intensive care unit — a specialized hospital unit that provides intensive medical treatment for critically ill patients requiring constant monitoring
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a specialized hospital unit that provides intensive medical treatment for critically ill patients requiring constant monitoring
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪnˈtensɪv kɛr ˈjunɪt/
Example Sentences
- The superhero was rushed to the intensive care unit after battling the villain with explosive pizza powers.
- She spent three days in the intensive care unit before making a full recovery.
- The hospital's intensive care unit was so high-tech, even the coffee machine required a medical degree to operate.
intensive care unit
NOUN[/ɪnˈtensɪv kɛr ˈjunɪt/]
a specialized hospital unit that provides intensive medical treatment for critically ill patients requiring constant monitoring

Doctors race to stabilize a patient in the hospital's intensive care unit.

Even in the intensive care unit, there blooms beauty
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Intensive care unit emerged in the mid-20th century alongside advances in modern medical technology. The term combines three English components: 'intensive' (from Latin intensus, meaning 'stretched or strained'), 'care' (from Old French carie, meaning 'concern or attention'), and 'unit' (from Latin unitas, meaning 'oneness or a single thing'). The phrase denotes a specialized hospital ward providing concentrated medical monitoring and treatment for critically ill patients.
Breakdown
intensive (from Latin intensus: stretched, strained, concentrated) + care (from Old French carie: concern, attention, medical treatment) + unit (from Latin unitas: a single thing, division). Together, the compound describes a dedicated medical facility providing concentrated, specialized care.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The superhero was rushed to the intensive care unit after battling the villain with explosive pizza powers.”
“She spent three days in the intensive care unit before making a full recovery.”
“The hospital's intensive care unit was so high-tech, even the coffee machine required a medical degree to operate.”
“Medical students often feel overwhelmed during their first rotation in the intensive care unit.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.