intensive

[ in-ten-siv ]

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

/ ɪnˈtɛnsɪv /

adjective

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

   an intensive course

   intensive agriculture

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

   labour-intensive

   capital-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

noun

1. an intensifier or intensive pronoun or grammatical construction

Derived Forms

• inˈtensiveness, noun
• inˈtensively, adverb

Other Words From

• in·tensive·ly adverb
• in·tensive·ness noun
• unin·tensive adjective
• unin·tensive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of intensive¹

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

Example Sentences

When the couple reached the hospital, Becky was rushed into surgery with blood clots while Noah was taken to intensive care.

From BBC

Women appear to be particularly vulnerable, likely because they tend to take on more intensive responsibilities for close family members.

From Science Daily

His fiance made the video call from the Philippines to let him know how serious things had become in the intensive care unit.

From Los Angeles Times

Studies have shown that homelessness increases the chances of health complications for the mother and the child, including premature birth and newborns requiring intensive care.

From Los Angeles Times

He was unable to speak or sing for weeks afterwards but went through intensive speech therapy and has made a full recovery.

From BBC

Related Words

• accelerated
• all-out
• comprehensive
• demanding
• in-depth
• thorough