intensifier

[ in-ten-suh-fahy-er ]

noun
  1. a person or thing that intensifies.

  2. Grammar. a word, especially an adverb, or other linguistic element that indicates, and usually increases, the degree of emphasis or force to be given to the element it modifies, as very or somewhat; intensive adverb.

  1. a ram-operated device for increasing hydraulic pressure.

Origin of intensifier

1
First recorded in 1825–35; intensify + -er1

Words Nearby intensifier

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How to use intensifier in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for intensifier

intensifier

/ (ɪnˈtɛnsɪˌfaɪə) /


noun
  1. a person or thing that intensifies

  2. a word, esp an adjective or adverb, that has little semantic content of its own but that serves to intensify the meaning of the word or phrase that it modifies: awfully and up are intensifiers in the phrases awfully sorry and cluttered up

  1. a substance, esp one containing silver or uranium, used to increase the density of a photographic film or plate: Compare reducer (def. 1)

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