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

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

Klein studied nurses, intensive care units, firefighters, and other people who make decisions under pressure, and one of his conclusions is that when experts make decisions, they don’t logically and systematically compare all available options.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell