making coffee faster.
- This small tool is a smart invention that helps you open jars.
- Her invention won first prize at the school science fair.
- Many people dream of making a famous invention.
Sostantivo
B2
action
2
act or process of inventing
The action of making a new thing, method, or idea for the first time.
Schema d'uso:
the invention of [something]
Errore comune:
Learners sometimes say 'invention of a new discovery', which is redundant and unnatural. Use 'invention of a new machine' or 'discovery of a new planet', not both together.
Sinonimi
creation (A very general word for bringing something into existence, not limited to technical or practical things.)
|
development (Often suggests a slower process of improving or building something, while 'invention' can be the first moment it appears.)
Contrari
destruction (Destruction is the act of breaking or ending something, which contrasts with invention as the act of creating something new.)
Collocazioni
the invention of the internet
|history of invention
|process of invention
|age of invention
|encourage invention
Temi
technology
|history
|science
|core_vocabulary
Esempi
- The invention of the printing press changed the way information spread around the world.
- Many people benefited from the invention of affordable electric cars.
- The course looks at the invention of new medical technologies in the 20th century.
- Funding is available to support the invention of clean energy solutions.
- The invention of antibiotics saved millions of lives.
Esempi per chi studia
- The invention of the computer changed our lives.
- We learned about the invention of the telephone in history class.
- The invention of airplanes made travel much faster.
- Many jobs appeared after the invention of the internet.
- The invention of vaccines helped stop many diseases.
Sostantivo
C1
property
3
creative or imaginative ability
A strong imagination or talent for creating new and interesting ideas.
Schema d'uso:
[someone]'s (power of) invention
Errore comune:
Learners may think this meaning always refers to machines or technology. In reviews of books, films, or art, 'invention' often means creative imagination or originality, not a physical product.
Sinonimi
imagination (A broader term for forming images and ideas in the mind; 'invention' often suggests creative use of imagination to produce something new.)
|
originality (Focuses on how different and new the ideas are; 'invention' can also include the energy and playfulness of creating them.)
Contrari
conformity (Conformity is doing and thinking the same as others, which contrasts with the creative difference suggested by invention.)
Collocazioni
power of invention
|remarkable invention
|literary invention
|sheer invention
|flights of invention
Temi
creativity
|art
|literature
|education
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Esempi
- The novel shows great invention in its use of structure and voice.
- Her designs lack technical skill but are full of imagination and invention.
- The director’s visual invention keeps the audience engaged throughout the film.
- Children often show more invention than adults when solving open-ended problems.
- The cartoon is admired for its wild invention and humor.
Esempi per chi studia
- The movie has a lot of color and invention.
- The writer is not perfect, but his stories show real invention.
- Her drawing is simple, but it has charm and invention.
- The teacher liked the invention in his short story.
- We enjoyed the invention in the new game’s design.
Sostantivo
C1
entity
4
fabricated story or lie
A story or reason that a person creates and says, but it is not true.
Schema d'uso:
[something] is (pure / complete) invention
Errore comune:
Learners may not realize that 'invention' can mean a lie or a made-up story. In phrases like 'pure invention' or 'a story of his own invention', it does not refer to a machine or tool.
Sinonimi
fabrication (Often slightly more formal; clearly suggests an intentional lie that has been carefully made up.)
|
lie (A direct and common word for something untrue; 'invention' can sound more neutral or literary and may suggest creativity as well as untruth.)
Contrari
truth (The truth is something that matches reality, which is the opposite of an invented, false story.)
Collocazioni
pure invention
|a complete invention
|entirely an invention
|a story of his own invention
|a work of pure invention
Temi
communication
|ethics
|core_vocabulary
Esempi
- His claim that he had worked for the company was pure invention.
- The idea that she stole the money is a complete invention.
- The character in the film is an invention, not based on a real person.
- Most of the online rumors about the incident turned out to be mere inventions.
- He insisted that the accusations were inventions created by his enemies.
Esempi per chi studia
- The story in the email was pure invention.
- Her excuse for being late was an invention.
- The ghost in the book is an invention, not a real person.
- People said bad things about him, but they were inventions.
- The news on that website was just invention, not facts.
Sostantivo
technical
C2
entity
5
short polyphonic musical piece
A short, usually keyboard, piece of music with two or more different tunes played at the same time, often used as the name of works by Bach.
Schema d'uso:
a [two]-part invention in [key]
Errore comune:
Some learners think 'invention' in music must also mean a new device or idea. In music, it is the set name for a kind of short piece, especially by Bach.
Sinonimi
study (In music, a 'study' (étude) is a practice piece; 'invention' here is a specific style, often also used for practice.)
Contrari
improvisation (Improvisation is music made up in the moment, while an invention is a fixed, written composition.)
Collocazioni
Bach’s Two-Part Inventions
|three-part invention
|keyboard invention
|play an invention
Temi
music
|art
|arts_entertainment
|education
Esempi
- She performed a Bach invention as part of her piano exam.
- The students were asked to analyze the counterpoint in the two-part invention.
- He practiced one invention every day to improve his finger technique.
Esempi per chi studia
- I am learning a Bach invention on the piano.
- This short invention is good practice for both hands.
- The teacher showed us how the two voices move in the invention.
Grammatica
Forma base
invention
IPA
GB/ɪnvˈɛnʃən/
US/ɪnvˈɛnʃən/
Sillabe e accento
in - ven - tion (3 sillabe)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ven)
Forme flesse
Noun
- Base: invention
- Plural: invention, inventions
Famiglia di parole
Espressioni
of one's own invention
1/əv wˈʌnz ˈoʊn ɪnvˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
created by that same person
Made up or created by that person, not taken from anyone else.
Esempi
- The excuse he gave was of his own invention.
- The characters in this book are all of the author’s own invention.
- She claimed the rumor was of your own invention and had no basis in fact.
necessity is the mother of invention
1/nəsˈɛsɪti ˈɪz ðə mˈʌðɚ əv ɪnvˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
need makes people inventive
When people really need something, they find new and clever ways to get it or solve the problem.
Esempi
- During the blackout, we cooked on a small gas stove—necessity is the mother of invention.
- When our car broke down in the desert, we used tape and rope to fix it—necessity is the mother of invention.
- He built a simple cooling system from old parts—necessity is the mother of invention.
- They built a shelter from scraps. Necessity is the mother of invention.
- During the pandemic, many businesses moved online, proving that necessity is the mother of invention.
- Many medical advances show that necessity is the mother of invention.
- He built his own heating system from old parts, saying that necessity is the mother of invention.
necessity is the mother of invention
4/nəsˈɛsɪti ˈɪz ðə mˈʌðɚ əv ɪnvˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
need produces new ideas
people often invent things because they really need a solution to a problem
Esempi
- When the power went out, they cooked dinner over a camping stove—necessity is the mother of invention.
- During the crisis, small businesses found creative ways to survive; necessity is the mother of invention.
- She built the tool because nothing else worked, proving that necessity is the mother of invention.