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intellectual

 - 3 dictionary results

in⋅tel⋅lec⋅tu⋅al

  [in-tl-ek-choo-uhl]
–adjective
1. appealing to or engaging the intellect: intellectual pursuits.
2. of or pertaining to the intellect or its use: intellectual powers.
3. possessing or showing intellect or mental capacity, esp. to a high degree: an intellectual person.
4. guided or developed by or relying on the intellect rather than upon emotions or feelings; rational.
5. characterized by or suggesting a predominance of intellect: an intellectual way of speaking.
–noun
6. a person of superior intellect.
7. a person who places a high value on or pursues things of interest to the intellect or the more complex forms and fields of knowledge, as aesthetic or philosophical matters, esp. on an abstract and general level.
8. an extremely rational person; a person who relies on intellect rather than on emotions or feelings.
9. a person professionally engaged in mental labor, as a writer or teacher.
10. intellectuals, Archaic.
a. the mental faculties.
b. things pertaining to the intellect.
Use intellectual in a Sentence
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L intellēctuālis, equiv. to intellēctu-, s. of intellēctus intellect + -ālis -al 1

Related forms:
in⋅tel⋅lec⋅tu⋅al⋅ly, adverb
in⋅tel⋅lec⋅tu⋅al⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1, 2. mental. 3. See intelligent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To intellectual
in·tel·lec·tu·al   (ĭn'tl-ěk'chōō-əl)   
adj.  

    1. Of or relating to the intellect.

    2. Rational rather than emotional.

    3. Having or showing intellect, especially to a high degree. See Synonyms at intelligent.

    4. Given to activities or pursuits that require exercise of the intellect.

  2. Appealing to or engaging the intellect: an intellectual book; an intellectual problem.

    1. Having or showing intellect, especially to a high degree. See Synonyms at intelligent.

    2. Given to activities or pursuits that require exercise of the intellect.

n.  An intellectual person.

[Middle English, from Old French intellectuel, from Late Latin intellēctuālis, from Latin intellēctus, intellect; see intellect.]
in'tel·lec'tu·al'i·ty (-āl'ĭ-tē) n., in'tel·lec'tu·al·ly adv., in'tel·lec'tu·al·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cultural Dictionary

intellectual

A person who engages in academic study or critical evaluation of ideas and issues. (See intelligentsia.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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