tangible Hear it!

tangible Definition

tan·gible (tan′jə bəl)

adjective

  1. that can be touched or felt by touch; having actual form and substance
  2. corporeal and able to be appraised for value tangible assets
  3. that can be understood; definite; objective

Etymology: LL tangibilis < L tangere, to touch: see tact

noun

property that can be appraised for value; assets having real substance; material things

tangible Related Forms
tan′·gibil′·ity noun or tan′·gible·ness tan′·gibly adverb
tangible Synonyms

tangible

modif.

perceptible, palpable, material, real, substantial, appreciable, sensible, touchable, verifiable, physical, corporeal, solid, concrete, visible, stable, graspable, incarnated, embodied, manifest, factual, objective, tactile, actual, definite, clear-cut, substantive, real live*, big as life*, big as life and twice as natural*.

Antonyms spiritual*, ethereal, intangible.

tangible applies to that which can be grasped, either with the hand or the mind tangible assets, tangible benefits; perceptible is applied to anything that can be apprehended by the senses but often connotes that the thing is just barely visible, audible, etc. a perceptible smell of coffee; sensible applies to that which can clearly be perceived a sensible difference in their size; palpable refers to anything that can be perceived by or as if by the sense of touch a palpable fog; appreciable is used of that which is sufficiently perceptible to be measured, estimated, etc. or to have significance an appreciable amount

tangible Law Definition

adj

  1. Exhibiting physical, touchable form; capable of being perceived by sight and by touch.
  2. Comprehensible to the human mind.
tangible Usage Examples

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • make: The great thing is you're making something tangible that you can gaze at for ever.
  • do: It was during the scandal of the Birmingham Six that I decided I wanted to do something tangible.
  • have: Image, in this sense, has something tangible, graspable.
  • produce: We must not think that as a Government or as a society we must always produce something tangible for play.

Modifies a noun

  • asset: The gain on a tangible asset, will not be allowed to be rolled over into an intangible asset.
  • benefit: The growth of air travel has brought tangible benefits to Scotland's economy.
  • reminder: The positive nature of the book would then provide a source of inspiration and a tangible reminder of their own success.
  • reward: Rewards of Writing There are also more tangible rewards.
  • outcome: This might include tangible outcomes, or your personal feelings.
  • proof: Eventually, however, the utter absence of any tangible proof caused the hysteria to peter out; among the grassroots at least.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: Her emotional intensity was almost tangible in the close air of the holy chamber.
  • very: What was very tangible was the desire from these young adults to respond wholeheartedly.
  • so: Nowhere in the world is ancient history so visible, so tangible and so dramatic as in Egypt.
  • little: Although the end of the decade was more stable, there was little tangible progress with economic reform.
  • really: Many of these new initiatives are starting to produce some really tangible long-term benefits for local communities.
  • only: To date it is the only tangible memorial to the fisherman.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: But we're always exercising faith in Jesus in the face of other powers that often seem more tangible, more real than Jesus.
  • become: Then the presence of God becomes more tangible during the day.
  • make: You will want to know how that support can be made tangible in the coming months.
  • have: There is growing political and public demand to have tangible, visible, hydrogen projects now.

Browse dictionary entries near tangible

  1. ‹ tangerine
  2. ‹ tangential
  3. ‹ tangent
  4. ‹ tangelo
  5. ‹ Tanganyika
  6. ‹ tang
  7. ‹ Taney
  8. ‹ tandoori
  9. ‹ tandoor
  10. ‹ tandem switch
  1. tangible asset ›
  2. tangible property ›
  3. Tangier ›
  4. tangle ›
  5. tangled ›
  6. tanglefoot ›
  7. tangly ›
  8. tango ›
  9. tangram ›
  10. Tangshan ›