notion

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A belief or opinion.
2. n. A mental image or representation; an idea or conception.
3. n. A fanciful impulse; a whim. See Synonyms at idea.
4. n. Small lightweight items for household use, such as needles, buttons, and thread.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A general concept; a mental representation of a state of things. Thus, the general enunciation of a geometrical theorem is comprehended by means of notions, and only in that way can the property to be proved be firmly seized by the mind, and kept distinct from other properties of the same figure; but in order to prove the theorem a construction or diagram is requisite, involving a representation in the imagination capable of being studied so as to observe hitherto unknown relations in it.
2. n. A thought; a cognition.
3. n. In the Lockian philos., a complex idea.
4. n. In the Hegelian philos., that comprehensive conception in which conflicting elements are recognized as mere factors of the whole truth.
5. n. An opinion; a sentiment; a view; especially, a somewhat vague belief, hastily caught up or founded on insufficient evidence and slight knowledge of the subject.
6. n. A desire, inclination, intention, or sentiment, generally not very deep nor rational; a caprice; a whim.
7. n. The mind; the power of knowledge; the understanding.
8. n. In a concrete sense, a small article of convenience; a, utensil; some small useful article involving ingenuity or inventiveness in its conception or manufacture: commonly in the plural.
9. n. Synonyms and Impression, fancy.

Wiktionary

1. n. Mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception; more properly, a general or universal conception, as distinguishable or definable by marks or notæ.
2. n. A sentiment; an opinion.
3. n. obsolete Sense; mind. Shakespeare.
4. n. colloquial An invention; an ingenious device; a knickknack.
5. n. Any small article used in sewing and haberdashery, such as a button or zipper.
6. n. colloquial Inclination; intention; disposition.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. Mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception; more properly, a general or universal conception, as distinguishable or definable by marks or notæ.
2. A sentiment; an opinion.
3. obsolete Sense; mind.
4. colloq. An invention; an ingenious device; a knickknack.
5. colloq. Inclination; intention; disposition.
6. Miscellaneous small objects; sundries; -- usually referring to articles displayed together for sale.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. (usually plural) small personal articles or clothing or sewing items
2. n. a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
3. n. a general inclusive concept
4. n. an odd or fanciful or capricious idea