in·ten·sive  ( ĭn-t ĕn s ĭv)
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adj.1. Of, relating to, or characterized by intensity: intensive training. 2. Grammar Tending to emphasize or intensify: an intensive adverb. 3. Possessing or requiring to a high degree. Often used in combination: labor-intensive. 4. Of or relating to agricultural production that achieves high yields per acre of land but requires significant input of labor or materials. 5. Physics Having the same value for any subdivision of a thermodynamic system: intensive pressure. n. Grammar A linguistic element, such as the adverb extremely or awfully, that provides force or emphasis. Also called intensifier.
in·tensive·ly adv. in·tensive·ness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices
Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:
Indo-European Roots
Semitic Roots
The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.
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