The word "intangible" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /ɪnˈtændʒəbəl/. The first syllable "in" is pronounced as "ɪn" while the second syllable "tan" is pronounced as "tændʒ". The final syllable "gible" is pronounced as "əbəl" which indicates that it is an adjective form. This word means something that cannot be touched or perceived physically. It is an abstract concept that is beyond the reach of our senses. Despite its intangible nature, its influence can be felt in our daily lives.
The term "intangible" refers to something that cannot be perceived or touched physically. It describes qualities, ideas, and concepts that exist but do not possess a physical or concrete form. Intangibles are often associated with subjective experiences, emotions, perceptions, or abstract notions.
In a financial context, intangibles are assets that lack a physical presence but hold significant value. Examples of intangible assets include trademarks, patents, copyrights, brand names, and goodwill. These assets are crucial for businesses as they contribute to their competitive advantage and long-term success, even though they cannot be physically seen or touched.
Furthermore, intangible can also describe qualities or characteristics that are difficult to measure or express precisely. These may include emotions like love, happiness, or sadness, as well as abstract concepts such as beauty or justice. While these aspects are part of human experiences, they cannot be definitively quantified or observed tangibly.
Additionally, the term can be used figuratively to describe something that is elusive or hard to define. It implies that an idea or notion is not easily grasped or understood due to its complex or abstract nature. Intangible elements can be as diverse as thoughts, dreams, memories, or aspirations, often challenging to articulate or capture tangibly.
Overall, the term "intangible" denotes something that lacks a physical presence, is difficult to measure precisely, or represents abstract and subjective concepts that exist beyond the realm of touch.
That cannot or may not be touched; not perceptible to the touch.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "intangible" originated from the Latin word "intangibilis", which is derived from the combination of "in" (meaning "not") and "tangibilis" (meaning "able to be touched" or "tangible"). The word first appeared in English in the early 17th century with the same general meaning it holds today - something that cannot be touched or grasped physically, but rather describes something abstract or immaterial.