Intrinsic

Etymology

French intrinsèque internal, from Late Latin intrinsecus, from Latin, adverb, inwardly; akin to Latin intra within — more at intra-

• Date: 1635

Definitions

• 1 a : belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing <the intrinsic worth of a gem> <the intrinsic brightness of a star>

b : being or relating to a semiconductor in which the concentration of charge carriers is characteristic of the material itself instead of the content of any impurities it contains

• 2 a : originating or due to causes within a body, organ, or part <an intrinsic metabolic disease>

b : originating and included wholly within an organ or part <intrinsic muscles> — compare extrinsic

— in·trin·si·cal·ly \-zi-k(ə-)lē, -si-\ adverb