intensive care

American  

noun

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

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of intensive care

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intensive care

People with high-risk biological profiles such as cluster 5 may require more intensive care or treatments designed to address their specific metabolic problems.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

He urgently needs a "Berlin heart" - a device which could stabalise his condition while he's in intensive care awaiting a heart transplant.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

At the hospital Addy was given a dose of antivenom then transferred to another medical facility that had a pediatric intensive care unit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

For the entirety of his short life at the neonatal intensive care unit, he had the cannula through his nose to facilitate his breathing and a feeding tube between his lips.

From Slate ● Jul. 19, 2026

She was in the intensive care unit bandaging a patient when she was called to the phone.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times