Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - belief

~ n 1 the feeling that something is definitely true or definitely exists  (religious belief) + in  (a belief in God) + tha  (a growing belief that war had become inevitable) it is sb's belief that  (It is my belief that racism remains widespread in British society. | in the belief that (=because you think something is true))  (She started taking money, in the mistaken belief that she would not be discovered. | contrary to popular belief (=although most people believe the opposite of this))  (Contrary to popular belief, eating carrots does not improve your eyesight.) 2 an idea that you believe to be true, especially one that forms part of a system of ideas  (political beliefs | hold a belief (=have a belief))  (Some of them hold very right-wing beliefs.) 3 the feeling that something is good and can be trusted + in  (If you're selling, you have to have genuine belief in the product.) shake sb's belief in (=make them doubt what they believe)  (The judge's decision shook my belief in the legal system.) 4 be beyond belief to seem too strange or unreasonable to be true  (These latest proposals are beyond belief!)  (- see also to the best of your belief best3 (4), -compare disbelief, unbelief)