intelligence

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in·tel·li·gence

(ĭn-tĕl′ə-jəns)

1. The ability to acquire, understand, and use knowledge: a person of extraordinary intelligence.

a. Information, especially secret information gathered about an actual or potential enemy or adversary.

b. The gathering of such information: "Corporate intelligence relies on a slew of tools, some sophisticated, many quite basic" (Neil King and Jess Bravin).

c. An agency or organization whose purpose is to gather such information: an officer from military intelligence.

3. An intelligent, incorporeal being, especially an angel.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

intelligence

(ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns)

1. (Psychology) the capacity for understanding; ability to perceive and comprehend meaning

2. good mental capacity: a person of intelligence.

3. old-fashioned news; information

4. (Military) military information about enemies, spies, etc

5. (Military) a group or department that gathers or deals with such information

6. (often capital) an intelligent being, esp one that is not embodied

7. (Military) (modifier) of or relating to intelligence: an intelligence network.

[C14: from Latin intellegentia, from intellegere to discern, comprehend, literally: choose between, from inter- + legere to choose]

inˌtelliˈgential adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

in•tel•li•gence

(ɪnˈtɛl ɪ dʒəns)

n.

1. capacity for learning, reasoning, and understanding; aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc.

2. mental alertness or quickness of understanding.

3. manifestation of a high mental capacity.

4. the faculty or act of understanding.

5. information received or imparted; news.

a. secret information, esp. about an enemy or potential enemy.

b. the gathering or distribution of such information.

c. the evaluated conclusions drawn from such information.

d. an organization engaged in gathering such information: military intelligence.

7. (often cap.) an intelligent being or spirit, esp. an incorporeal one.

[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin]

intelligence

1. The product resulting from the collection, processing, integration, analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of available information concerning foreign countries or areas.
2. Information and knowledge about an adversary obtained through observation, investigation, analysis, or understanding. See also acoustic intelligence; all-source intelligence; basic intelligence; civil defense intelligence; combat intelligence; communications intelligence; critical intelligence; current intelligence; departmental intelligence; domestic intelligence; electronic intelligence; electro-optical intelligence; foreign intelligence; foreign instrumentation signals intelligence; general military intelligence; human resources intelligence; imagery intelligence; joint intelligence; laser intelligence; measurement and signature intelligence; medical intelligence; merchant intelligence; military intelligence; national intelligence; nuclear intelligence; open-source intelligence; operational intelligence; photographic intelligence; political intelligence; radar intelligence; radiation intelligence; scientific and technical intelligence; security intelligence; strategic intelligence; tactical intelligence; target intelligence; technical intelligence; technical operational intelligence; terrain intelligence; unintentional radiation intelligence.

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.

Intelligence

See Also: MIND

Brain like Einstein —H. E. Bates
Compared with the short span of time they live, men of great intellect are like huge buildings standing on a small plot of ground —Arthur Schopenhauer
A country without intellectuals is like a body without a head —Ayn Rand
(I have) a head on my shoulders that’s like a child’s windmill, and I can’t prevent its making foolish words —D. H. Lawrence
Intellect is to emotion as our clothes are to our bodies: we could not very well have civilized life without clothes, but we would be in a poor way if we had only clothes without bodies —Alfred North Whitehead
Intelligence is like money … if you don’t let on how little you’ve got, people will treat you as though you have a lot —Anon
A man of active and resilient mind outwears his friendships just as certainly as he outwears his love affairs, his politics and his epistemology —H. L. Mencken
One good head is as good as a hundred strong hands —Thomas Fuller
In Fuller’s collection of aphorisms it’s “Better than a hundred strong heads” but common usage has made “As good as” and “Like as” popular.
Smart as a whip —Anon
A simile very much in the mainstream of every day usage.
Smart as forty crickets —American colloquialism, attributed to the South
Smart … like an idiot savant, smart enough to be dumb when he needed to —Lynne Sharon Schwartz

