ideation

n. forming of ideas, conceiving in the mind, imagination

Ideation is the process of forming and relating ideas. It is a concept utilized in the study of heuristic behavior, creativity, innovation, design thinking and concept development and is frequently used in describing thoughts of suicide, i.e. suicidal ideation. The term "Ideation" is used in marketing research to describe sessions which are for the "Idea-Generation".
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Ideation /ide·a·tion/ the formation of ideas or images.idea´tional i·de·a·tion n. The formation of ideas or mental images. i de·ate v. [more]Ideation - Community and Resources

Noun
1. the process of forming and relating ideas
(hypernym) thinking, thought, cerebration, intellection, mentation
(derivation) imagine, conceive of, ideate, envisage

(n.)
The faculty or capacity of the mind for forming ideas; the exercise of this capacity; the act of the mind by which objects of sense are apprehended and retained as objects of thought.