In*ten"si*ty (?), n. [LL.
intensitas: cf. F. intensité. See
Intense.]
1. 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.
2. (Physics) The amount or degree of
energy with which a force operates or a cause acts; effectiveness, as
estimated by results produced.
3. (Mech.) The magnitude of a
distributed force, as pressure, stress, weight, etc., per unit of
surface, or of volume, as the case may be; as, the measure of the
intensity of a total stress of forty pounds which is
distributed uniformly over a surface of four square inches area is
ten pounds per square inch.
4. (Photog.) The degree or depth of
shade in a picture.
