intensity

[in-ten-si-tee]

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.

intensity

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• overintensity noun
• superintensity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of intensity¹

First recorded in 1655–65; intense + -ity

Example Sentences

Fred’s boss is a man of “slightly unhinged intensity,” whom Fred has seen, more than once, “weep on cue, before the entire district, like a fund-raising evangelist.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At low intensity, the molecule first expands before noticeable fragmentation begins, which is reflected in a delayed and modest decrease in the Guinier amplitude.

Read more on Science Daily

Sectors targeting seniors also face execution risks: product‐market fit must consider ergonomics, usability and service intensity.

Read more on Barron's

Climate change also has impacted storm patterns, including the duration and intensity of the season, leading to heavier rainfall, flash flooding and stronger wind gusts.

Read more on Barron's

Carney said the agreement “really sets the stage for an industrial transformation,” because there are commitments from Alberta to lower emissions intensity from the resource-rich province.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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