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Definition of contemplation noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

contemplation

noun
 
/ˌkɒntəmˈpleɪʃn/
 
/ˌkɑːntəmˈpleɪʃn/
[uncountable] (formal)Idioms
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  1. the act of thinking deeply about something
    • He sat there deep in contemplation.
    • Let's take a few moments of quiet contemplation.
    • The monks dedicate themselves to a life of prayer and contemplation.
    Extra Examples
    • He sat by the window, deep in contemplation.
    • Some people spend much time in contemplation of the mysteries of life and death.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • quiet
    • silent
    • deep
    verb + contemplation
    • be deep in
    • be lost in
    preposition
    • in contemplation (of)
    • contemplation of
    See full entry
  2. the act of looking at something in a calm and careful way
    • She turned from her contemplation of the photograph.
    Extra Examples
    • She was lost in contemplation of the scene in front of her.
    • the contemplation of beauty
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • quiet
    • silent
    • deep
    verb + contemplation
    • be deep in
    • be lost in
    preposition
    • in contemplation (of)
    • contemplation of
    See full entry
  3. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French, from Latin contemplatio(n-), from the verb contemplari, based on templum ‘place for observation’.
Idioms
in contemplation
  1. (formal) being considered
    • By 1613 even more desperate measures were in contemplation.
See contemplation in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee contemplation in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
perfectly
adverb
 
 
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