Wikipedia defines concept as an abstract idea. Because abstract is defined as an idea, feeling or quality, not as a material object and idea is defined as an output of a thought, therefore concept can be defined as an output of a thought that may represent a material object in the mind but it is not the material object itself.

The paper The Theory Underlying Concept Maps and How to Construct Them defines concept as a perceived regularity (or pattern) in events or objects, or records of events or objects, designated by label.

Perceived regularity means that may be classified and categorised because the events or objects considered share some same characteristics. I do not completely agree with the definition of the paper because I think that a concept is not limited to events or objects but also to some abstract idea. For example the religion is a concept but it is not an event or an object or records of events or objects.

Therefore it may be considered that a concept is an output of a thought that can be classified or categorised in function of some of its characteristics due to their similarities or differences with other outputs of the thought.

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References

• The Theory Underlying Concept Maps and How to Construct Them | 2006 | Joseph D. Novak, Alberto J. Cañas