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

see all synonyms and antonyms

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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