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	intelligence - the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience ability, power - possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done; "danger heightened his powers of discrimination" brainpower, learning ability, mental capacity, mentality, wit, brain - mental ability; "he's got plenty of brains but no common sense" breadth, largeness, comprehensiveness - the capacity to understand a broad range of topics; "a teacher must have a breadth of knowledge of the subject"; "a man distinguished by the largeness and scope of his views" intellect, mind - knowledge and intellectual ability; "he reads to improve his mind"; "he has a keen intellect" nonverbal intelligence - intelligence that is manifested in the performance of tasks requiring little or no use of language verbal intelligence - intelligence in the use and comprehension of language mental quickness, quick-wittedness, quickness - intelligence as revealed by an ability to give correct responses without delay mental dexterity, nimbleness - intelligence as revealed by quickness and alertness of mind; "nimbleness of wit and imagination" genius, brilliance - unusual mental ability precociousness, precocity - intelligence achieved far ahead of normal developmental schedules keenness, sharpness, acuity, acuteness - a quick and penetrating intelligence; "he argued with great acuteness"; "I admired the keenness of his mind" brightness, cleverness, smartness - intelligence as manifested in being quick and witty astuteness, perspicaciousness, perspicacity, shrewdness - intelligence manifested by being astute (as in business dealings) wits, marbles - the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception; "he used his wits to get ahead"; "I was scared out of my wits"; "he still had all his marbles and was in full possession of a lively mind" stupidity - a poor ability to understand or to profit from experience
	2.	intelligence - a unit responsible for gathering and interpreting information about an enemy intelligence agency, intelligence service administrative body, administrative unit - a unit with administrative responsibilities military intelligence, military intelligence agency - an agency of the armed forces that obtains and analyzes and uses information of strategic or tactical military value United States intelligence agency - an intelligence service in the United States IC, Intelligence Community, National Intelligence Community, United States Intelligence Community - a group of government agencies and organizations that carry out intelligence activities for the United States government; headed by the Director of Central Intelligence international intelligence agency - an intelligence agency outside the United States
	3.	intelligence - secret information about an enemy (or potential enemy); "we sent out planes to gather intelligence on their radar coverage" intelligence information info, information - a message received and understood military intelligence - information about the armed forces of another country that is useful in planning and conducting military policy or military operations
	4.	intelligence - information about recent and important events; "they awaited news of the outcome" news, tidings, word info, information - a message received and understood good word - good news latest - the most recent news or development; "have you heard the latest?" update - news that updates your information
	5.	intelligence - the operation of gathering information about an enemy intelligence activity, intelligence operation undercover work, spying - the act of keeping a secret watch for intelligence purposes information gathering - the act of collecting information current intelligence - intelligence of all types and forms of immediate interest; usually disseminated without delays for evaluation or interpretation combat intelligence, tactical intelligence - intelligence that is required for the planning and conduct of tactical operations strategic intelligence - intelligence that is required for forming policy and military plans at national and international levels SIGINT, signals intelligence - intelligence information gathered from communications intelligence or electronics intelligence or telemetry intelligence clandestine operation - an intelligence operation so planned and executed as to insure concealment overt operation - the collection of intelligence openly without concealment reconnaissance, reconnaissance mission - the act of reconnoitring (especially to gain information about an enemy or potential enemy); "an exchange of fire occurred on a reconnaissance mission" counterintelligence - intelligence activities concerned with identifying and counteracting the threat to security posed by hostile intelligence organizations or by individuals engaged in espionage or sabotage or subversion or terrorism

intelligence

noun

1. intellect, understanding, brains (informal), mind, reason, sense, knowledge, capacity, smarts (slang, chiefly U.S.), judgment, wit, perception, awareness, insight, penetration, comprehension, brightness, aptitude, acumen, nous (Brit. slang), alertness, cleverness, quickness, discernment, grey matter (informal), brain power She's a woman of exceptional intelligence.
intellect understanding, ignorance, stupidity, dullness

2. information, news, facts, report, findings, word, notice, advice, knowledge, data, disclosure, gen (Brit. informal), tip-off, low-down (informal), notification a senior officer involved in gathering intelligence
information misinformation, concealment

3. espionage, spying, surveillance, information gathering, counter-intelligence, undercover work Why was military intelligence so lacking?

