impalpable

Adjective
Synonyms: intangible

Open English WordNet

Adjective (3)

  1. incapable of being perceived by the senses especially the sense of touch“the intangible constituent of energy — James Jeans”Synonyms: intangibleOpposite tangibleSee also abstract
  2. imperceptible to the senses or the mind“an impalpable cloud”“impalpable shadows”“impalpable distinctions”“as impalpable as a dream”Opposite palpableSimilar elusive, subtleSee also imperceptible, unperceivable
  3. not perceptible to the touch“an impalpable pulse”Opposite perceptibleSimilar imperceptible, unperceivable

Related words intangibleness noun, impalpability noun

Word of the day · Sep 29About this word
haphazardadjective

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Im·pal′pa·ble adjective

Origin: Pref. im- not + palpable: cf. F. impalpable.

1. Not palpable; that cannot be felt; extremely fine, so that no grit can be perceived by touch. “Impalpable powder.” Robert Boyle

2. Not material; intangible; incorporeal. “Impalpable, void, and bodiless.” Philemon Holland

3. Not apprehensible, or readily apprehensible, by the mind; unreal; as, impalpable distinctions.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

Advertisement