/ ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
[ usually before noun ] connected with or using a person's ability to think in a logical way and understand things
SYN mental :
intellectual curiosity
an intellectual novel
2.
( of a person ) well educated and enjoying activities in which you have to think seriously about things :
She's very intellectual.
► in·tel·lec·tual·ism / ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəlɪzəm; NAmE / noun [ U ] (usually disapproving )
► in·tel·lec·tu·al·ly adverb :
intellectually challenging
■ noun
a person who is well educated and enjoys activities in which they have to think seriously about things
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin intellectualis , from intellectus understanding, from intellegere understand, from inter between + legere choose.