Quotations
"Intelligence is characterised by a natural incomprehension of life" [Henri Bergson L'Évolution Créatrice]
"Intelligence in chains loses in lucidity what it gains in intensity" [Albert Camus The Rebel]
"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function" [F. Scott Fitzgerald The Crack-Up]
"Intelligence is quickness in seeing things as they are" [George Santayana The Life of Reason: Reason in Common Sense]
"Intelligence ... is really a kind of taste: taste in ideas" [Susan Sontag Notes on Camp]

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

intelligence

noun

1. The faculty of thinking, reasoning, and acquiring and applying knowledge:

brain (often used in plural), brainpower, intellect, mentality, mind, sense, understanding, wit.

Slang: smart (used in plural).

2. That which is known about a specific subject or situation:

data, fact (used in plural), information, knowledge, lore.

3. New information, especially about recent events and happenings:

advice (often used in plural), news, tiding (often used in plural), word.

Informal: scoop.

Translations

إسْتِخْباراتدائِرَة الإسْتِخْباراتذَكاءذَكَاءٌ

inteligenceinteligencijazpravodajská službainformace

intelligensbegavelseefterretningefterretningerefterretningstjeneste

Intelligenz Nachricht Nachrichtendienst

ευφυΐα νοημοσύνη

inteligencia servicio de inteligencia información

arukusharitlaneluureluureandmed

هوش

älykkyyssotilastiedusteluäly

intelligence renseignement renseignements service de renseignements

inteligencijaobavještajna služba

hírszerzésintelligenciatitkosszolgálatértesülés

greind, gáfurleyniòjónustaupplÿsingar

intelligenza intellighenzia notizie perspicacia acutezza

知能

정보지성

nuntius

intelligentie wezen inlichting inlichtingendienst

intelligens etterretning etterretningstjeneste

inteligencja wywiad

inteligência

интеллект интеллигенция разведданные разведка

spravodajská služba

inteligencaobveščevalna službabistroumnost

intelligens

สติปัญญา

akıl gizli servis istihbarat zeka zekâ

trí thông minh

智力情报情报机构

intelligence

[ɪnˈtelɪdʒəns]

A. N

1. (= cleverness) → inteligencia f

2. (= information) → información f, inteligencia f
according to our latest intelligence → según las últimas noticias

B. CPD intelligence agent N → agente mf de inteligencia, agente mf secreto
Intelligence Corps N (Brit) (Mil) → Cuerpo m de Informaciones
intelligence officer N → oficial mf de informaciones
intelligence quotient (IQ) N → cociente m intelectual or de inteligencia
intelligence service N → servicio m de información or inteligencia
intelligence test N → test m de inteligencia
intelligence work N → trabajo m de inteligencia

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

intelligence

[ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒ^əns]

(= intellect) → intelligence f
a person of average intelligence → une personne d'intelligence moyenne

(MILITARY, POLITICS) (= service, organization) → services mpl de renseignement
She works for U.S. Military Intelligence → Elle travaille pour les services de renseignement militaire américains., Elle travaille pour le renseignement militaire américain.

