intrinsic
- 01 C1 Advanced
adj.belonging to the real nature of a thing or person; not added from the outside.
adj.belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing; inherent and inseparable.
Simple“Flexibility is an intrinsic part of being a successful athlete.”
In context“The study argues that the desire for autonomy is intrinsic to human nature, regardless of cultural upbringing or economic status.”
UsageTypically used before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be'.
Antonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
adj.located entirely inside a specific organ or body part, like a muscle.
adj.situated entirely within or pertaining exclusively to a part, especially of a muscle or organ.
Simple“The intrinsic muscles of the hand allow for very fine movements.”
In context“The surgeon noted that the intrinsic nerves of the organ remained intact despite the surrounding trauma.”
Teacher's tipIn medical contexts, this is the direct opposite of 'extrinsic', which refers to parts that originate outside the structure they move.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a special function that is built directly into a computer's programming language.
n.a function whose implementation is handled specially by the compiler rather than being part of a standard library.
Simple“The programmer used a compiler intrinsic to make the math run faster.”
In context“By utilizing hardware intrinsics, the developer was able to optimize the video processing loop for specific CPU architectures.”
Synonymsbuilt in
“Search goods are products whose features can be evaluated before a purchase, while experience goods are products for which customers place greater value on functionality and intrinsic quality.”
“From then on, Scotland became an intrinsic part of the union, including the later evils of transatlantic slavery, a role that can sometimes go unacknowledged north of the border.”
From Middle French intrinsèque, from Latin intrīnsecus (“on the inside, inwardly”), from *intrim, an assumed adverbial form of inter (“within”) + secus (“by, on the side”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.