IM ['ī-'em] -vb

  1. to send an instant message to
  2. to communicate by instant message
  3. individual medley
  4. instant message
  5. intramural

im·age ['i-mij] -n

  1. a reproduction or imitation of the form of a person or thing
  2. an imitation in solid form : statue
  3. the optical counterpart of an object produced by an optical device (as a lens or mirror) or an electronic device
  4. : a visual representation of something: as
  5. a likeness of an object produced on a photographic material
  6. a picture produced on an electronic display (as a television or computer screen)
  7. exact likeness : semblance
    • God created man in his own image -- Gen 1:27(RSV)
  8. a person strikingly like another person
    • she is the image of her mother
  9. a tangible or visible representation : incarnation
    • the image of filial devotion
  10. an illusory form : apparition
  11. a mental picture or impression of something
    • had a negative body image of herself
  12. a mental conception held in common by members of a group and symbolic of a basic attitude and orientation
    • a disorderly courtroom can seriously tarnish a community's image of justice -- Herbert Brownell
  13. idea, concept
  14. a vivid or graphic representation or description
  15. figure of speech
  16. a popular conception (as of a person, institution, or nation) projected esp. through the mass media
    • promoting a corporate image of brotherly love and concern -- R. C. Buck
  17. a set of values given by a mathematical function (as a homomorphism) that corresponds to a particular subset of the domain

image ['i-mi-jər] -vt, n

  1. to call up a mental picture of : imagine
  2. to describe or portray in language esp. in a vivid manner
  3. to create a representation of
  4. to form an image of
    • imaged Jupiter's rings
    • image the bone using X-rays
  5. to represent symbolically
  6. reflect, mirror
  7. to make appear : project

im·ag·ery ['i-mij-rē, -mi-jə-] -n

  1. the product of image makers : images
  2. the art of making images
  3. pictures produced by an imaging system
  4. figurative language
  5. mental images
  6. the products of imagination

image tube -n

  1. an electron tube in which incident electromagnetic radiation (as light or infrared) produces a visible image on its fluorescent screen duplicating the original pattern of radiation called also image converter

imag·in·able [i-'maj-nə-bəl, -'ma-jə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. capable of being imagined : conceivable
    • any imaginable location

imag·i·nal [i-'ma-jə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. of or relating to imagination, images, or imagery

ima·gi·nal [i-'ma-jə-nᵊl, -'mā-; -'mä-gə-] -adj

  1. of or relating to the insect imago

imag·i·nary [i-'ma-jə-,ner-ē, -,ne-rē] -adj, adv, n

  1. existing only in imagination : lacking factual reality
  2. formed or characterized imaginatively or arbitrarily
    • his canvases, chiefly imaginary, somber landscapes -- Current Biog.
  3. containing or relating to the imaginary unit
    • imaginary roots

imaginary number -n

  1. a complex number (as 2 3 i) in which the coefficient of the imaginary unit is not zero called also imaginary

imaginary part -n

  1. the part of a complex number (as 3iin 2 3i) that has the imaginary unit as a factor

imaginary unit -n

  1. the positive square root of minus 1 denoted by ior

imag·i·na·tion [i-,ma-jə-'nā-shən] -n

  1. the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality
  2. creative ability
  3. ability to confront and deal with a problem : resourcefulness
    • use your imagination and get us out of here
  4. the thinking or active mind : interest
    • stories that fired the imagination
  5. a creation of the mind
  6. an idealized or poetic creation
  7. fanciful or empty assumption

imag·i·na·tive [i-'maj-nə-tiv; -'ma-jə-,nā-, -nə-] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by imagination
  2. devoid of truth : false
  3. given to imagining : having a lively imagination
  4. of or relating to images
  5. showing a command of imagery

imag·ine [i-'ma-jən] -vb

  1. to form a mental image of (something not present)
    • imagine accidents at every turn
  2. plan, scheme
  3. suppose, guess
    • I imagine it will rain
  4. to form a notion of without sufficient basis : fancy
    • imagine s himself to be a charming conversationalist
  5. to use the imagination
  6. believe

imaginings -n pl

  1. products of the imagination : thoughts, images
    • formless imaginings of danger and terror -- Jack Shaefer

im·ag·ism ['i-mi-,ji-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj, adv

  1. a 20th century movement in poetry advocating free verse and the expression of ideas and emotions through clear precise images

ima·go [i-'mä-(,)gō, -'mā-] -n

  1. an insect in its final, adult, sexually mature, and typically winged state
  2. an idealized mental image of another person or the self

imam [i-'mäm, ē-', -'mam] -n

  1. the prayer leader of a mosque
  2. a Muslim leader of the line of Ali held by Shiites to be the divinely appointed, sinless, infallible successors of Muhammad
  3. any of various rulers that claim descent from Muhammad and exercise spiritual and temporal leadership over a Muslim region

imam·ate [-'mä-,māt, -'ma-] -n

  1. the office of an imam
  2. the region or country ruled over by an imam

ima·ret [i-'mär-ət] -n

  1. an inn or hospice in Turkey

Ima·ri [i-'mär-ē] -n, adj

  1. a multicolored Japanese porcelain usu. characterized by elaborate floral designs

im·bal·ance [(,)im-'ba-lən(t)s] -n, adj

  1. lack of balance : the state of being out of equilibrium or out of proportion
    • a vitamin imbalance
    • racial imbalance in schools

im·be·cile ['im-bə-səl, -,sil] -n, adj

  1. a person affected with moderate mental retardation
  2. fool, idiot

im·be·cil·i·ty [,im-bə-'si-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being imbecile or an imbecile
  2. utter foolishness
  3. futility
  4. something that is foolish or nonsensical

imbed [im-'bed] -vb, n

(variant of embed)

