intensity

American  

[in-ten-si-tee] / ɪnˈtɛn sɪ ti /

noun

plural

intensities

1. the quality or condition of being intense.

2. great energy, strength, concentration, vehemence, etc., as of activity, thought, or feeling.

   He went at the job with great intensity.

3. a high or extreme degree, as of cold or heat.

4. the degree or extent to which something is intense.

5. a high degree of emotional excitement; depth of feeling.

   The poem lacked intensity and left me unmoved.

   Synonyms:

   vigor, energy, emotion, passion

6. the strength or sharpness of a color due especially to its degree of freedom from admixture with its complementary color.

7. Physics. magnitude, as of energy or a force per unit of area, volume, time, etc.

8. Speech.

   1. the correlate of physical energy and the degree of loudness of a speech sound.

   2. the relative carrying power of vocal utterance.

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intensity British  

/ ɪnˈtɛnsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being intense

2. extreme force, degree, or amount

3. physics

   1. a measure of field strength or of the energy transmitted by radiation See radiant intensity luminous intensity

   2.  I.  (of sound in a specified direction) the average rate of flow of sound energy, usually in watts, for one period through unit area at right angles to the specified direction

4. Also called: earthquake intensity.  geology a measure of the size of an earthquake based on observation of the effects of the shock at the earth's surface. Specified on the Mercalli scale See Mercalli scale Richter scale

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Other Word Forms

• overintensity noun
• superintensity noun

Etymology

Origin of intensity

First recorded in 1655–65; intense + -ity

Example Sentences

Our success as a team is based on our determination, resilience, and intensity, and we settle for nothing less than victory.

From Barron's

“Adding insult to injury, Dee has recently found out the level of intensity he has dedicated to his life’s work has taken its toll on his heart as well,” the statement continued.

From Los Angeles Times

"Josh has had some rough luck with injuries, but the way he's come back, the way he leads and trains, his attention to detail and the intensity he brings to everything is excellent," said Tandy.

From BBC

Scientists say human-driven climate change is increasing the length, intensity and frequency of extreme weather events such as the floods and heatwaves that have struck the Iberian Peninsula in recent years.

From Barron's

He is depicted relaxing, but the intensity of his gaze “gives it a menacing feel,” said Gregory Rubinstein, Sotheby’s head of old master drawings.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• anxiety
• concentration
• depth
• earnestness
• emotion
• energy
• excitement
• ferocity
• fervor
• fury
• magnitude
• power
• severity
• strength
• tension
• vigor