Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - invent

~ v 1 to make, design, or produce something new for the first time  (Alexander Bell invented the telephone in 1876.) 2 to think of an idea, story etc that is not true, usually in order to deceive people  (They invented a very convincing alibi.)  ( USAGE NOTE: INVENT WORD CHOICE invent, discover You invent something that did not exist before, such as a machine or a method Who invented the computer? You discover something that existed before but was not known, such as a place, thing, or fact In the sixties, oil was discovered under the North Sea. )