1. Having intelligence. 2. Having a high degree of intelligence; mentally acute. 3. Showing sound judgment and rationality: an intelligent decision; an intelligent solution to the problem.4. Appealing to the intellect; intellectual: a film with witty and intelligent dialogue.5.Computer Science Having certain data storage and processing capabilities: an intelligent terminal; intelligent peripherals.
ETYMOLOGY:
Latin intelligns, intelligent-, present participle of intellegere, intelligere, to perceive : inter-, inter- + legere, to choose; see leg- in Appendix I.
intelligent, bright, brilliant, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual These adjectives mean having or showing mental keenness. Intelligent usually implies the ability to cope with new problems and to use the power of reasoning and inference effectively: The intelligent math students excelled in calculus.Bright implies quickness or ease in learning: The bright child learned the alphabet quickly.Brilliant suggests unusually impressive mental acuteness: “The dullard's envy of brilliant men is always assuaged by the suspicion that they will come to a bad end” (Max Beerbohm). Knowing implies the possession of knowledge, information, or understanding: Knowing collectors bought all the auctioned paintings.Quick-witted suggests mental alertness and prompt response: The quick-witted emergency medical staff averted a tragedy.Smart refers to quick intelligence and often a ready capability for taking care of one's own interests: Smart lawyers can effectively manipulate juries.Intellectual implies the capacity to grasp difficult or abstract concepts: Dinner at the philosopher's house was noted for its intellectual conversations.
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ns, intelligent-, present participle of intellegere, intelligere, to perceive : inter-, inter- + legere, to choose; see leg- in Appendix I.
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