aɪˈdɪəl adj. & n. --adj. 1 a answering to one's highest
conception. b
perfect or supremely
excellent. 2 a existing
only in
idea. b
visionary. 3 embodying an idea. 4 relating to or consisting of ideas;
dependent on
the mind. --n. 1 a perfect
type, or a conception of
this. 2 an
actual thing as a
standard for imitation. øideal
gas a
hypothetical gas consisting of molecules occupying
negligible space and without attraction for
each other,
thereby obeying
simple laws. øøideally adv. [ME f. F id÷al f. LL idealis (as IDEA)]