imagine
v.v. to form a picture or idea in your mind of something that is not real or not present. You use this when you think about possibilities or dream about the future.
v. to form a mental image or concept of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality. Transitive in most contexts; can be followed by a noun phrase, a gerund, or a 'that' clause.
I can imagine how happy you are.
Close your eyes and try to imagine a peaceful beach with white sand and blue water.
Architects must be able to imagine how light will move through a building at different times of the year before the first stone is even laid.
From Middle English ymagynen, from Middle French imaginer, from Latin imāginor, from imāginem, the accusative singular of imāgō (“a copy, likeness, image”).
The verb is transitive. When followed by another action, it takes the gerund (-ing) form rather than the infinitive.
I imagine to live in ItalyI imagine living in ItalyWhen followed by a verb, imagine requires the gerund (-ing) form, not the 'to' infinitive.