incept

1 of 2

verb

in·​cept
ə̇nˈsept
-ed/-ing/-s

transitive verb

1
archaic : begin, commence, undertake
2
[influenced in meaning by Latin capere to take] : to take in: such as
a
: ingest
phagocytes incepting foreign particles
b
: to receive as a member

intransitive verb

: to obtain an advanced degree and therewith the right to teach or practice a learned profession
now used only at Cambridge University

incept

2 of 2

noun

in·​cept
ˈinˌsept
plural incepts
: anlage

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin inceptus, past participle of incipere

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near incept

Cite this Entry

“Incept.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incept. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!