dream

¹dream

noun, often attributive \ˈdrēm\

Definition of DREAM

1

: a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep — compare rem sleep

2

: an experience of waking life having the characteristics of a dream: as

a : a visionary creation of the imagination : daydream

b : a state of mind marked by abstraction or release from reality : reverie

c : an object seen in a dreamlike state : vision

3

: something notable for its beauty, excellence, or enjoyable quality <the new car is a dream to operate>

4

a : a strongly desired goal or purpose <a dream of becoming president>

b : something that fully satisfies a wish : ideal <a meal that was a gourmet's dream>

— dream·ful \-fəl\ adjective

— dream·ful·ly \-fə-lē\ adverb

— dream·ful·ness noun

— dream·less adjective

— dream·less·ly adverb

— dream·less·ness noun

— dream·like \ˈdrēm-ˌlīk\ adjective

Examples of DREAM

1. He had a dream about climbing a mountain.
2. You were in my dream last night.
3. I've found the man of my dreams.
4. They succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
5. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would be so much fun.
6. If you think the work will be easy, you're living in a dream world.
7. He has had a lifelong dream of becoming an actor.
8. It's a dream of mine to own a house in the country.
9. Tell me your hopes and dreams.
10. Making it to the Olympics was a dream come true.

Origin of DREAM

Middle English dreem, from Old English drēam noise, joy, and Old Norse draumr dream; akin to Old High German troum dream

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DREAM

Synonyms

chimera, conceit, daydream, delusion, fantasy, fancy, figment, hallucination, illusion, nonentity, phantasm (also fantasm), pipe dream, unreality, vision

Related Words

ignis fatuus, mirage, will-o'-the-wisp; brainchild, idea; concoction, fable, fabrication, fiction, invention; envisaging, imaging, visualization; cloud-cuckoo-land, cloudland, Shangri-la, utopia; daymare, nightmare

Near Antonyms

actuality, fact, reality

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with DREAM

beam, bream, cream, deem, deme, gleam, meme, neem, Nîmes, ream, scheme, scream, seam, seem, seme, steam, stream, team, teem, theme

²dream

verb

dreamed \ˈdrem(p)t, ˈdrēmd\ or dreamt \ˈdrem(p)t\ dream·ing \ˈdrē-miŋ\

Definition of DREAM

intransitive verb

1

: to have a dream

2

: to indulge in daydreams or fantasies <dreaming of a better future>

3

: to appear tranquil or dreamy <houses dream in leafy shadows — Gladys Taber>

transitive verb

1

: to have a dream of

2

: to consider as a possibility : imagine

3

: to pass (time) in reverie or inaction <dreaming the hours away>

— dream of

: to consider possible or fitting <wouldn't dream of disturbing you>

Examples of DREAM

1. Did it really happen or did I just dream it?
2. He tends to dream big but he never really does the things he dreams of doing.

First Known Use of DREAM

13th century

Related to DREAM

Synonyms

conceit [chiefly dialect], conceive, conjure (up), imagine, envisage, envision, fancy, fantasize, fantasy, feature, ideate, image, picture, see, vision, visualize

Related Words

daydream, stargaze; hallucinate; re-create, reflect, relive, reminisce; contemplate, meditate, muse, ponder, ruminate; concoct, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture, plan, project; foresee, prefigure

dream

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep, particularly sleep accompanied by rapid eye movement (REM sleep). Dream reports range from the very ordinary and realistic to the fantastic and surreal. Humans have always attached great importance to dreams, which have been variously viewed as windows to the sacred, the past and the future, or the world of the dead. Dreams have provided creative solutions to intellectual and emotional problems and have offered ideas for artistic pursuits. A type of cognitive synthesis that facilitates conscious insight may occur subconsciously during dreaming. The most famous theory of the significance of dreams is the psychoanalytic model of Sigmund Freud; in Freud's view, desires that are ordinarily repressed (hidden from consciousness) because they represent forbidden impulses are given expression in dreams, though often in disguised (i.e., symbolic) form.