a fantastic but vain hope (from fantasies induced by the opium pipe)
"I have this pipe dream about being emperor of the universe"
a state of mind characterized by abstraction and release from reality
"he went about his work as if in a dream"
Imaginary events seen in the mind while sleeping.
"I woke up feeling confused because my dream was so vivid that I could still smell the rain falling outside."
In plain English: A dream is a series of images, thoughts, and feelings that happen while you are sleeping.
"She had a strange dream about flying over the ocean last night."
Usage: Use "dream" as a noun to refer to the series of images and stories your brain creates while you sleep. You can also use it metaphorically to describe an ambitious goal or aspiration, such as living out a lifelong dream.
have a daydream; indulge in a fantasy
"While waiting for his coffee, he spent twenty minutes staring out the window and dreaming about winning the lottery."
To see imaginary events in one's mind while sleeping.
"After falling asleep on the couch, I woke up startled because I had a vivid dream where everyone was speaking in riddles."
In plain English: To dream is to have thoughts, feelings, and images while you are sleeping.
"I dream of traveling to new countries one day."
Usage: Use "dream" when describing the act of having visions or experiences while asleep, such as dreaming about flying. Do not use it to express hoping for something to happen; instead, use verbs like "hope," "wish," or "expect."
Ideal; perfect.
"The small beach house was her dream, a place where she could finally relax without any responsibilities."
In plain English: Dream means existing only in your imagination and not being real.
"He had a dream coat that kept him warm all night."
Usage: Use "dream" as an adjective only when describing something that represents an ideal or perfect state, such as in the phrase "a dream vacation." Do not use it to describe literal sleep or fantasies unless paired with a noun like "dream life."
The word "dream" comes from Old English drēam, which originally meant music or joy. Over time, the meaning shifted to describe visions experienced during sleep as it traveled into Middle English and then modern English.