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Synonyms

intensive

American  
[in-ten-siv] / ɪnˈtɛn sɪv /

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 British  
/ ɪnˈtɛnsɪv /

adjective

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

    intensive agriculture

    an intensive course

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

    capital-intensive

    labour-intensive

  3. 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. physics of or relating to a local property, measurement, etc, that is independent of the extent of the system Compare extensive

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. an intensifier or intensive pronoun or grammatical construction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • intensively adverb
  • intensiveness noun
  • unintensive adjective
  • unintensively adverb

Etymology

Origin of intensive

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Unless an intensive programme of major remedial work is undertaken soon, it is likely that the building will become uninhabitable," it said.

From BBC

His son on Friday had the first of what doctors said would likely be many surgeries, and is in a medically induced coma in intensive care, Marcucci said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The intensive care unit at the nearest hospital quickly filled up and some patients have been sent elsewhere for treatment, including to Milan in neighbouring Italy.

From BBC

Its intensive care unit had reached full capacity and Reynard said the local community must take extra care to avoid needing hospital treatment unnecessarily.

From BBC

Most have been taken to Valais hospital where the intensive care unit is now full, according to local authorities.

From BBC