sense

1 /sens/ noun JUDGMENT/UNDERSTANDING

1 (U) good understanding and judgment, especially about practical things: have the sense to do sth: You should have had the sense to turn off the electricity before touching the wires.

—see also: common sense

2 there is no sense in (doing) sth spoken used to say that it is not sensible to do something: There's no sense in getting upset about it now.

3 talk sense spoken to say things that are reasonable or sensible: talk sense! (=used when you are annoyed with someone for saying something silly): Oh talk sense, Stuart, we couldn't possibly go without the car.

4 talk/knock some sense into sb to try to persuade someone to stop behaving in a way that you think is silly: He says he's dropping out of school - will you try and talk some sense into him?

5 see sense to realize that you are being silly and unreasonable: I hope Jack sees sense before it's too late.

6 bring sb to their senses to make someone think or behave in a reasonable and sensible way: I hope she fails. That'll bring her to her senses.

7 come to your senses to realize that what you are doing is not sensible: One day he'll come to his senses and see what a fool he's been.

A FEELING

8 (C) a feeling about something

(+ of): The whole affair left me with a sense of complete helplessness. | A new sense of urgency had entered into their negotiations. | have the sense that: I don't know why, but I had the sense that he was lying. MAKE SENSE

9 make sense

a) to have a clear meaning that is easy to understand: Read this and tell me if it makes sense.

b) to have a good reason or explanation: It just doesn't make sense - why would she do a thing like that?

c) to be a sensible thing to do: It makes sense to save money while you can.

10 make sense of sth to understand something, especially something difficult or complicated: Can you make any sense of this article at all?

SEE/SMELL/TOUCH ETC

11 (C) one of the five natural powers of sight, hearing, feeling, taste, and smell, that give us information about the things around us: sense of smell/taste/touch etc: a poor sense of smell. | the five senses (=all of the senses) | the senses (=several or all of the five senses): combinations of flavors, textures, and color to delight the senses

—see also: sixth sense SKILL/ABILITY

12 (singular) a natural ability to judge something: sense of direction/rhythm/timing etc: I'll probably get lost - I haven't got a very good sense of direction. | dress/clothes sense: He has no dress sense at all. (=does not know what clothes look good)

MEANING

13 (C) the meaning of a word, phrase, sentence etc: I'm using the word `family' in its broadest sense. | In this dictionary the different senses of a word are marked by numbers. | in every sense of the word (=using all possible meanings of this word): He's a gentleman in every sense of the word.

14 the sense of sth the basic meaning of something

CRAZY

15 take leave of your senses to start to behave in an unreasonable or silly way: You're challenging him to a fight? Have you taken leave of your senses?

16 be out of your senses to behave in a way that other people think is unreasonable and possibly risky

OTHER MEANINGS

17 sense of humour BrE, sense of humor AmE the ability to understand or enjoy things that are funny, or to make people laugh: I like Michelle - she's got a really good sense of humour.

18 in no sense used to emphasize that something is definitely not true: In no sense does this excuse their actions.

19 in a very real sense used to emphasize the fact that something is definitely true: In a very real sense, we can say that education is the most vital of all resources.

20 sense of occasion a feeling or understanding that an event or occasion is very serious or important

21 in a sense/in one sense/in some senses etc in one particular way, but without considering all the other facts or possibilities: In some senses this may be true, but it's not really relevant. | In a sense, I think he likes being responsible for everything.

22 regain your senses old-fashioned to stop feeling faint 1 (3) or unwell: Out in the fresh air, she quickly regained her senses.

2 verb (T)

1 if you sense something, you feel that it exists or is true, without being told or having proof: The horse sensed danger and stopped. | I could sense her growing irritation. | sense (that): I sensed that there was someone in the room with me. | sense what/how/who etc: Hugo had already sensed how unhappy she was.

2 if a machine senses something, it discovers and records it: an electronic device used for sensing intruders