think of/think about

[Mastane]

Is there any difference in meaning and using between think of & think about?

thanks in advance

[Waiyin_Cheng]

This entry is taken from Oxford Adv learner Dict.

think of

• to have an image or idea of sth/sb in your mind
  When I said that I wasn’t thinking of anyone in particular.

-to create an idea in your imagination
Can anybody think of a way to raise money?

• to remember sth/sb
  I can think of at least three occasions when he arrived late.

• think of sb/sth as sb/sth : to consider sb/sth in a particular way
  I think of this place as my home.

think about

• to consider sb/sth when you are planning or doing sth
  Don’t you ever think about other people?

• to consider doing sth
  She’s thinking of changing her job.

[Dozy]

I think this is a hard question.

@Waiyin Cheng

• to consider sb/sth when you are planning or doing sth
  Don’t you ever think about other people?

In this case you can also use “think of”.

@Waiyin Cheng

• to consider doing sth
  She’s thinking of changing her job.

In this case you can also use “think about”. However, it seems that in the future tense you can only use “about”. For example, when considering a purchase, “I’ll think about it”, not “I’ll think of it”.

@Waiyin Cheng

• to have an image or idea of sth/sb in your mind
  When I said that I wasn’t thinking of anyone in particular.

“think about” is also possible here, with virtually the same meaning. There is arguably a subtle difference, but for me the definition quoted does not really capture it.