  1. to enclose closely in or as if in a matrix
    • fossils embedded in stone
  2. to make something an integral part of
    • the prejudices embedded in our language
  3. to prepare (a microscopy specimen) for sectioning by infiltrating with and enclosing in a supporting substance
  4. to surround closely
    • a sweet pulp embed s the plum seed
  5. to become embedded

im·bibe [im-'bīb] -vb, n

  1. soak, steep
  2. to receive into the mind and retain
    • imbibe moral principles
  3. to assimilate or take into solution
  4. drink
  5. to take in or up
    • a sponge imbibe s moisture
  6. drink
  7. to take in liquid
  8. to absorb or assimilate moisture, gas, light, or heat

im·bi·bi·tion [,im-bə-'bi-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act or action of imbibing
  2. the taking up of fluid by a colloidal system resulting in swelling

im·bit·ter [im-'bi-tər] -vt, n

(variant of embitter)

  1. to excite bitter feelings in
    • embitter ed by divorce
  2. to make bitter

im·bo·som [im-'bu̇-zəm also -'bü-] -vt

(variant of embosom)

  1. to take into or place in the bosom
  2. to shelter closely : enclose
    • his house embosom ed in the grove -- Alexander Pope

im·bri·cate ['im-bri-kət] -adj

  1. lying lapped over each other in regular order
    • imbricate scales
  2. overlap
  3. to overlap like roof tiles

im·bri·ca·tion [,im-brə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. an overlapping of edges (as of tiles or scales)
  2. a decoration or pattern showing imbrication

im·bro·glio [im-'brōl-(,)yō] -n

  1. a confused mass
  2. an intricate or complicated situation (as in a drama or novel)
  3. an acutely painful or embarrassing misunderstanding
  4. a violently confused or bitterly complicated altercation : embroilment
  5. scandal
    • survived the political imbroglio

im·brown [im-'brau̇n] -vt

(variant of embrown)

  1. darken
  2. to cause to turn brown

im·brue [im-'brü] -vt

  1. stain

im·brute [im-'brüt] -vb

  1. to sink to the level of a brute
  2. to degrade to the level of a brute

im·bue [-'byü] -vt

  1. to permeate or influence as if by dyeing
    • the spirit that imbue s the new constitution
  2. to tinge or dye deeply
  3. endow
    • Spanish missions imbue the city with Old World charm -- Scott Pendleton

IMF -abbr

  1. International Monetary Fund

IMHO -abbr

  1. in my humble opinion

im·id·az·ole [,i-mə-'da-,zōl] -n

  1. a white crystalline heterocyclic base C 3H 4N 2that is an antimetabolite related to histidine
  2. any of various derivatives of this

im·ide ['i-,mīd] -n, adj

  1. a compound containing the NH group that is derived from ammonia by replacement of two hydrogen atoms by a metal or an equivalent of acid groups

im·i·do ['i-mə-,dō] -adj

  1. relating to or containing the NH group or its substituted form NR united to one or two acid groups

im·ine ['i-,mēn] -n

  1. a compound containing the NH group or its substituted form NR that is derived from ammonia by replacement of two hydrogen atoms by a hydrocarbon group or other nonacid organic group

im·i·no ['i-mə-,nō] -adj

  1. relating to or containing the NH group or its substituted form NR united to a group other than an acid group

imip·ra·mine [i-'mi-prə-,mēn] -n

  1. a tricyclic antidepressant drug C 19H 24N 2

im·i·ta·ble ['i-mə-tə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable or worthy of being imitated or copied

im·i·tate ['i-mə-,tāt] -vt, n

  1. to follow as a pattern, model, or example
  2. to be or appear like : resemble
  3. to produce a copy of : reproduce
  4. mimic, counterfeit
    • can imitate his father's booming voice

im·i·ta·tion [,i-mə-'tā-shən] -n

  1. an act or instance of imitating
  2. something produced as a copy : counterfeit
  3. a literary work designed to reproduce the style of another author
  4. the repetition by one voice of a melody, phrase, or motive stated earlier in the composition by a different voice
  5. the quality of an object in possessing some of the nature or attributes of a transcendent idea
  6. the assumption of behavior observed in other individuals

imitation -adj

  1. resembling something else that is usu. genuine and of better quality : not real
    • imitation leather

im·i·ta·tive ['i-mə-,tā-tiv, esp Brit -tə-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by imitation
    • acting is an imitative art
  2. reproducing or representing a natural sound : onomatopoeic
    • hiss is an imitative word
  3. exhibiting mimicry
  4. inclined to imitate
  5. imitating something superior : counterfeit

im·mac·u·la·cy [i-'ma-kyə-lə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being immaculate

im·mac·u·late [i-'ma-kyə-lət] -adj, adv

  1. having no stain or blemish : pure
  2. containing no flaw or error
  3. spotlessly clean
  4. having no colored spots or marks
    • petals immaculate

Immaculate Conception -n

  1. the conception of the Virgin Mary in which as decreed in Roman Catholic dogma her soul was preserved free from original sin by divine grace
  2. December 8 observed as a Roman Catholic feast in commemoration of the Immaculate Conception

im·mane [i-'mān] -adj

  1. huge
  2. monstrous in character

im·ma·nence ['i-mə-nən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being immanent
  2. inherence

im·ma·nen·cy [-nən(t)-sē] -n

  1. immanence

im·ma·nent [-nənt] -adj, adv

  1. indwelling, inherent
    • beauty is not something imposed but something immanent -- Anthony Burgess
  2. being within the limits of possible experience or knowledge

im·ma·nent·ism [-nən-,ti-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. any of several theories according to which God or an abstract mind or spirit pervades the world

Im·man·u·el [i-'man-yə-wəl, -yəl] -n

  1. messiah

im·ma·te·ri·al [,i-mə-'tir-ē-əl] -adj

  1. not consisting of matter : incorporeal
  2. of no substantial consequence : unimportant

im·ma·te·ri·al·ism [-ē-ə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. a philosophical theory that material things have no reality except as mental perceptions

im·ma·te·ri·al·i·ty [,i-mə-,tir-ē-'a-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being immaterial
  2. something immaterial

im·ma·te·ri·al·ize [-'tir-ē-ə-,līz] -vt

  1. to make immaterial or incorporeal

im·ma·ture [,i-mə-'tu̇r, -'tyu̇r, -'chu̇r] -adj, n, adv

  1. premature
  2. lacking complete growth, differentiation, or development
    • immature fruits
    • a sexually immature bird
  3. having the potential capacity to attain a definitive form or state : crude, unfinished
    • a vigorous but immature school of art
  4. exhibiting less than an expected degree of maturity
    • emotionally immature adults

im·mea·sur·able [(,)i(m)-'mezh-rə-bəl, -'māzh-; -'me-zhə-rə-, -'mā-, -zhər-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being measured
  2. indefinitely extensive

immed -abbr

  1. immediate; immediately

im·me·di·a·cy [i-'mē-dē-ə-sē, Brit often -'mē-jə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being immediate
  2. something that is immediate usu. used in pl.

