ˈɪntəlɛkt ˌɪntəˈlɛk(t)ʃʊəl maɪnd ˈɹiːzən ʌndəˈstandɪŋ ˌʌndɚˈstændɪŋ knowledge and intellectual ability he reads to improve his mind he has a keen intellect the capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination we are told that man is endowed with reason and capable of distinguishing good from evil a person who uses the mind creatively