Noun

(physiology, uncountable) The drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls and flattening of the diaphragm, as part of the act of respiration.

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(countable) A breath, a single inhalation.

* 1826 , , An Elementary System of Physiology , p. 220:

Laughing is produced by an inspiration succeeded by a succession of short imperfect expirations.

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A supernatural divine influence on the prophets, apostles, or sacred writers, by which they were qualified to communicate moral or religious truth with authority; a supernatural influence which qualifies men to receive and communicate divine truth; also, the truth communicated.

* 1688 , , The History of the Variations of the Protestant Churches Vol.2 (1829 translation), p. 355:

The question, therefore, at issue is, not whether those external means be sufficient without grace and divine inspiration', for none pretends that": but, in order to hinder men from feigning or imagining an '''inspiration''', whether it has not been God's economy, and his usual conduct to make his ' inspiration walk hand in hand with certain means of fact, which men can neither feign in the air without being convicted of falsehood, nor imagine without illusion.

The act of an elevating]] or [[stimulate, stimulating influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity. In this sense, it is generally followed by the adposition to'' or ''for :

* She was waiting for inspiration to write a book.

* She was waiting for inspiration for writing a book.

* 1865 , , The Nation's Wail , p. 6:

We caught the inspiration of his joy; and imagination painted a glorious future near at hand for our land, quickly to develop itself under the guidance of his fostering wisdom, and fraternal counsels and care.

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, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=“Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration , “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity.}}

* 1998 , David Allen Brown, Leonardo da Vinci: Origins of a Genius , p. 25:

All this suggests that Andrea may, like the authors of the devotional panel, the fresco, and the print – and like Leonardo, as we shall see – have found his inspiration in Pollaiuolo.

* 2002 , Sven Rasegård, Man and Science: A Web of Systems and Social Conventions , p. 2:

And now it is time for problem solving which, if successful, will create new ideas serving as an inspiration source for future research objects of the researcher in question as well as other researchers within the same field.

* 2013 , (Phil McNulty), " Liverpool 1-0 Man Utd", BBC Sport , 1 September 2013:

As for United, this was a performance lacking in inspiration , purpose and threat and once again underlined the urgency for transfer business to be done in the closing hours of the transfer window.

A person, object, or situation which quickens or stimulates an influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity.

* 2008 April 5, , Presidential Radio Address:

The people of Ukraine and Georgia are an inspiration to the world and I was pleased that this week NATO declared that Ukraine and Georgia will become members of NATO.

A new idea, especially one which arises suddenly and is clever or creative.

* 1895 , , (The Time Machine) , ch. 1:

After an interval the Psychologist had an inspiration . "It must have gone into the past if it has gone anywhere," he said.

* 1916 , (Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton), Mrs. Balfame , ch. 15:

Mrs. Balfame had an inspiration . "My God!" she exclaimed, springing to her feet, "the murderer . . . was hidden in the cellar or attic all night, all the next day! He may be here yet!"

* 2007 July 1, Sylviane Gold, " Scenery Chewer Plays It Straight, Methodically," New York Times (retrieved 3 Sept. 2013):

[H]e accompanied her to a rehearsal of a skit satirizing “Casablanca,” and the director had an inspiration : Wouldn’t it be a laugh to cast a 10-year-old as Rick?

Noun

(philosophy) An abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect approximations; pure essence, as opposed to actual examples.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-10-19, volume=409, issue=8858, magazine=(The Economist)

, title= Trouble at the lab , passage=The idea that the same experiments always get the same results, no matter who performs them, is one of the cornerstones of science’s claim to objective truth. If a systematic campaign of replication does not lead to the same results, then either the original research is flawed (as the replicators claim) or the replications are (as many of the original researchers on priming contend). Either way, something is awry.}}

(obsolete) The conception of someone or something as representing a perfect example; an ideal.

(obsolete) The form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic.

*, II.6:

The remembrance whereof (which yet I beare deepely imprinted in my minde) representing me her visage and Idea so lively and so naturally, doth in some sort reconcile me unto her.

An image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory.

More generally, any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking.

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, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=3 , passage=Now all this was very fine, but not at all in keeping with the Celebrity's character as I had come to conceive it. The idea that adulation ever cloyed on him was ludicrous in itself. In fact I thought the whole story fishy, and came very near to saying so.}}

* 1952 , (Alfred Whitney Griswold)

Ideas won't go to jail.

A conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an (l).

* , chapter=3

, title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.}}

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838, page=71, magazine=(The Economist)

, title= End of the peer show , passage=Finance is seldom romantic. But the idea of peer-to-peer lending comes close. This is an industry that brings together individual savers and lenders on online platforms. Those that want to borrow are matched with those that want to lend.}}

A vague or fanciful (l); a feeling or hunch; an impression.

(music) A musical theme or melodic subject.