im·me·di·ate [i-'mē-dē-ət, Brit often -'mē-jit] -adj

  1. acting or being without the intervention of another object, cause, or agency : direct
    • the immediate cause of death
  2. present to the mind independently of other states or factors
    • immediate awareness
  3. involving or derived from a single premise
    • an immediate inference
  4. being next in line or relation
    • the immediate family
  5. existing without intervening space or substance
    • brought into immediate contact
  6. being near at hand
    • the immediate neighborhood
  7. occurring, acting, or accomplished without loss or interval of time : instant
    • an immediate need
  8. near to or related to the present
    • the immediate past
  9. of or relating to the here and now : current
    • too busy with immediate concerns to worry about the future
  10. directly touching or concerning a person or thing
    • the child's immediate world is the classroom

immediate constituent -n

  1. any of the meaningful constituents directly forming a larger linguistic construction (as a phrase or sentence)

im·me·di·ate·ly [i-'mē-dē-ət-lē also -'mē-dit-, Brit often -'mē-jit-] -adv

  1. in direct connection or relation : directly
    • the parties immediately involved in the case
    • the house immediately beyond this one
  2. without interval of time : straightway
    • I'll make that call immediately

immediately -conj

  1. as soon as

im·me·di·ate·ness -n

  1. immediacy

im·med·i·ca·ble [(,)i(m)-'me-di-kə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. incurable
    • wounds immedicable -- John Milton

Im·mel·mann ['i-məl-mən] -n

  1. a maneuver in which an airplane reverses direction by executing half of a loop upwards followed by half of a roll called also Immelmann turn

im·me·mo·ri·al [,i-mə-'mȯr-ē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. extending or existing since beyond the reach of memory, record, or tradition
    • existing from time immemorial

im·mense [i-'men(t)s] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by greatness esp. in size or degree
  2. transcending ordinary means of measurement
    • the immense and boundless universe
  3. supremely good : excellent

im·men·si·ty [i-'men(t)-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being immense
  2. something immense

im·men·su·ra·ble [(,)i(m)-'men(t)s-rə-bəl, -'men(t)sh-; -'men(t)-sə-, -shə-] -adj

  1. immeasurable

im·merge [i-'mərj] -vi

  1. to plunge into or immerse oneself in something

im·merse [i-'mərs] -vt

  1. to plunge into something that surrounds or covers
  2. to plunge or dip into a fluid
  3. engross, absorb
    • completely immersed in his work
  4. to baptize by immersion

im·mers·ible [i-'mər-sə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being totally submerged in water without damage (as to the heating element of an electric appliance)
    • an immersible electric frying pan

im·mer·sion [i-'mər-zhən, -shən] -n

  1. : the act of immersing or the state of being immersed: as
  2. baptism by complete submersion of the person in water
  3. absorbing involvement
    • immersion in politics
  4. instruction based on extensive exposure to surroundings or conditions that are native or pertinent to the object of study
  5. foreign language instruction in which only the language being taught is used
    • learned French through immersion

immersion heater -n

  1. a usu. electric unit that heats the liquid in which it is immersed

immesh [in-'mesh, en-] -vt, n

(variant of enmesh)

  1. to catch or entangle in or as if in meshes
    • deeply enmesh ed in the plot

im·me·thod·i·cal [,i-mə-'thä-di-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. not methodical

im·mi·grant ['i-mə-grənt] -n, adj

  1. : one that immigrates: as
  2. a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence
  3. a plant or animal that becomes established in an area where it was previously unknown

im·mi·grate ['i-mə-,grāt] -vb, n, adj

  1. to enter and usu. become established
  2. to come into a country of which one is not a native for permanent residence
  3. to bring in or send as immigrants

im·mi·nence ['i-mə-nən(t)s] -n

  1. something imminent
  2. impending evil or danger
  3. the quality or state of being imminent

im·mi·nen·cy [-nən-sē] -n

  1. imminence

im·mi·nent ['i-mə-nənt] -adj, adv

  1. ready to take place
  2. hanging threateningly over one's head
    • was in imminent danger of being run over

im·min·gle [i-'miŋ-gəl] -vb

  1. blend, intermingle

im·mis·ci·ble [(,)i(m)-'mi-sə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. incapable of mixing or attaining homogeneity

im·mis·er·a·tion [(,)i(m)-,mi-zə-'rā-shən] -n

  1. the act of making miserable
  2. impoverishment
    • the immiseration of the working class -- C. R. Morris

im·mit·i·ga·ble [(,)i(m)-'mi-ti-gə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not capable of being mitigated

im·mit·tance [(,)i(m)-'mi-tᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. electrical admittance or impedance

im·mix [i-'miks] -vt, n

  1. to mix intimately : commingle

im·mo·bile [(,)i(m)-'mō-bəl, -,bī(-ə)l also -,bēl] -adj, n

  1. incapable of being moved : fixed
  2. not moving : motionless
    • keep the patient immobile

im·mo·bi·lism [i-'mō-bə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. a policy of extreme conservatism and opposition to change

im·mo·bi·lize [i-'mō-bə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. : to make immobile: as
  2. to prevent freedom of movement or effective use of
    • the planes were immobilized by bad weather
  3. to reduce or eliminate motion of (the body or a part) by mechanical means or by strict bed rest
  4. to withhold (money or capital) from circulation

im·mod·er·a·cy [(,)i(m)-'mä-d(ə-)rə-sē] -n

  1. lack of moderation

im·mod·er·ate [-d(ə-)rət] -adj, adv, n

  1. exceeding just, usual, or suitable bounds
    • immoderate pride
    • an immoderate appetite

