Sekirov Dictionary

intellectual

/ˌɪntəˈlɛkt͡ʃʊəl/

adjective 5
noun 2
forms 3
phrases 1

adjective5

•
Pertaining to, or performed by, the intellect; mental or cognitive.
- intellectual powers, activities, etc.
•
Suitable for exercising one's intellect; perceived by the intellect
- A good deal of nonsense is written about sport and entertainment. Many of us can, with pleasant ease, suspend a severely intellectual task for a few hours to witness a first-class football match. — 1916
•
Relating to the understanding; treating of the mind.
- intellectual philosophy, sometimes called "mental" philosophy
Endowed with intellect; having a keen sense of understanding; having the capacity for higher forms of knowledge or thought; characterized by intelligence or cleverness
•
(literary, no longer used) Spiritual.
- I deem not profitless those fleeting moods / Of shadowy exultation; not for this, / That they are kindred to our purer mind / And intellectual life […] — 1805

noun2

•
An intelligent, learned person, especially one who discourses about learned matters.
- ‘You know I hate intellectuals.’ ‘You mean you hate people who are cleverer than you are.’ ‘Yes. I suppose that’s why I like you so much, Tom.’ — 1991
•
(no longer used) The intellect or understanding; mental powers or faculties.
- […] although their intellectuals had not failed in the theory of truth, yet did the inservient and brutall faculties control the suggestion of reason […] — 1646

forms

intellectuals · more intellectual · most intellectual

Phrases with intellectual

public intellectual
A well-known, intelligent, learned person whose written works and other social and cultural contributions are recognized not only by academic audiences and readers, but also by many members of society in general.

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