conceptual
Relating to abstract ideas
connected with ideas and general principles rather than concrete details or real objects
conceptual [noun]; conceptual understanding of [something]
- The course gives students a conceptual understanding of how markets work.
- We need a stronger conceptual framework before we collect data.
- The two studies use different terms, but the conceptual distinction is small.
- This chapter is very conceptual, not practical.
- The teacher explained the conceptual side of the topic first.
High-level and preliminary
showing the basic idea of something before the details are finished
conceptual [design/plan/proposal/drawing]; still conceptual
- The architect presented conceptual drawings rather than finished blueprints.
- At this stage, the proposal is still conceptual and will change after testing.
- The team agreed on a conceptual design for the new app.
- The plan is only conceptual now.
- They showed us a conceptual design.
- Base: conceptual
conceptual analysis
1Examination of concept meanings
careful study of what an idea or term means
- The paper offers a conceptual analysis of privacy in the digital age.
- Philosophers often use conceptual analysis to clarify difficult terms.
- A conceptual analysis of power can reveal hidden assumptions in policy debates.
conceptual art
1Idea-centered art
art where the main point is the idea, not how beautiful or skillful it looks
- The museum has a large collection of conceptual art from the 1970s.
- Her work combines photography, performance, and conceptual art.
- Some visitors found the conceptual art difficult to understand at first.
conceptual design
1Early high-level design
the first design that shows the main idea before the details are finished
- The agency approved the conceptual design for the new bridge.
- During the conceptual design phase, the team explored several possible layouts.
- The client liked the conceptual design but asked for more detail about costs.
conceptual framework
1System of guiding ideas
a set of main ideas that helps you understand or study something
- The report uses a conceptual framework based on social justice and economic opportunity.
- Without a clear conceptual framework, the data were difficult to interpret.
- The team developed a conceptual framework for measuring customer trust.
conceptual metaphor
1Idea understood through another
a deep metaphor that shapes how people think about an idea
- In linguistics, “argument is war” is a classic example of a conceptual metaphor.
- The study examines conceptual metaphors used in political speeches.
- The conceptual metaphor of life as a journey appears in many languages.
conceptual model
1Abstract simplified representation
a simple idea-based model that shows how something works
- The diagram is a conceptual model of the local transport system.
- Researchers built a conceptual model to explain how the disease spreads.
- The software team started with a conceptual model of the database.
conceptual skills
1Abstract thinking abilities
the ability to think clearly about big ideas and complex systems
- Senior managers need strong conceptual skills as well as people skills.
- The course is designed to develop students’ conceptual skills and problem-solving ability.
- Her conceptual skills helped the company see how the separate projects connected.
conceptual understanding
1Understanding underlying principles
real understanding of the main ideas behind a subject
- Good math teaching builds conceptual understanding, not just speed with formulas.
- The activity helps children develop a conceptual understanding of fractions.
- Students showed strong conceptual understanding in their explanations.