im·mod·est [(,)i(m)-'mä-dəst] -adj, adv, n

  1. not modest
  2. not conforming to the sexual mores of a particular time or place

im·mo·late ['i-mə-,lāt] -vt, n

  1. to offer in sacrifice
  2. to kill as a sacrificial victim
  3. to kill or destroy often by fire

im·mo·la·tion [,i-mə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. the act of immolating : the state of being immolated
  2. something that is immolated

im·mor·al [(,)i(m)-'mȯr-əl, -'mär-] -adj, adv

  1. not moral
  2. conflicting with generally or traditionally held moral principles

im·mor·al·ist [-ə-list] -n

  1. an advocate of immorality

im·mo·ral·i·ty [,i-(,)mȯ-'ra-lə-tē, ,i-mə-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being immoral
  2. unchastity
  3. an immoral act or practice

im·mor·tal [(,)i-'mȯr-tᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. exempt from death
    • the immortal gods
  2. exempt from oblivion : imperishable
    • immortal fame
  3. connected with or relating to immortality
  4. able or tending to divide indefinitely
    • immortal cell lines produced in culture

immortal -n

  1. one exempt from death
  2. the gods of the Greek and Roman pantheon
  3. a person whose fame is lasting
  4. any of the 40 members of the Academie Franaise

im·mor·tal·ise [i-'mȯr-tə-,līz] -vt, n

(variant of immortalize)

  1. to make immortal

im·mor·tal·i·ty [,i-,mȯr-'ta-lə-tē] -n

  1. : the quality or state of being immortal:
  2. unending existence
  3. lasting fame

im·mor·tal·ize [i-'mȯr-tə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to make immortal

im·mor·telle [,i-,mȯr-'tel] -n

  1. everlasting

im·mo·tile [(,)i(m)-'mō-tᵊl, -,tī(-ə)l] -adj

  1. lacking motility

im·mov·able [(,)i(m)-'mü-və-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being moved
  2. not moving or not intended to be moved
  3. steadfast, unyielding
  4. not capable of being moved emotionally

immovable -n

  1. one that cannot be moved
  2. real property as opposed to movable property

immun -abbr

  1. immunity
  2. immunization

im·mune [i-'myün] -adj, n

  1. free, exempt
    • immune from further taxation
  2. marked by protection
    • some criminal leaders are immune from arrest
  3. not susceptible or responsive
    • immune to all pleas
  4. having a high degree of resistance to a disease
    • immune to diphtheria
  5. having or producing antibodies or lymphocytes capable of reacting with a specific antigen
    • an immune serum
  6. produced by, involved in, or concerned with immunity or an immune response
    • immune agglutinins
    • immune globulins

immune response -n

  1. a bodily response to an antigen that occurs when lymphocytes identify the antigenic molecule as foreign and induce the formation of antibodies and lymphocytes capable of reacting with it and rendering it harmless called also immune reaction

immune system -n

  1. the bodily system that protects the body from foreign substances, cells, and tissues by producing the immune response and that includes esp. the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, special deposits of lymphoid tissue (as in the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow), macrophages, lymphocytes including the B cells and T cells, and antibodies

im·mu·ni·ty [i-'myü-nə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being immune
  2. a condition of being able to resist a particular disease esp. through preventing development of a pathogenic microorganism or by counteracting the effects of its products

im·mu·nize ['i-myə-,nīz] -vt, n

  1. to make immune

immuno- -comb form

  1. physiological immunity
    • immuno logy
  2. immunologic
    • immuno chemistry
    : immunologically
    • immuno competent
    : immunology and
    • immuno genetics

im·mu·no·as·say [,i-myə-nō-'a-,sā, i-,myü-nō-, -a-'sā] -n, adj

  1. a technique or test used to detect the presence or quantity of a substance (as a protein) based on its capacity to act as an antigen

im·mu·no·blot ['i-myə-nə-,blät, i-'myü-(,)nō-] -n

  1. a blot (as a Western blot) in which a radioactively labeled antibody is used as the molecular probe

im·mu·no·chem·is·try [,i-myə-nō-'ke-mə-strē, i-,myü-nō-] -n, adj, adv

  1. a branch of chemistry that deals with the chemical aspects of immunology

im·mu·no·com·pe·tence [-'käm-pə-tən(t)s] -n, adj

  1. the capacity for a normal immune response

im·mu·no·com·pro·mised [-'käm-prə-,mīzd] -adj

  1. having the immune system impaired or weakened (as by drugs or illness)

im·mu·no·cy·to·chem·is·try [-,sī-tō-'ke-mə-strē] -n, adj, adv

  1. the application of biochemistry to cellular immunology

im·mu·no·de·fi·cien·cy [-di-'fi-shən(t)-sē] -n, adj

  1. inability to produce a normal complement of antibodies or immunologically sensitized T cells esp. in response to specific antigens

im·mu·no·di·ag·nos·tic [-,dī-ig-'näs-tik, -əg-] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being analytical methods using antibodies as reagents
    • an immunodiagnostic test for cancer

im·mu·no·dif·fu·sion [-di-'fyü-zhən] -n

  1. any of several techniques for obtaining a precipitate between an antibody and its specific antigen by suspending one in a gel and letting the other migrate through it from a well or by letting both antibody and antigen migrate through the gel from separate wells to form an area of precipitation

im·mu·no·elec·tro·pho·re·sis [-ə-,lek-trə-fə-'rē-səs] -n, adj, adv

  1. electrophoretic separation of proteins followed by identification by the formation of precipitates through specific immunologic reactions

im·mu·no·flu·o·res·cence [-(,)flȯ-'re-sᵊn(t)s, -(,)flu̇(-ə)-] -n, adj

  1. the labeling of antibodies or antigens with fluorescent dyes esp. for the purpose of demonstrating the presence of a particular antigen or antibody in a tissue preparation or smear

im·mu·no·gen [i-'myü-nə-jən, -,jen] -n

  1. a substance that produces an immune response

im·mu·no·ge·net·ics [,i-myə-nō-jə-'ne-tiks, i-,myü-nō-] -n pl but sing in constr, adj, adv, n

