intensive care

American  

noun

1. the use of specialized equipment and personnel for continuous monitoring and care of the critically ill.

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intensive care British  

noun

1. extensive and continuous care and treatment provided for an acutely ill patient, usually in a specially designated section ( intensive care unit ) of a hospital

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Etymology

Origin of intensive care

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

The woman was 7 months pregnant with the family’s third child, a girl, who died in a neonatal intensive care unit.

From Los Angeles Times

In hospital settings, it could be used to protect vulnerable patients in intensive care units who are at high risk from drug resistant bacteria.

From Science Daily

She said Zoe had been taken to intensive care shortly after she was born.

From BBC

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have called for a transparent investigation into the killing of Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse working at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital.

From Salon

Salehuddin Ahmed, who holds the finance portfolio in the interim government, said the economy had shifted from the "intensive care unit to the high dependency unit".

From Barron's