sense

plural senses · alternative sence

1. countableuncountableAny of the manners by which living beings perceive the physical world: for humans sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste.

   Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep.

   c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

   2 more examples

   What surmounts the reach / Of human sense I shall delineate.

   1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   Sight, hearing, and touch have been well explored, but the sense of smell has remained elusive, due in large measure to a lack of basic information.

   1987 October, Avery N. Gilbert and Charles J. Wysocki, “Results of the Smell Survey”, in National Geographic, volume 172, number 4, page 514

2. countableuncountablePerception through the intellect; apprehension; awareness.

   a sense of security

   4 more examples

   this Basilius, having the quick sense of a lover

   The New Arcadia

   a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC

   high disdain from sense of injured merit

   1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   The days have vanish’d, tone and tint, ⁠And yet perhaps the hoarding sense ⁠Gives out at times (he knows not whence) A little flash, a mystic hint; […]

   1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XLIII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 66

   Where a college administration does not come forward and say that gay people have a right to be here, there is a sense among students that it is acceptable to harass and intimidate lesbian and gay members of that community.

   1990 December 16, Laura Briggs, quoting Robert Weinerman, “Gay Students Fight 'Little War' At Mass. School”, in Gay Community News, volume 18, number 22, page 15

3. countableuncountableSound practical or moral judgment.

   It’s common sense not to put metal objects in a microwave oven.

   1 more example

   some People so Harden'd in Wickedness, as to have No Sense at all of the most Friendly Offices, or the Highest Benefits.

   1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC

4. countableuncountableThe meaning, reason, or value of something.

   You don’t make any sense.

   2 more examples

   That just don't make a licka sense to me.

   I think ’twas in another sense.

   c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

   1. countableuncountableA meaning of a term (word or expression), among its various meanings.

      the various senses of the word “car” (e.g., motor car, elevator car, railcar)

      1 more example

      In this sense it was possible to speak of 'scientific' of 'Marxist' ideology, which Marx and Engels, given their use of the term, could never have done.

      1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume I: The Founders, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: powstanie (in Polish), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 154

   2. countableuncountablehuman sciencesA single conventional use of a word; one of the entries or definitions for a word in a dictionary.
5. countableuncountableA natural appreciation or ability.

   A keen musical sense

6. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe way that a referent is presented.
7. countableuncountablemathematicsOne of two opposite directions in which a vector (especially of motion) may point. See also polarity.
8. countableuncountablemathematicsOne of two opposite directions of rotation, clockwise versus anti-clockwise.
9. countableuncountablebiochemistryreferring to the strand of a nucleic acid that directly specifies the product.

present singular third person senses · participle present sensing · participle past sensed · past sensed · alternative sence

1. To use biological senses: to either see, hear, smell, taste, or feel.
2. To instinctively be aware.

   She immediately sensed her disdain.

3. To comprehend.