sensation

sen·sa·tion

noun \sen-ˈsā-shən, sən-\

Definition of SENSATION

1

a : a mental process (as seeing, hearing, or smelling) resulting from the immediate external stimulation of a sense organ often as distinguished from a conscious awareness of the sensory process — compare perception

b : awareness (as of heat or pain) due to stimulation of a sense organ

c : a state of consciousness due to internal bodily changes <a sensation of hunger>

d : an indefinite bodily feeling <a sensation of buoyancy>

2

: something (as a physical stimulus, sense-datum, or afterimage) that causes or is the object of sensation

3

a : a state of excited interest or feeling <their elopement caused a sensation>

b : a cause of such excitement <the show was the musical sensation of the season>; especially : one (as a person) in some respect exceptional or outstanding <the rookie hitting sensation of the American League>

Examples of SENSATION

1. I experienced a stinging sensation in my arm.
2. She felt a burning sensation in her throat.
3. She craved new experiences and sensations.
4. She had the strange sensation that someone was watching her.
5. I couldn't quite shake the sensation that I'd been fooled.
6. Her injury left her with no sensation in her legs.

Origin of SENSATION

Medieval Latin sensation-, sensatio, from Late Latin, understanding, idea, from Latin sensus

First Known Use: 1615

Related to SENSATION

Synonyms

feel, feeling, sense

Related Words

impression, perception; hint, suggestion, touch

Near Antonyms

classic, standard

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with SENSATION

aeration, Alsatian, carnation, castration, causation, cessation, cetacean, citation, Claymation, cognation, collation, conflation, C ration, creation, cremation, crenation, Croatian, crustacean, dalmatian, damnation, deflation, delation, dictation, dilation, donation, earth station, elation, Eurasian, filtration, fixation, flirtation, flotation, formation, foundation, frustration, gas station, gestation, gradation, gustation, guttation, gyration, hydration, inflation, lactation, legation, libation, location, lunation, lustration, luxation, migration, mutation, narration, negation, notation, oblation, oration, outstation, ovation, palmation, palpation, plantation, potation, predation, privation, probation, pronation, proration, prostration, pulsation, punctation, pupation, purgation, relation, rogation, rotation, salvation, sedation, serration, space station, stagflation, stagnation, starvation, striation, substation, summation, tarnation, taxation, temptation, translation, truncation, vacation, vexation, vibration, vocation, way station, workstation

sen·sa·tion

noun \sen-ˈsā-shən, sən-\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of SENSATION

1

a : a mental process (as seeing, hearing, or smelling) due to immediate bodily stimulation often as distinguished from awareness of the process—compare perception b : awareness (as of heat or pain) due to stimulation of a sense organ c : a state of consciousness of a kind usually due to physical objects or internal bodily changes <a burning sensation in his chest>

2

: something (as a physical object, sense-datum, pain, or afterimage) that causes or is the object of sensation

sensation

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Mental process (such as seeing, hearing, or smelling) due to immediate bodily stimulation, usually as distinguished from perception. When a stimulus impinges on a sense organ and the organism responds, it is said that the stimulus has been sensed. See also psychophysics, sense-data.