  1. a branch of immunology concerned with the interrelations of heredity, disease, and the immune system and its components

im·mu·no·gen·ic [,i-myə-nō-'je-nik, i-,myü-nō-] -adj, n

  1. relating to or producing an immune response
    • immunogenic substances

im·mu·no·glob·u·lin [-'glä-byə-lən] -n

  1. antibody abbr. Ig

im·mu·no·he·ma·tol·o·gy [-,hē-mə-'tä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. a branch of immunology that deals with the immunologic properties of blood

im·mu·no·his·to·chem·i·cal [-,his-tō-'ke-mi-kəl] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to the application of histochemical and immunologic methods to chemical analysis of living cells and tissues

im·mu·nol·o·gy [,i-myə-'nä-lə-jē] -n, adj, adv

  1. a science that deals with the immune system and the cell-mediated and humoral aspects of immunity and immune responses

im·mu·no·mod·u·la·tor [,i-myə-nō-'mä-jə-,lā-tər, i-,myü-nō-] -n, adj

  1. a substance that affects the functioning of the immune system

im·mu·no·pa·thol·o·gy [-pə-'thä-lə-jē, -pa-] -n, adj

  1. a branch of medicine that deals with immune responses associated with disease

im·mu·no·pre·cip·i·ta·tion [-pri-,si-pə-'tā-shən] -n, vt

  1. precipitation of a complex of an antibody and its specific antigen

im·mu·no·re·ac·tive [-rē-'ak-tiv] -adj, n

  1. reacting to particular antigens or haptens
    • immunoreactive lymphocytes

im·mu·no·reg·u·la·to·ry [-'re-gyə-lə-,tōr-ē, -,tȯr-] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to the regulation of the immune system
    • immunoregulatory T cells

im·mu·no·sor·bent [-'sȯr-bənt] -adj, n

  1. relating to or using a substrate consisting of a specific antibody or antigen chemically combined with an insoluble substance (as cellulose) to selectively remove the corresponding specific antigen or antibody from solution

im·mu·no·sup·pres·sion [-sə-'pre-shən] -n, vt, n or adj, adj

  1. suppression (as by drugs) of natural immune responses

im·mu·no·ther·a·py [-'ther-ə-pē] -n, adj

  1. the treatment or prevention of disease by taking measures to increase immune system functioning (as by the administration of antibodies or hyposensitization)

im·mure [i-'myu̇r] -vt, n

  1. to enclose within or as if within walls
  2. imprison
  3. to build into a wall
  4. to entomb in a wall

im·mu·ta·ble [(,)i(m)-'myü-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not capable of or susceptible to change

IMO -abbr

  1. International Maritime Organization

imp ['imp] -n

  1. shoot, bud
  2. graft
  3. a small demon : fiend
  4. a mischievous child : urchin
  5. to graft or repair (a wing, tail, or feather) with a feather to improve a falcon's flying capacity
  6. to equip with wings
  7. imperative

im·pact [im-'pakt] -vb, adj, n

  1. to fix firmly by or as if by packing or wedging
  2. to press together
  3. to have a direct effect or impact on : impinge on
  4. to strike forcefully
  5. to cause to strike forcefully
  6. to have an impact often used with on
  7. to impinge or make contact esp. forcefully
  8. an impinging or striking esp. of one body against another
  9. a forceful contact or onset
  10. the impetus communicated in or as if in such a contact
  11. the force of impression of one thing on another : a significant or major effect
    • the impact of science on our society
    • an environmental impact study

im·pact·ed [im-'pak-təd] -adj

  1. packed or wedged in
  2. deeply entrenched : not easily changed or removed
  3. wedged between the jawbone and another tooth
  4. of, relating to, or being an area (as a school district) providing tax-supported services to a population having a large proportion of federal employees and esp. those living or working on tax-exempt federal property
    • aid to education in impacted areas

im·pac·tion [im-'pak-shən] -n

  1. the act of becoming or the state of being impacted
  2. lodgment of something (as feces) in a body passage or cavity

impact printer -n

  1. a printing device in which a printing element directly strikes a surface (as in a typewriter)

im·paint [im-'pānt] -vt

  1. paint, depict

im·pair [im-'per] -vt, n

  1. to damage or make worse by or as if by diminishing in some material respect
    • his health was impair ed by overwork
    • the strike seriously impair ed community services

im·paired [-'perd] -adj

  1. : being in a less than perfect or whole condition: as
  2. disabled or functionally defective often used in combination
    • hearing- impaired
  3. intoxicated by alcohol or narcotics
    • driving while impaired

im·pa·la [im-'pa-lə, -'pä-] -n

  1. a large brownish antelope ( Aepyceros melampus) of southeastern Africa that in the male has slender curved horns with ridges

im·pale [im-'pāl] -vt, n

  1. to join (coats of arms) on a heraldic shield divided vertically by a pale
  2. to pierce with or as if with something pointed
  3. to torture or kill by fixing on a sharp stake
  4. to fix in an inescapable or helpless position

im·pal·pa·ble [(,)im-'pal-pə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being felt by touch : intangible
    • the impalpable aura of power that emanated from him -- Osbert Sitwell
  2. so finely divided that no grains or grit can be felt
    • rock worn to an impalpable powder
  3. not readily discerned by the mind
    • impalpable evils

im·pan·el [im-'pa-nᵊl] -vt

  1. to enroll in or on a panel
    • impanel a jury

im·par·a·dise [im-'per-ə-,dīs, -,dīz, -'pa-rə-] -vt

  1. enrapture

im·par·i·ty [(,)im-'per-ə-tē, -'pa-rə-] -n

  1. inequality, disparity

im·part [im-'pärt] -vt, n

  1. to give, convey, or grant from or as if from a store
    • her experience impart ed authority to her words
    • the flavor impart ed by herbs
  2. to communicate the knowledge of : disclose
    • impart ed my scheme to no one

im·par·tial [(,)im-'pär-shəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not partial or biased : treating or affecting all equally

im·par·ti·ble [(,)im-'pär-tə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not partible : not subject to partition
    • an impartible inheritance

im·pass·able [(,)im-'pa-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being passed, traveled, crossed, or surmounted

im·passe ['im-,pas, im-'] -n

  1. a predicament affording no obvious escape
  2. deadlock
  3. an impassable road or way : cul-de-sac

im·pas·si·ble [(,)im-'pa-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of suffering or of experiencing pain
  2. inaccessible to injury
  3. incapable of feeling : impassive

impassible [(,)im-'pa-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

(variant of impassable)

