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intelligent - 4 dictionary results

in⋅tel⋅li⋅gent

  [in-tel-i-juhnt]
Use intelligent in a Sentence
–adjective
1. having good understanding or a high mental capacity; quick to comprehend, as persons or animals: an intelligent student.
2. displaying or characterized by quickness of understanding, sound thought, or good judgment: an intelligent reply.
3. having the faculty of reasoning and understanding; possessing intelligence: intelligent beings in outer space.
4. Computers. pertaining to the ability to do data processing locally; smart: An intelligent terminal can edit input before transmission to a host computer. Compare dumb (def. 8).
5. Archaic. having understanding or knowledge (usually fol. by of).
Origin:
1500–10; < L intelligent- (s. of intelligēns, prp. of intelligere, var. of intellegere to understand, lit., choose between), equiv. to intel- (var. of inter- inter- ) + -lig- (comb. form of leg-, s. of legere to pick up, choose; cf. lection ) + -ent- -ent

Related forms:
in⋅tel⋅li⋅gent⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. bright. Intelligent, intellectual describe distinctive mental capacity. Intelligent often suggests a natural quickness of understanding: an intelligent reader. Intellectual implies not only having a high degree of understanding, but also a capacity and taste for the higher forms of knowledge: intellectual interests. 2. astute, clever, alert, bright, apt, discerning, shrewd, smart. See sharp.

Antonyms:
1, 2. stupid.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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in·tel·li·gent   (ĭn-těl'ə-jənt)   
adj.  
  1. Having intelligence.
  2. Having a high degree of intelligence; mentally acute.
  3. Showing sound judgment and rationality: an intelligent decision; an intelligent solution to the problem.
  4. Appealing to the intellect; intellectual: a film with witty and intelligent dialogue.
  5. Computer Science Having certain data storage and processing capabilities: an intelligent terminal; intelligent peripherals.

[Latin intelligēns, intelligent-, present participle of intellegere, intelligere, to perceive : inter-, inter- + legere, to choose; see leg- in Indo-European roots.]
in·tel'li·gen'tial (-jěn'shəl) adj., in·tel'li·gent·ly adv.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean having or showing mental keenness. Intelligent usually implies the ability to cope with new problems and to use the power of reasoning and inference effectively: The intelligent math students excelled in calculus.
Bright implies quickness or ease in learning: The bright child learned the alphabet quickly.
Brilliant suggests unusually impressive mental acuteness: "The dullard's envy of brilliant men is always assuaged by the suspicion that they will come to a bad end" (Max Beerbohm).
Knowing implies the possession of knowledge, information, or understanding: Knowing collectors bought all the auctioned paintings.
Quick-witted suggests mental alertness and prompt response: The quick-witted emergency medical staff averted a tragedy.
Smart refers to quick intelligence and often a ready capability for taking care of one's own interests: Smart lawyers can effectively manipulate juries.
Intellectual implies the capacity to grasp difficult or abstract concepts: The former professor was the more intellectual candidate.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Intelligent

In*tel"li*gent\, a. [L. intelligens, intellegens, -entis, p. pr. of intelligere, intellegere, to perceive; inter between + legere to gather, collect, choose: cf. F. intelligent. See Legend.]

1. Endowed with the faculty of understanding or reason; as, man is an intelligent being.

2. Possessed of intelligence, education, or judgment; knowing; sensible; skilled; marked by intelligence; as, an intelligent young man; an intelligent architect; an intelligent answer.

3. Gognizant; aware; communicate. [Obs.]

Intelligent of seasons. --Milton.

Which are to France the spies and speculations Intelligent of our state. --Shak.

Syn: Sensible; understanding. See Sensible.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : intelligent
Spanish: inteligenteinteligente,
German: intelligent,
Japanese: 聡明な
More Translations »

Main Entry: in·tel·li·gent
Function: adjective
: having or indicating a high or satisfactory degree of intelligence and mental capacity; especially : having or indicating an understanding of the nature and consequences of an act or decision intelligent waiver of counsel> —compare KNOWING
NOTE: Under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), a waiver of rights must be knowing and intelligent. —in·tel·li·gent·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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