Etymology : Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tangere to touch
Pronunciation : 'tan-j&-b&l
Function : adjective
Date : 1589
1. something that can be touched or felt, something real or substantial; tangible property, something that has monetary value. capable of being felt or touched, real, substantial; having monetary value. tangible\tan"gi*ble\ , a. [l. tangibilis, fr. tangere to touch: cf. f. tangible. see:
tangent.].
2. perceptible to the touch; tactile; palpable.
3. capable of being possessed or realized; readily apprehensible by the mind; real; substantial; evident. "a tangible blunder." direct and tangible benefit to ourselves and others. -- tan"gi*ble*ness , n. -- tan"gi*bly , adv.tangible adj.
4. perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch; "skin with a tangible roughness" [ant: intangible].
5. possible to be treated as fact; "tangible evidence"; "his brief time as prime minister brought few real benefits to the poor" [syn: real].
6. (of especially business assets) having physical substance and intrinsic monetary value ; "tangible property like real estate"; "tangible assets such as machinery" [ant: intangible].
7. capable of being perceived by the senses or the mind; especially capable of being handled or touched or felt; "a barely palpable dust"; "felt sudden anger in a palpable wave"; "the air was warm and close--palpable as cotton" [syn: palpable] [ant: impalpable].
8. having substance or material existence; perceptible to the senses; "a physical manifestation"; "surrounded by tangible objects" [syn: physical, touchable].
9. Perceptible to the touch; tactile; palpable.
10. Capable of being possessed or realized; readily apprehensible by the mind; real; substantial; evident. perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch; "skin with a tangible roughness" having physical substance and intrinsic monetary value ; "tangible property like real estate"; "tangible assets such as machinery".
11. If something is tangible, it is clear enough or definite enough to be easily seen, felt, or noticed. There should be some tangible evidence that the economy is starting to recover + tangibly tan·gibly This tangibly demonstrated that the world situation could be improved.