sense
any of the faculties, such as sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch, by which humans and animals perceive stimuli originating from outside or inside the body: Helen Keller once wrote that hearing was the sense she most wished she could have had.
Usually sen·ses . the faculties by which humans and animals perceive stimuli originating from outside or inside the body collectively: His senses were screaming that danger was nearby.
the operation or function of the organs of touch, taste, etc.; sensation: The bloodhound’s sense of smell is greatly enhanced by its long, droopy ears, which scoop up the scents from the ground.
a feeling or perception produced through the organs of touch, taste, etc., or resulting from a particular condition of some part of the body: She had an uncomfortable sense of cold on the back of her neck.
a faculty or function of the mind analogous to sensation: His moral sense rebelled against such an unethical scheme.
any special capacity for perception, estimation, appreciation, etc.: In this job you've got to have a sense of humor.
Usually sen·ses . clear and sound mental faculties; sanity: Have you taken leave of your senses?
a more or less vague perception or impression: Sitting with his back to the wall gave him a sense of security.
a mental discernment, realization, or recognition: All workers should have a sense of the worth of their labor.
the recognition of something as incumbent or fitting: My sense of duty compels me to accept this mission.
sound practical intelligence: He has no sense.
something that is sensible or reasonable: Try to talk sense instead of shouting.
the meaning or gist of something: You missed the sense of his statement.
the value or worth of something; merit: There's no sense in worrying about the past.
the meaning of a word or phrase in a specific context, especially as isolated in a dictionary or glossary; the semantic element in a word or group of words: The word "dog" has a literal sense, but it can also be metaphorical.
an opinion or judgment formed or held, especially by an assemblage or body of persons: We didn't bother with formal minutes, but we did take notes on the general sense of the meeting.
Genetics. a DNA sequence that is capable of coding for an amino acid (distinguished from nonsense).
Mathematics. one of two opposite directions in which a vector may point.
to perceive (something) by the senses; become aware of: I sense there's a storm on the way.
to grasp the meaning of; understand.
(of certain mechanical devices) to detect physical phenomena, as light, temperature, radioactivity, etc., mechanically, electrically, or photoelectrically.
Computers. to receive or capture (encoded data) electrically, photoelectrically, etc., through an input device: When you scan the bar code, an optical mark reader senses the data encoded in the position of the bars.: Compare read1 (def. 16).
Idioms about sense
come to one's senses, to regain one's good judgment or realistic point of view; become reasonable.
in a sense, according to one explanation or view; to a certain extent: In a sense it may have been the only possible solution.
make sense, to be reasonable or comprehensible: His attitude doesn't make sense.
Origin of sense
1synonym study For sense
Other words for sense
Other words from sense
- half-sensed, adjective
- un·sensed, adjective
- un·sens·ing, adjective
Words that may be confused with sense
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use sense in a sentence
To make sense of the ending of Trust Exercise, stop thinking of the characters as individuals.
The mind-boggling end of Susan Choi’s Trust Exercise, explained | Constance Grady | November 20, 2020 | VoxMy 2009 brain never was able to make sense of the architecture until last week, when I was able to see the pillars and foundations that hold the whole region together.
‘Demon’s Souls’ review: The ideal PlayStation 5 launch game | Gene Park | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostHe didn’t tell her about my journalism, or my sense of humor or the fact I was from a teeny tiny town.
What ‘The Crown’ got right in portraying Princess Diana’s bulimia: It let her voice be heard | Amanda Long | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostThey suggest motion and produce a sense of distance between background and foreground.
In the galleries: The Washington colorists and the CIA | Mark Jenkins | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostI discovered their desire, like mine, to help these boys achieve success … the camaraderie and sense of family and friendship across all boundaries … and the incredible focus of power that happened when everyone focused on the same goal.
For fans of BTS, the only thing better than the group is each other | Marian Liu | November 20, 2020 | Washington Post
Sensing his opportunity, Joey Biden pounced: “I walked up behind him and smashed his head next to the counter.”
My two elder brothers, overhearing the story, and I think sensing something exciting, wanted to come along, too.
Knocking on Heaven's Door: True Stories of Unexplained, Uncanny Experiences at the Hour of Death | Patricia Pearson | August 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTCrumbs, sensing an opportunity, went public in early 2011, and set about expanding.
Essentially, in a package the size of a sugar cube, you can have the sensing components necessary.
Augmented Reality System Goes From Military to Market | Rose Eveleth | May 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHere, more than anywhere else, Sensing Spaces awakens our senses.
The Royal Academy Wants You to Finish This Artwork | Chloë Ashby | January 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTLandy, too, sensing the importance of coming events, improved his appearance by buttoning up his shirt-front.
David Lannarck, Midget | George S. HarneyThe questioner, sensing this alteration in the other, made his queries all the quicker and more peremptory.
The Winning Clue | James Hay, Jr.They had hesitated to break in upon my solitude, but now, sensing that I have protection, they speak out.
My Wonderful Visit | Charlie Chaplin"I guess nobody ever is happy so very much," Charlie continued, sensing that Peter was stumped for the moment.
The Boy Grew Older | Heywood BrounIf sensation be related868 to the sense-object, why do they not equally relate "sensing" (feeling) to the sense-object?
Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 3 | Plotinos (Plotinus)
British Dictionary definitions for sense
/ (sɛns) /
any of the faculties by which the mind receives information about the external world or about the state of the body. In addition to the five traditional faculties of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, the term includes the means by which bodily position, temperature, pain, balance, etc, are perceived
such faculties collectively; the ability to perceive
a feeling perceived through one of the senses: a sense of warmth
a mental perception or awareness: a sense of happiness
moral discernment; understanding: a sense of right and wrong
(sometimes plural) sound practical judgment or intelligence: he is a man without any sense
reason or purpose: what is the sense of going out in the rain?
substance or gist; meaning: what is the sense of this proverb?
specific meaning; definition: in what sense are you using the word?
an opinion or consensus
maths one of two opposite directions measured on a directed line; the sign as contrasted with the magnitude of a vector
logic linguistics
the import of an expression as contrasted with its referent. Thus the morning star and the evening star have the same reference, Venus, but different senses
the property of an expression by virtue of which its referent is determined
that which one grasps in understanding an expression
make sense to be reasonable or understandable
take leave of one's senses See leave 2 (def. 8)
to perceive through one or more of the senses
to apprehend or detect without or in advance of the evidence of the senses
to understand
computing
to test or locate the position of (a part of computer hardware)
to read (data)
Origin of sense
1Collins 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 Idioms and Phrases with sense
see come to one's senses; horse sense; in a sense; lull into (a false sense of security); make sense; sixth sense; take leave of (one's senses); talk sense.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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