sensuous

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈsɛnʃuəs/ UK /ˈsɛnʃuəs/ See IPA manual

Freq #35258

Meanings

1

adj
giving pleasure to or strongly appealing to the physical senses

The film is filled with sensuous images of silk, fruit, and candlelight.
2

adj
relating to perception through the senses rather than to abstract thought

The philosopher contrasted sensuous experience with pure reasoning.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · giving pleasure to or... sensory rich lush

2 adj · relating to perception... sensory perceptual

Opposites

abstract intellectual insensate

Word family

Derived forms sensuouslysensuousness

Related forms sense sensible sensual

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

sensuous joy
pleasure arising from the enjoyment of beautiful sights, sounds, or other sensations

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Latin sensus, "sense, perception," + -ous. John Milton introduced sensuous in the seventeenth century to distinguish what pertains to the senses from sensual, which had acquired stronger associations with appetite and sexual pleasure. The two words can still overlap in modern use.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# sensuous

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɛnʃuəs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɛnʃuəs/
**Frequency rank:** 35258

## Meanings
1. giving pleasure to or strongly appealing to the physical senses
2. relating to perception through the senses rather than to abstract thought

## Examples
- The film is filled with sensuous images of silk, fruit, and candlelight.
- The philosopher contrasted sensuous experience with pure reasoning.

## Synonyms
- sensory
- perceptual
- lush

## Antonyms
- abstract
- intellectual
- insensate

## Derived Forms
- sensuously
- sensuousness

## Related Forms
- sense
- sensible
- sensual

## Etymology
From Latin sensus, "sense, perception," + -ous. John Milton introduced sensuous in the seventeenth century to distinguish what pertains to the senses from sensual, which had acquired stronger associations with appetite and sexual pleasure. The two words can still overlap in modern use.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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