Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
intrinsic - 8 dictionary results

in⋅trin⋅sic

  [in-trin-sik, -zik]
Use intrinsic in a Sentence
–adjective
1. belonging to a thing by its very nature: the intrinsic value of a gold ring.
2. Anatomy. (of certain muscles, nerves, etc.) belonging to or lying within a given part.
Also, in⋅trin⋅si⋅cal.

Origin:
1480–90; < ML intrinsecus inward (adj.), L (adv.), equiv. to intrin- (int(e)r-, as in interior + -im adv. suffix) + secus beside, deriv. of sequī to follow

Related forms:
in⋅trin⋅si⋅cal⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. native, innate, natural, true, real. See essential.

Antonyms:
1. extrinsic.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To intrinsic
in·trin·sic   (ĭn-trĭn'zĭk, -sĭk)   
adj.  
  1. Of or relating to the essential nature of a thing; inherent.
  2. Anatomy Situated within or belonging solely to the organ or body part on which it acts. Used of certain nerves and muscles.

[Middle English intrinsique, inner, from Old French intrinseque, from Late Latin intrīnsecus, inward, from Latin, inwardly; see en in Indo-European roots.]
in·trin'si·cal·ly adv.
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

Intrinsic

In*trin"sic\ ([i^]n*tr[i^]n"s[i^]k), a. [L. intrinsecus inward, on the inside; intra within + secus otherwise, beside; akin to E. second: cf. F. intrins[`e]que. See Inter-, Second, and cf. Extrinsic.]

1. Inward; internal; hence, true; genuine; real; essential; inherent; not merely apparent or accidental; -- opposed to extrinsic; as, the intrinsic value of gold or silver; the intrinsic merit of an action; the intrinsic worth or goodness of a person.

He was better qualified than they to estimate justly the intrinsic value of Grecian philosophy and refinement. --I. Taylor.

2. (Anat.) Included wholly within an organ or limb, as certain groups of muscles; -- opposed to extrinsic.

Intrinsic energy of a body (Physics), the work it can do in virtue of its actual condition, without any supply of energy from without.

Intrinsic equation of a curve (Geom.), the equation which expresses the relation which the length of a curve, measured from a given point of it, to a movable point, has to the angle which the tangent to the curve at the movable point makes with a fixed line.

Intrinsic value. See the Note under Value, n.

Syn: Inherent; innate; natural; real; genuine.

Intrinsic

In*trin"sic\, n. A genuine quality. [Obs.] --Warburton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source

intrinsic 
1490, "interior, inward, internal," from M.Fr. intrinsèque (13c.) "inner," from M.L. intrinsecus "interior, internal," from L. intrinsecus (adv.) "inwardly, on the inside," from intra "within" + secus "alongside," originally "following" (related to sequi "to follow"). Meaning "belonging to the nature of a thing" is from 1642.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

Main Entry: in·trin·sic
Pronunciation: in-'trin-zik, -sik
Function: adjective
: belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

Main Entry: in·trin·sic
Pronunciation: in-'trin-zik, -'trin(t)-sik
Function: adjective
1 : originating or due to causes or factorswithin a body, organ, or part <intrinsic asthma>
2 : originating and included wholly within an organ or part —used especially of certain muscles intrinsic muscle of the larynx> —compare EXTRINSIC 2
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

intrinsic in·trin·sic (ĭn-trĭn'zĭk, -sĭk)
adj.

  1. Of or relating to the essential nature of a thing.
  2. Situated within or belonging solely to the organ or body part on which it acts. Used of certain nerves and muscles.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see intrinsic on Thesaurus | Reference