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The quality or state of being tense, or strained to stiffness; tension; tenseness.

The state or quality of being intense; intenseness; extreme degree; as, intensity of heat, cold, mental application, passion, etc. If you would deepen the intensity of light, you must be content to bring into deeper blackness and more distinct and definite outline the shade that accompanies it. F. W. Robertson.…

Pertaining to the measurement of the intensity of the solar rays, either (a) heating, or (b) actinic.

The process of weakening in intensity; diminution of virulence; as, the attenuation of virus.

To sound with more or less rapid alternations of greater and less intensity, so as to produce a pulsating effect; -- said of instruments, tones, or vibrations, not perfectly in unison. A beating wind (Naut.), a wind which necessitates tacking in order to make progress. -- To beat about, to try to find; to search by va…

's disease are now recognized, differing in the part of the kidney involved, and in the intensity and course of the morbid process.

laced in contact with the chest, will register graphically the comparative duration and intensity of the heart's movements.

colorless ground substance saturated with chlorophyll pigments. Under light of varying intensity they exhibit phototactic movements. In animals chloroplasts occur only in certain low forms.

Equal in intensity or degree; as, the relations between 6 and 12, and 8 and 16, are cointense. H. Spencer.

The condition of being of equal in intensity; -- applied to relations; as, 3 : 6 and 6 : 12 are relations of cointension. Cointension . . . is chosen indicate the equality of relations in respect of the contrast between their terms. H. Spencer.

Wanting in ardor, intensity, warmth, zeal, or passion; spiritless; unconcerned; reserved. A cold and unconcerned spectator. T. Burnet. No cold relation is a zealous citizen. Burke.

Profoundness; extent or degree of intensity; abundance; completeness; as, depth of knowledge, or color. Mindful of that heavenly love Which knows no end in depth or height. Keble.

An instrument for measuring the intensity of the photogenic (light-producing) rays, and computing the power of object glasses.

An instrument for measuring the quantity or intensity of electricity; also, sometimes, and less properly, applied to an instrument which indicates the presence of electricity (usually called an electroscope). Balance electrometer. See under Balance.

Uniform in action or intensity; not variable or changing; -- said of the feelings or temper.

ude, the same value, the same degree, etc.; -- applied to number, degree, quantity, and intensity, and to any subject which admits of them; neither inferior nor superior, greater nor less, better nor worse; corresponding; alike; as, equal quantities of land, water, etc. ; houses of equal size; persons of equal stature…

Intensity of feeling or expression; glowing ardor; passion; holy zeal; earnestness. Hooker. Winged with fervor of her love. Shak.

To be inflamed; to grow virulent, or malignant; to grow in intensity; to rankle.

A suffusion of the face with blood, as from fear, shame, modesty, or intensity of feeling of any kind; a blush; a glow. The flush of angered shame. Tennyson.

An instrument or apparatus for measuring the intensity of an electric current, usually by the deflection of a magnetic needle. Differential galvanometer. See under Differental, a. -- Sine galvanometer, Cosine galvanometer, Tangent galvanometer (Elec.), a galvanometer in which the sine, cosine, or tangent respectively,…