In·trin·sic a.
1. Inward; internal; hence, true; genuine; real; essential; inherent; not merely apparent or accidental; -- opposed to extrinsic; as, the intrinsic value of gold or silver; the intrinsic merit of an action; the intrinsic worth or goodness of a person.
He was better qualified than they to estimate justly the intrinsic value of Grecian philosophy and refinement. --I. Taylor.
2. Anat. Included wholly within an organ or limb, as certain groups of muscles; -- opposed to extrinsic.
Intrinsic energy of a body Physics, the work it can do in virtue of its actual condition, without any supply of energy from without.
Intrinsic equation of a curve Geom., the equation which expresses the relation which the length of a curve, measured from a given point of it, to a movable point, has to the angle which the tangent to the curve at the movable point makes with a fixed line.
Intrinsic value. See the Note under Value, n.
Syn: -- Inherent; innate; natural; real; genuine.