intangible Hear it!

intangible Definition

in·tan·gible (in tan′jə bəl)

adjective

  1. that cannot be touched; incorporeal; impalpable
  2. designating or of any of certain business assets, esp. goodwill, that have no material being but have monetary value
  3. that cannot be easily defined, formulated, or grasped; vague

Etymology: ML intangibilis: see in- & tangible

noun

something intangible

intangible Related Forms
in·tan′·gibil′·ity noun pl. -·ties in·tan′·gibly adverb
intangible Synonyms

intangible

modif.

  1. Uncertain

    indefinite, unsure, elusive, hypothetical; see uncertain 2, vague 2.

  2. Ethereal

    impalpable, airy, ephemeral; see immaterial 2.

intangible Law Definition

n

Impalpable; not capable of being touched or otherwise detected by the senses.
intangible Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • acquire: The principal adjustments are made in respect of rationalization costs, the impairment of goodwill and the amortization of acquired intangibles.
  • include: Property does not however include intangibles or things in action.

Adjective modifier

  • such: This is not the case - such intangibles can be enhanced or degraded or protected or neglected - a whole range of options.
  • other: Nor are trade secrets, good will, or other valuable intangibles.
  • acquisition-related: Earnings per share, before amortization of acquisition-related intangibles and restructuring charges, are expected to be $ 0.26.
  • certain: And being a fighter requires certain intangibles that are missing from many American lives today.

Modifies a noun

  • asset: Consider the value of the intangible assets of the business.
  • amortization: The total dividend is covered 2.3 times by earnings before intangible amortization and exceptional items ( 2005: 1.9 times ).
  • heritage: The Conference, on the theme of intangible heritage, will be held from 2 to 8 October 2004 in Seoul.
  • benefit: Where there are no tangible benefits, intangible benefits will suffice provided that the benefit is clear.
  • regime: In some cases the expenditure may be written off under the intangibles regime in FA 2002, Sch 29.
  • property: The Virginia General Assembly exempted intangible personal property from taxation in 1984 by making the tax rate zero.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: At first the differences seem intangible, but whereas other groups really are groups of artists, our collective seems more dispersed and conceptual.

Noun used with modifier

  • something: Theres something in the air, something intangible, a trend, a feeling.

Modifying Another Word

  • rather: But realized that it's a rather intangible concept - ' sky ' as more of a visual effect than a thing.
  • often: A legal entitlement to an idea or concept, often intangible.
  • so: However, this is not straight forward as their subject matter - the human mind - is so intangible and elusive.
  • almost: It's an unknown, almost intangible threat to life, which is widely predicted to be a big killer.
  • somewhat: Soft OR, by contrast, is: somewhat intangible not easy to explain not easy to use.
  • largely: These relations, tho their contents are largely intangible, precede any legal rights or justification accorded to human beings.
intangible Quotes

O world invisible, we view thee, O world intangible, we touch thee, O world unknowable, we know thee, Inapprehensible,we clutch thee!

—Thompson, Francis