Skip to content
Vinony

intensity

noun

  1. power transferred per unit area, where the area is measured on the plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the energy
L227617 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈtɛnsɪti/

noun

Etymology: From intense + -ity. Cf. also Medieval Latin intensitas.

  1. The quality of being intense.
  2. The degree of strength.

    “The painting’s dislocated, unformed features are the very opposite of the hard, painted dolls of the other portrait, and, where they are dead and ready to topple, this unknown man’s eyes are full of intensity and life.”

    “Fagus sylvatica (European beech) and Acer saccharum (sugar maple, from North America) are very tolerant of deep shade, while Betula spp. (birches) and Populus spp. (poplars) grow best under high light intensities.”

  3. Time-averaged energy flux (the ratio of average power to the area through which the power "flows"); irradiance.
  4. Any of radiant intensity, luminous intensity or irradiance.
  5. Synonym of radiance.
  6. The severity of an earthquake in terms of its effects on the earth's surface, and buildings. The value depends on the distance from the epicentre, and is not to be confused with the magnitude.