  1. incapable of being passed, traveled, crossed, or surmounted

im·pas·sion [im-'pa-shən] -vt

  1. to arouse the feelings or passions of

impassioned -adj

  1. filled with passion or zeal : showing great warmth or intensity of feeling

im·pas·sive [(,)im-'pa-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. unsusceptible to pain
  2. unsusceptible to physical feeling : insensible
  3. unsusceptible to or destitute of emotion : apathetic
  4. giving no sign of feeling or emotion : expressionless

im·paste [im-'pāst] -vt

  1. to make into a paste or crust

im·pas·to [im-'pas-(,)tō, -'päs-] -n, adj

  1. the thick application of a pigment to a canvas or panel in painting
  2. the body of pigment so applied
  3. raised decoration on ceramic ware usu. of slip or enamel

im·pa·tience [(,)im-'pā-shən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being impatient

im·pa·tiens [im-'pā-shənz, -shən(t)s] -n

  1. any of a widely distributed genus ( Impatiensof the family Balsaminaceae) of annual or perennial herbs with irregular spurred or saccate flowers and forcefully dehiscent capsules

im·pa·tient [(,)im-'pā-shənt] -adj, adv

  1. not patient : restless or short of temper esp. under irritation, delay, or opposition
  2. intolerant
    • impatient of delay
  3. prompted or marked by impatience
    • an impatient reply
  4. eagerly desirous : anxious
    • impatient to get home

im·pawn [im-'pȯn, -'pän] -vt

  1. to put in pawn : pledge

im·peach [im-'pēch] -vt, adj, n

  1. to bring an accusation against
  2. to charge with a crime or misdemeanor
  3. to charge (a public official) before a competent tribunal with misconduct in office
  4. to remove from office esp. for misconduct
  5. to cast doubt on
  6. to challenge the credibility or validity of
    • impeach the testimony of a witness

impeach -n

  1. charge, impeachment

im·pearl [im-'pər(-ə)l] -vt

  1. to form into pearls
  2. to form of or adorn with pearls

im·pec·ca·ble [(,)im-'pek-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not capable of sinning or liable to sin
  2. free from fault or blame : flawless
    • spoke impeccable French

im·pe·cu·nious [,im-pi-'kyü-nyəs, -nē-əs] -adj, n, adv

  1. having very little or no money usu. habitually : penniless

im·ped·ance [im-'pē-dᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. : something that impedes : hindrance: as
  2. the apparent opposition in an electrical circuit to the flow of an alternating current that is analogous to the actual electrical resistance to a direct current and that is the ratio of effective electromotive force to the effective current
  3. the ratio of the pressure to the volume displacement at a given surface in a sound-transmitting medium

im·pede [im-'pēd] -vt, n

  1. to interfere with or slow the progress of

im·ped·i·ment [im-'pe-də-mənt] -n

  1. something that impedes
  2. an impairment (as a stutter or a lisp) that interferes with the proper articulation of speech
  3. a bar or hindrance (as lack of sufficient age) to a lawful marriage

im·ped·i·men·ta [(,)im-,pe-də-'men-tə] -n pl

  1. appurtenances, equipment
  2. things that impede

im·pel [im-'pel] -vt

  1. to urge or drive forward or on by or as if by the exertion of strong moral pressure : force
    • felt impelled to correct the misconception
  2. to impart motion to : propel

im·pel·ler [im-'pe-lər] -n

  1. one that impels
  2. a rotor located in a conduit to impart motion to a fluid
  3. a blade of a rotor

im·pend [im-'pend] -vi

  1. to hover threateningly : menace
  2. to be about to occur
    • the impending trial
  3. to hang suspended

im·pen·dent [im-'pen-dənt] -adj

  1. being near at hand : approaching

im·pen·e·tra·bil·i·ty [(,)im-,pe-nə-trə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the inability of two portions of matter to occupy the same space at the same time
  2. the quality or state of being impenetrable

im·pen·e·tra·ble [(,)im-'pe-nə-trə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. incapable of being penetrated or pierced
  2. inaccessible to knowledge, reason, or sympathy : impervious
  3. incapable of being comprehended : inscrutable

im·pen·i·tence [(,)im-'pe-nə-tən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being impenitent

im·pen·i·tent [-tənt] -adj, adv

  1. not penitent

im·per·a·tive [im-'per-ə-tiv, -'pe-rə-] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or constituting the grammatical mood that expresses the will to influence the behavior of another
  2. expressive of a command, entreaty, or exhortation
  3. having power to restrain, control, and direct
  4. not to be avoided or evaded : necessary
    • an imperative duty

imperative -n

  1. the imperative mood or a verb form or verbal phrase expressing it
  2. : something that is imperative: as
  3. command, order
  4. rule, guide
  5. an obligatory act or duty
  6. an imperative judgment or proposition

im·pe·ra·tor [,im-pə-'rä-tər, -,tȯr] -n, adj

  1. a commander in chief or emperor of the ancient Romans

im·per·ceiv·able [,im-pər-'sē-və-bəl] -adj

  1. imperceptible

im·per·cep·ti·ble [,im-pər-'sep-tə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not perceptible by a sense or by the mind : extremely slight, gradual, or subtle
    • imperceptible differences

im·per·cep·tive [,im-pər-'sep-tiv] -adj, n

  1. not perceptive
    • an imperceptive reader

im·per·cip·i·ence [-'si-pē-ən(t)s] -n, adj

  1. the quality or state of being imperceptive

imperf -abbr

  1. imperfect
  2. imperforate

im·per·fect [(,)im-'pər-fikt] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not perfect: as
  2. defective
  3. having stamens or pistils but not both
  4. lacking or not involving sexual reproduction
    • the imperfect stage of a fungus
  5. of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense used to designate a continuing state or an incomplete action esp. in the past
  6. not enforceable at law

