1 a [count] : one of the five natural powers (touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing) through which you receive information about the world around you
▪ All of my senses were on the alert for danger. — often + of ▪ The dog lost his sense of smell. ▪ an acute/poor sense of hearing — see also sixth sense
b [singular] : a physical feeling : something that your body experiences — usually + of ▪ a sense of fatigue/hunger ▪ Ear problems can sometimes affect a person's sense of balance. 2 a [singular] : a particular feeling : an emotion that you are aware of
▪ We had a sense that something wasn't quite right. — usually + of ▪ Once the speech was over, he was filled with a tremendous sense of relief. ▪ a sense of loss/urgency/pride ▪ a sense of well-being ▪ Their sense of accomplishment was obvious. ▪ We felt a growing sense of danger. ▪ The gun gave him a false sense of security. [=made him feel safer than he really was] ▪ She has a strong sense of self. [=she has strong ideas about who she is]
b [count] : a personal quality : a specific quality that is part of your personality — usually singular — + of ▪ He had a great sense of adventure. [=he liked adventure very much] ▪ a sense of order/duty ▪ She lacked any sense of responsibility about financial matters. ▪ He had no sense of purpose [=he did not know what he wanted to do with his life] after his divorce. ▪ She has a great sense of humor. [=she says funny things and can see the funny side of things] ▪ He has no sense of humor. [=he does not find things amusing] ▪ His excellent sense of direction [=ability to find his way around easily in a new place] was useful during our travels. ▪ The chairman's speech gave us a clear sense of direction. [=helped us to know what we should try to accomplish] 3 senses [plural] : the ability to think clearly or in a reasonable way
▪ His senses were clear despite his illness. ▪ They hoped recent events would bring them to their senses. [=make them act sensibly] ▪ I was scared out of my senses. [=I was so scared that I couldn't think clearly] ▪ (chiefly Brit) Are you out of your senses? [=out of your mind] 4 [noncount] : a proper or reasonable way of thinking about something : an awareness of what is appropriate
▪ He had the sense to leave when the crowd got rowdy. [=he acted in a sensible way and left when the crowd got rowdy] ▪ She had the good sense to stop before she said too much. ▪ I wish she would see sense [=act in a sensible way] and go to college. — see also common sense, horse sense 5 [noncount] : a reason for doing something : a reason why something was done
▪ There's no sense [=point] in waiting. ▪ I fail to see the sense of/in that decision. [=I fail to see why that decision was made] 6 [count] : the meaning of something (such as a word or phrase)
▪ Many words have more than one sense. ▪ in the biblical/religious/legal sense of the word ▪ an abstract/broad sense ▪ The American sense of this word differs from the British sense. ▪ He learned the speech by heart but missed the sense entirely. [=he memorized the speech but he did not understand it] — often + of ▪ The oldest sense of the word dates from 1890. ▪ The intended sense of the passage was lost in translation. ▪ The book is a classic in every sense of the word. [=in every possible way]