ideate | ˈīdēˌāt | verb [with object] mainly formal form an idea of; imagine or conceive: he is part of a team that ideates branding strategies | (as adjective ideated) :  the arc whose ideated center is a nodal point in the composition. • [no object] form ideas; think. ORIGIN early 17th century: from medieval Latin ideat- ‘formed as an idea’, from the verb ideare, from Latin idea (see idea).