I. ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wəl, -chəl, -shwəl, -chü(-ə)l adjective
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : of or relating to the intellect or its use
b. : developed or chiefly guided by the intellect rather than by emotion or experience : rational
c. : requiring use of the intellect
intellectual games
2.
a. : given to study, reflection, and speculation
b. : engaged in activity requiring the creative use of the intellect
intellectual playwrights
• in·tel·lec·tu·al·i·ty -ˌlek-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē noun
• in·tel·lec·tu·al·ly -ˈlek-chə-wə-lē, -chə-lē, -shwə-lē, -chü(-ə)-lē adverb
• in·tel·lec·tu·al·ness -ˈlek-chə-wəl-nəs, -chəl-, -shwəl-, -chü(-ə)l- noun
II. noun
Date: 1615
1. plural , archaic : intellectual powers
2. : an intellectual person