(MILITARY, POLITICS) (= information gathered) → renseignement m
Why was military intelligence so lacking? → Pourquoi le renseignement militaire a-t-il été si déficient?

modif (MILITARY, POLITICS) [report] → des services de renseignement
Western intelligence sources say that → Des sources émanant des services de renseignement occidentaux disent que ...intelligence agency n → agence f de renseignementintelligence agent n → agent m de renseignement, agent m de renseignementsintelligence gathering

n → collecte f du renseignement

modif [operation] → de collecte du renseignement; [agency] → de collecte du renseignementIntelligence officer n (British) → officier m de renseignementintelligence quotient n → quotient m intellectuelIntelligence Service n → services mpl de renseignement, services mpl de renseignementsintelligence test n → test m d'intelligence

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

intelligence

→ Intelligenz f; a man of little intelligence → ein Mensch von geringer Intelligenz; if he hasn’t got the intelligence to wear a coat → wenn er nicht gescheit genug ist, einen Mantel anzuziehen

(= news, information) → Informationen pl; according to our latest intelligence → unseren letzten Meldungen or Informationen zufolge

(Mil etc) → Geheim- or Nachrichtendienst m

intelligence

intelligence corps

n (Mil) → Geheim- or Nachrichtendienst m

intelligence officer

n (Mil) → Nachrichtenoffizier(in) m(f)

intelligence quotient

n → Intelligenzquotient m

intelligence service

n (Pol) → Geheim- or Nachrichtendienst m

intelligence test

n → Intelligenztest m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

intelligence

[ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns] n (cleverness) → intelligenza; (information) → informazioni fpl

intelligent

(inˈtelidʒənt) adjective

(negative unintelligent).

1. clever and quick at understanding. an intelligent child; That dog is so intelligent.

2. showing these qualities. an intelligent question.

inˈtelligently adverb

inˈtelligence noun

1. the quality of being intelligent. It requires a high degree of intelligence to do this job well.

2. news or information given.

3. a department of state or of the army etc which deals with secret information. He works in Intelligence.

intelligence

→ ذَكَاءٌ inteligence intelligens Intelligenz ευφυΐα inteligencia älykkyys intelligence inteligencija intelligenza 知能 지성 intelligentie intelligens inteligencja inteligência интеллект intelligens สติปัญญา zeka trí thông minh 智力

in·tel·li·gence

n. inteligencia.

intelligence

n inteligencia; — quotient (IQ) coeficiente m or cociente m intelectual (CI)

References in classic literature ?

Now, with us, reason and intelligence are the end of nature; our production, therefore, and our manners ought to be accommodated to both these.

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The fashionable intelligence says so for the comfort of the Parisians, and it knows all fashionable things.

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It was the cry of the prophet who already hears emancipated humanity roaring and swarming; who beholds in the future, intelligence sapping faith, opinion dethroning belief, the world shaking off Rome.

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For an instant he seemed to see this unnatural contest between a dead intelligence and a breathing mechanism only as a spectator--such fancies are in dreams; then he regained his identity almost as if by a leap forward into his body, and the straining automaton had a directing will as alert and fierce as that of its hideous antagonist.

View in context

Nature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are useless.

View in context

"I came to the conclusion that I was a fool, lower in the scale of intelligence than even the police of the modern romancer.

View in context

The practical effects of these two views are diametrically opposite: the first leads us to level up animal intelligence with what we believe ourselves to know about our own intelligence, while the second leads us to attempt a levelling down of our own intelligence to something not too remote from what we can observe in animals.

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Often I turn with melancholy eagerness to the space reserved in the newspapers under the general heading of "Shipping Intelligence." I meet there the names of ships I have known.

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As soon as day dawned he hastened to his own camp with the welcome intelligence; and about ten o'clock of the same morning, Captain Bonneville's party were in the midst of the game.

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The Man contended that he and his fellows were stronger than lions by reason of their greater intelligence. "Come now with me," he cried, "and I will soon prove that I am right." So he took him into the public gardens and showed him a statue of Hercules overcoming the Lion and tearing his mouth in two.

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Harriet bore the intelligence very wellblaming nobody and in every thing testifying such an ingenuousness of disposition and lowly opinion of herself, as must appear with particular advantage at that moment to her friend.

View in context

But a wise ordinance of Nature has decreed that, in proportion as the working-classes increase in intelligence, knowledge, and all virtue, in that same proportion their acute angle (which makes them physically terrible) shall increase also and approximate to the comparatively harmless angle of the Equilateral Triangle.

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