Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - sense

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French sen, sens sensation, feeling, mechanism of perception, meaning, from Latin sensus, from sentire to perceive, feel; perhaps akin to Old High German sinnan to go, strive, Old English sith journey — more at send  Date: 14th century  1. a meaning conveyed or intended ; import, signification; especially one of a set of meanings a word or phrase may bear especially as segregated in a dictionary entry  2.  a. the faculty of perceiving by means of ~ organs  b. a specialized function or mechanism (as sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch) by which an animal receives and responds to external or internal stimuli  c. the sensory mechanisms constituting a unit distinct from other functions (as movement or thought)  3. conscious awareness or rationality — usually used in plural finally came to his ~s  4.  a. a particular sensation or kind or quality of sensation a good ~ of balance  b. a definite but often vague awareness or impression felt a ~ of insecurity a ~ of danger  c. a motivating awareness a ~ of shame  d. a discerning awareness and appreciation her ~ of humor  5. consensus the ~ of the meeting  6.  a. capacity for effective application of the powers of the mind as a basis for action or response ; intelligence  b. sound mental capacity and understanding typically marked by shrewdness and practicality; also agreement with or satisfaction of such power this decision makes ~  7. one of two opposite directions especially of motion (as of a point, line, or surface) Synonyms:  ~, common ~, judgment, wisdom mean ability to reach intelligent conclusions. ~ implies a reliable ability to judge and decide with soundness, prudence, and intelligence a choice showing good ~. common ~ suggests an average degree of such ability without sophistication or special knowledge common ~ tells me it's wrong. judgment implies ~ tempered and refined by experience, training, and maturity they relied on her judgment for guidance. wisdom implies ~ and judgment far above average a leader of rare wisdom.  II. transitive verb  (~d; sensing)  Date: circa 1531  1.  a. to perceive by the ~s  b. to be or become conscious of ~ danger  2. grasp, comprehend  3. to detect automatically especially in response to a physical stimulus (as light or movement)