sensation

[ sen-sey-shuhn ]
See synonyms for: sensationsensationssensationless on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the operation or function of the senses; perception or awareness of stimuli through the senses.

  2. a mental condition or physical feeling resulting from stimulation of a sense organ or from internal bodily change, as cold or pain.

  1. Physiology. the faculty of perception of stimuli.

  2. a general feeling not directly attributable to any given stimulus, as discomfort, anxiety, or doubt.

  3. a mental feeling, especially a state of excited feeling.

  4. a state of excited feeling or interest caused among a number of persons or throughout a community, as by some rumor or occurrence.

  5. a cause of such feeling or interest: The new Brazilian movie was the sensation of the film festival.

Origin of sensation

1
First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin sēnsātiōn- (stem of sēnsātiō ), equivalent to Late Latin sēnsāt(us) sensate + -iōn- -ion

synonym study For sensation

2, 4. See sense.

Other words for sensation

Other words from sensation

  • sen·sa·tion·less, adjective
  • non·sen·sa·tion, noun
  • re·sen·sa·tion, noun
  • sub·sen·sa·tion, noun

Words Nearby sensation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sensation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sensation

sensation

/ (sɛnˈseɪʃən) /


noun
  1. the power of perceiving through the senses

  2. a physical condition or experience resulting from the stimulation of one of the sense organs: a sensation of warmth

  1. a general feeling or awareness: a sensation of fear

  2. a state of widespread public excitement: his announcement caused a sensation

  3. anything that causes such a state: your speech was a sensation

Origin of sensation

1
C17: from Medieval Latin sensātiō, from Late Latin sensātus sensate

Derived forms of sensation

  • sensationless, adjective

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