n.
Pronunciation: sen- ' s ā -sh ə n, s ə n-
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin sensation-, sensatio, from Late Latin, understanding, idea, from Latin sensus
Date: 1615
1 a : a mental process (as seeing, hearing, or smelling) resulting from the immediate external stimulation of a sense organ often as distinguished from a conscious awareness of the sensory process ― compare PERCEPTION b : awareness (as of heat or pain) due to stimulation of a sense organ c : a state of consciousness due to internal bodily changes <a sensation of hunger> d : an indefinite bodily feeling <a sensation of buoyancy>
2 : something (as a physical stimulus, sense-datum, or afterimage) that causes or is the object of sensation
3 a : a state of excited interest or feeling <their elopement caused a sensation > b : a cause of such excitement <the show was the musical sensation of the season> especially : one (as a person) in some respect exceptional or outstanding <the rookie hitting sensation of the American League>