1 [C] a thing that has been made or designed by sb for the first time 发明物: The microwave oven is a very useful invention. 微波炉是一项十分有用的发明。

2 [U] the action or process of making or designing sth for the first time 发明；创造: Books had to be written by hand before the invention of printing. 印刷术发明之前，书本都是手抄的。

3 [C,U] telling a story or giving an excuse that is not true 造；虚构: It was obvious that his story about being robbed was (an) invention. 遭抢劫的事显然是他一手杜撰的。