intense Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
    • intense heat
    • intense anxiety
    • intense desire
    • intense emotion
    • the skunk's intense acrid odor
    • intense pain
    • enemy fire was intense
  2. adjective satellite extremely sharp or intense
    acute.
    • acute pain
    • felt acute annoyance
    • intense itching and burning
  3. adjective satellite (of color) having the highest saturation
    vivid.
    • vivid green
    • intense blue

WordNet

In*tense" adjective
Etymology
L. intensus stretched, tight, p. p. of intendere to stretch: cf. F. intense. See Intend, and cf. Intent, and cf. Intent, a.
Definitions
  1. Strained; tightly drawn; kept on the stretch; strict; very close or earnest; as, intense study or application; intense thought.
  2. Extreme in degree; excessive; immoderate; as: (a) Ardent; fervent; as, intense heat. (b) Keen; biting; as, intense cold. (c) Vehement; earnest; exceedingly strong; as, intense passion or hate. (d) Very severe; violent; as, intense pain or anguish. (e) Deep; strong; brilliant; as, intense color or light.
    In this intense seclusion of the forest. Hawthorne.

Webster 1913