Reading Theme:
Intensive: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：demanding and concentrated (intensive)
intensive
/ɪnˈtensɪv/
adj.
involving a lot of effort, activity, or detail in a short time.
demanding and concentrated
➕
/dɪˈmændɪŋ ænd ˈkɒnsəntreɪtɪd/
adj.
Describes something that involves a very high level of effort, activity, or detailed work compressed into a relatively short period of time.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'intendere' (to stretch, direct), via 'intensus' (stretched tight, earnest).
💡 Mnemonic
Think of IN-TENSE-IVE: an INcredibly TENSE and focused actIVEity demands intense effort.
📖 Example
She took a one-month intensive IELTS preparation course that lasted eight hours every day.
She enrolled in a demanding, short-duration IELTS course that required eight hours of study daily.
🔗 Collocations
intensive care – hospital treatment with constant monitoring for critically ill patients
intensive training – a rigorous and focused period of instruction
intensive study – a period of highly concentrated academic work
🔄 Synonyms
demanding (adj.) – requiring a lot of skill, effort, or time
concentrated (adj.) – wholly directed to one thing; intense
rigorous (adj.) – extremely thorough and careful
🚫 Antonyms
extensive (adj.) – covering a large area or scope; not intensive
superficial (adj.) – existing or occurring at the surface level, not deep or intensive
casual (adj.) – done without much care or thought; not intensive
🌱 Derivatives
intensively (adv.) – in an intensive manner
📖 Cultural Story
The word 'intensive' has its roots in the Latin 'intensus', meaning 'stretched tight' or 'earnest'. In modern usage, it describes the focused application of effort or resources, reflecting its original sense of high tension or concentration.
Meaning 2：highly concentrated (intensive)
intensive
/ɪnˈtensɪv/
adj.
involving a lot of work, care, or resources in a small area to achieve high results, often in farming.
highly concentrated
➕
/ˈhaɪli ˈkɒnsəntreɪtɪd/
adj.
Describes a method, especially in agriculture, that uses large amounts of inputs like labor, capital, or resources on a small area of land to achieve maximum output.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The small family farm uses intensive gardening techniques to grow a large variety of organic vegetables.
The farm employs highly concentrated gardening methods to produce many different organic crops in a limited space.
🔗 Collocations
intensive agriculture – farming that aims for high output per unit of land
intensive farming – an agricultural system using high inputs of labor or capital
intensive cultivation – the careful and frequent working of land to grow crops
🔄 Synonyms
highly concentrated (adj. phrase) – focused on a small area with great intensity
productive (adj.) – achieving a significant amount of output
efficient (adj.) – achieving maximum productivity with minimum waste
🚫 Antonyms
extensive (adj.) – using large areas of land with relatively low inputs per unit area
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