invention/Inˋvɛnʃən; Inˈvenʃ$n/n 1 [C] a machine, tool, system etc that someone has invented 发明(物)〔如机器﹑工具﹑制度等〕: The computer was one of the most important inventions of the twentieth century. 电脑是 20 世纪最重要的发明之一。2 [U] when someone invents something 发明﹐创造: +of the invention of television 电视的发明3 [C,U] a story or explanation that is not true 虚构的故事﹔编造的解释﹔假话: The story is just a media invention. 此事完全是媒体的虚构。