imperfect -n

  1. an imperfect tense
  2. the verb form expressing it

imperfect fungus -n

  1. any of various fungi (order Fungi Imperfecti syn. Deuteromycetes) of which only the conidial stage is known

im·per·fec·tion [,im-pər-'fek-shən] -n

  1. the quality or state of being imperfect
  2. fault, blemish

im·per·fec·tive [,im-pər-'fek-tiv] -adj, n

  1. expressing action as incomplete or without reference to completion or as reiterated

im·per·fo·rate [(,)im-'pər-f(ə-)rət, -fə-,rāt] -adj

  1. having no opening or aperture
  2. lacking the usual or normal opening
  3. lacking perforations or roulettes

im·pe·ri·al [im-'pir-ē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, befitting, or suggestive of an empire or an emperor
  2. of or relating to the United Kingdom as distinguished from the constituent parts
  3. of or relating to the Commonwealth of Nations and British Empire
  4. sovereign
  5. regal, imperious
  6. of superior or unusual size or excellence
  7. belonging to the official British series of weights and measures

imperial -n

  1. an adherent or soldier of the Holy Roman emperor
  2. emperor
  3. a pointed beard growing below the lower lip
  4. something of unusual size or excellence

im·pe·ri·al·ism [im-'pir-ē-ə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj, adv

  1. imperial government, authority, or system
  2. the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation esp. by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas
  3. the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence
    • union imperialism

imperial moth -n

  1. a large No. American saturniid moth ( Eacles imperialis) having yellow wings marked with reddish-brown spots and patches

im·per·il [im-'per-əl, -'pe-rəl] -vt, n

  1. to bring into peril : endanger

im·pe·ri·ous [im-'pir-ē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. befitting or characteristic of one of eminent rank or attainments : commanding, dominant
    • an imperious manner
  2. marked by arrogant assurance : domineering
  3. intensely compelling : urgent
    • the imperious problems of the new age -- J. F. Kennedy

im·per·ish·able [(,)im-'per-i-shə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not perishable or subject to decay
  2. enduring or occurring forever
    • imperishable fame

im·pe·ri·um [im-'pir-ē-əm] -n

  1. supreme power or absolute dominion : control
  2. empire
  3. empire
  4. the right to command or to employ the force of the state : sovereignty

im·per·ma·nence [(,)im-'pərm-nən(t)s, -'pər-mə-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being impermanent

im·per·ma·nen·cy [-nən(t)-sē] -n

  1. impermanence

im·per·ma·nent [-nənt] -adj, adv

  1. not permanent : transient

im·per·me·able [(,)im-'pər-mē-ə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. not permitting passage (as of a fluid) through its substance
  2. impervious

im·per·mis·si·ble [,im-pər-'mi-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not permissible

im·per·son·al [(,)im-'pərs-nəl, -'pər-sə-nəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. denoting the verbal action of an unspecified agent and hence used with no expressed subject (as methinks) or with a merely formal subject (as rainedin it rained)
  2. indefinite
  3. having no personal reference or connection
    • impersonal criticism
  4. not engaging the human personality or emotions
    • the machine as compared with the hand tool is an impersonal agency -- John Dewey
  5. not existing as a person : not having human qualities or characteristics

im·per·son·al·ize [(,)im-'pərs-nə-,līz, -'pər-sə-nə-] -vt, n

  1. to make impersonal
    • technology that impersonalize s the learning process

im·per·son·ate [im-'pər-sə-,nāt] -vt, n

  1. to assume or act the character of : personate

im·per·ti·nence [(,)im-'pər-tə-nən(t)s, -'pərt-nən(t)s] -n

  1. : the quality or state of being impertinent: as
  2. irrelevance, inappropriateness
  3. incivility, insolence
  4. an instance of impertinence

im·per·ti·nen·cy [-ən(t)-sē, -nən(t)-] -n

  1. impertinence

im·per·ti·nent [(,)im-'pər-tə-nənt, -'pərt-nənt] -adj, adv

  1. not pertinent : irrelevant
  2. not restrained within due or proper bounds esp. of propriety or good taste
    • impertinent curiosity
  3. given to or characterized by insolent rudeness
    • an impertinent answer

im·per·turb·able [,im-pər-'tər-bə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness : serene

im·per·vi·ous [(,)im-'pər-vē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not allowing entrance or passage : impenetrable
    • a coat impervious to rain
  2. not capable of being damaged or harmed
    • a carpet impervious to rough treatment
  3. not capable of being affected or disturbed
    • impervious to criticism

im·pe·ti·go [,im-pə-'tē-(,)gō, -'tī-] -n

  1. an acute contagious staphylococcal or streptococcal skin disease characterized by vesicles, pustules, and yellowish crusts

im·pe·trate ['im-pə-,trāt] -vt, n

  1. to obtain by request or entreaty
  2. to ask for : entreat

im·pet·u·os·i·ty [im-,pe-chə-'wä-sə-tē, -chü-'ä-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being impetuous
  2. an impetuous action or impulse

im·pet·u·ous [im-'pech-wəs; -'pe-chə-, -chü-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by impulsive vehemence or passion
    • an impetuous temperament
  2. marked by force and violence of movement or action
    • an impetuous wind

im·pe·tus ['im-pə-təs] -n

  1. a driving force : impulse
  2. incentive, stimulus
  3. stimulation or encouragement resulting in increased activity
  4. the property possessed by a moving body in virtue of its mass and its motion used of bodies moving suddenly or violently to indicate the origin and intensity of the motion

im·pi·e·ty [(,)im-'pī-ə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being impious : irreverence
  2. an impious act

im·pinge [im-'pinj] -vi, n

  1. to strike or dash esp. with a sharp collision
    • I heard the rain impinge upon the earth -- James Joyce
  2. to have an effect : make an impression
    • waiting for the germ of a new idea to impinge upon my mind -- Phyllis Bentley
  3. encroach, infringe
    • impinge on other people's rights

