intensive

[ in-ten-siv ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by intensity:

   intensive questioning.

2. tending to intensify; intensifying.
3. Medicine/Medical.
   1. increasing in intensity or degree.
   2. instituting treatment to the limit of safety.
4. noting or pertaining to a system of agriculture involving the cultivation of limited areas, and relying on the maximum use of labor and expenditures to raise the crop yield per unit area ( extensive ).
5. requiring or having a high concentration of a specified quality or element (used in combination):

   Coal mining is a labor-intensive industry.

6. Grammar. indicating increased emphasis or force. Certainly is an intensive adverb. Myself in I did it myself is an intensive pronoun.

noun

1. something that intensifies.
2. Grammar. an intensive element or formation, as -self in himself, or Latin -tō in iac-tō, “I hurl” from iacō, “I throw.”

intensive

/ ɪnˈtɛnsɪv /

adjective

1. involving the maximum use of land, time, or some other resource

   an intensive course

   intensive agriculture

2. usually in combination using one factor of production proportionately more than others, as specified

   labour-intensive

   capital-intensive

3. See extensive
   agriculture involving or farmed using large amounts of capital or labour to increase production from a particular area Compare extensive
4. denoting or relating to a grammatical intensifier
5. denoting or belonging to a class of pronouns used to emphasize a noun or personal pronoun, such as himself in the sentence John himself did it. In English, intensive pronouns are identical in form with reflexive pronouns
6. of or relating to intension
7. See extensive
   physics of or relating to a local property, measurement, etc, that is independent of the extent of the system Compare extensive

noun

1. an intensifier or intensive pronoun or grammatical construction

Derived Forms

• inˈtensively, adverb
• inˈtensiveness, noun

Other Words From

• in·tensive·ly adverb
• in·tensive·ness noun
• unin·tensive adjective
• unin·tensive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of intensive¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from the Medieval Latin word intēnsīvus. See intense, -ive

Example Sentences

In fact, he taught the most intensive artillery course in the South and very likely the equal of courses at West Point.

From The Daily Beast

His son, Lennon James Picco—Chris is a massive Beatles fan—was put in intensive care but was never likely to survive.

From The Daily Beast

She frequently works with people with multiple intensive needs, like the students at Stephen Knolls School.

From The Daily Beast

A Carter victory would start intensive “Will Georgia Turn Blue?”

From The Daily Beast

Should the NFL have required intensive ‘intervention’ counseling for Ray Rice rather than cutting off the family completely?

From The Daily Beast

This book is a plea for intensive agriculture, and in view of the great cry, "Back to the land!"

From Project Gutenberg

The situation still calls for intensive experiments to develop the best methods from the standpoint of both cost and results.

From Project Gutenberg

No science can make progress without intensive experiments and investigations, least of all a new science like forestry.

From Project Gutenberg

The maps and field data secured furnish the basis for range improvement and more intensive range management.

From Project Gutenberg

John, his son, had turned his back on intensive culture and had gone back to the old family failing of hops.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accelerated
• all-out
• comprehensive
• demanding
• in-depth
• thorough