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intangible - 5 dictionary results

in⋅tan⋅gi⋅ble

   [in-tan-juh-buhl]
–adjective
1. not tangible; incapable of being perceived by the sense of touch, as incorporeal or immaterial things; impalpable.
2. not definite or clear to the mind: intangible arguments.
3. (of an asset) existing only in connection with something else, as the goodwill of a business.
–noun
4. something intangible, esp. an intangible asset: Intangibles are hard to value.
Origin:
1630–40; < ML intangibilis. See in- 3 , tangible
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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in·tan·gi·ble     (ĭn-tān'jə-bəl)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Incapable of being perceived by the senses.
  2. Incapable of being realized or defined.
  3. Incorporeal.

n.  
  1. Something intangible, especially an asset that cannot be perceived by the senses. Often used in the plural: intangibles such as goodwill and dedication.
  2. Law Incorporeal property such as bank deposits, stocks, bonds, and promissory notes. Often used in the plural: a state tax on intangibles.

in·tan'gi·bil'i·ty, in·tan'gi·ble·ness n., in·tan'gi·bly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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intangible  (adj.)
1640, "incapable of being touched," from Fr. intangible (1508), from M.L. intangibilis, from in- "not" + L.L. tangibilis "that may be touched," from L. tangere "to touch" (see tangent). Fig. sense of "that cannot be grasped by the mind" is from 1880. Noun meaning "anything intangible" is from 1914.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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intangible

adjective
1. (of especially business assets) not having physical substance or intrinsic productive value; "intangible assets such as good will" [ant: tangible] 
2. incapable of being perceived by the senses especially the sense of touch; "the intangible constituent of energy"- James Jeans [ant: tangible] 
3. hard to pin down or identify; "an intangible feeling of impending disaster" 
4. lacking substance or reality; incapable of being touched or seen; "that intangible thing--the soul" 

noun
1. assets that are saleable though not material or physical 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Intangible

In*tan"gi*ble\, a. [Pref. in- not + tangible: cf. F. intangible.] Not tangible; incapable of being touched; not perceptible to the touch; impalpable; imperceptible. --Bp. Wilkins.

A corporation is an artificial, invisible, intangible being. --Marshall. -- In*tan"gi*ble*ness, n. -- In*tan"gi*bly, adv.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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