im·pi·ous ['im-pē-əs, (,)im-'pī-] -adj, adv

  1. not pious : lacking in reverence or proper respect (as for God or one's parents) : irreverent

imp·ish ['im-pish] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or befitting an imp
  2. mischievous

im·pla·ca·ble [(,)im-'pla-kə-bəl, -'plā-] -adj, n, adv

  1. not placable : not capable of being appeased, significantly changed, or mitigated
    • an implacable enemy

im·plant [im-'plant] -vt, adj, n

  1. to fix or set securely or deeply
    • a ruby implant ed in the idol's forehead
  2. to set permanently in the consciousness or habit patterns : inculcate
  3. to insert in living tissue (as for growth, slow release, or formation of an organic union)
    • subcutaneously implant ed hormone pellets
  4. to undergo implantation
    • the failure of embryos to implant
  5. something (as a graft or device) implanted in tissue

im·plan·ta·tion [,im-,plan-'tā-shən] -n

  1. the act or process of implanting something
  2. the state resulting from being implanted
  3. the process of attachment of the early embryo to the maternal uterine wall

im·plau·si·ble [(,)im-'plȯ-zə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not plausible : provoking disbelief

im·plead [im-'plēd] -vt

  1. to sue or prosecute at law

im·ple·ment ['im-plə-mənt] -n

  1. an article serving to equip
    • the implement s of religious worship
  2. a device used in the performance of a task : tool, utensil
  3. one that serves as an instrument or tool
    • the partnership agreement does not seem to be a very potent implement -- H. B. Hoffman
  4. carry out, accomplish
  5. to give practical effect to and ensure of actual fulfillment by concrete measures
  6. to provide instruments or means of expression for

im·pli·cate ['im-plə-,kāt] -vt

  1. to involve as a consequence, corollary, or natural inference : imply
  2. to fold or twist together : entwine
  3. to bring into intimate or incriminating connection
    • evidence that implicate s him in the bombing
  4. to involve in the nature or operation of something

im·pli·ca·tion [,im-plə-'kā-shən] -n, adj, adv

  1. the act of implicating : the state of being implicated
  2. close connection
  3. an incriminating involvement
  4. the act of implying : the state of being implied
  5. a logical relation between two propositions that fails to hold only if the first is true and the second is false
  6. a logical relationship between two propositions in which if the first is true the second is true
  7. a statement exhibiting a relation of implication
  8. : something implied: as
  9. suggestion
  10. a possible significance
    • the book has political implication s

im·plic·it [im-'pli-sət] -adj, adv, n

  1. capable of being understood from something else though unexpressed : implied
    • an implicit assumption
  2. involved in the nature or essence of something though not revealed, expressed, or developed : potential
    • a sculptor may see different figures implicit in a block of stone -- John Dewey
  3. defined by an expression in which the dependent variable and the one or more independent variables are not separated on opposite sides of an equation
  4. being without doubt or reserve : unquestioning
    • an implicit trust

implicit differentiation -n

  1. the process of finding the derivative of a dependent variable in an implicit function by differentiating each term separately, by expressing the derivative of the dependent variable as a symbol, and by solving the resulting expression for the symbol

im·plode [im-'plōd] -vb

  1. to burst inward
    • a blow causing a vacuum tube to implode
  2. to undergo violent compression
    • massive stars which implode
  3. to collapse inward as if from external pressure
  4. to become greatly reduced as if from collapsing
  5. to break down or fall apart from within : self-destruct
    • the firm... imploded from greed and factionalism -- Jan Hoffman
  6. to cause to implode

im·plore [im-'plȯr] -vt, adv

  1. to call upon in supplication : beseech
  2. to call or pray for earnestly : entreat
    • implored the crowd to be quiet

im·plo·sion [im-'plō-zhən] -n, adj or n

  1. the inrush of air in forming a suction stop
  2. the action of imploding
  3. the act or action of bringing to or as if to a center
  4. integration
    • this implosion of cultures makes realistic for the first time the age-old vision of a world culture -- Kenneth Keniston

im·ply [im-'plī] -vt

  1. enfold, entwine
  2. to involve or indicate by inference, association, or necessary consequence rather than by direct statement
    • rights imply obligations
  3. to contain potentially
  4. to express indirectly
    • his silence implied consent

im·po·lite [,im-pə-'līt] -adj, adv, n

  1. not polite : rude

im·pol·i·tic [(,)im-'pä-lə-,tik] -adj, adv

  1. not politic : unwise

im·pon·der·a·ble [(,)im-'pän-d(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not ponderable : incapable of being weighed or evaluated with exactness
    • the imponderable beauties of Beethoven's...sonatas -- Cecelia Porter

im·pone [im-'pōn] -vt

  1. wager, bet

im·port [im-'pȯrt, 'im-,] -vb, adj, n

  1. to bear or convey as meaning or portent : signify
  2. express, state
  3. imply
  4. : to bring from a foreign or external source: as
  5. to bring (as merchandise) into a place or country from another country
  6. to transfer (as files or data) from one format to another usu. within a new file
  7. to be of importance to : concern
  8. to be of consequence : matter
  9. importance
  10. relative importance
    • it is hard to judge the import of this decision
  11. purport, signification
  12. something that is imported
  13. importation

im·por·tance [im-'pȯr-tᵊn(t)s, esp Southern & NewEng -tən(t)s, -dən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being important : consequence
  2. an important aspect or bearing : significance
  3. import, meaning
  4. importunity
  5. a weighty matter

im·por·tan·cy [-tᵊn(t)-sē, -tən(t)-, -dən(t)-] -n

  1. importance

im·por·tant [im-'pȯr-tᵊnt, esp Southern & NewEng -tənt, -dənt] -adj

  1. marked by or indicative of significant worth or consequence : valuable in content or relationship
  2. importunate, urgent
  3. giving evidence of a feeling of self-importance

im·por·tant·ly [-lē] -adv

  1. in an important way
    • contributed importantly to the language of the field -- Ernst Mayr
    • cleared his throat importantly and waited -- E. K. Gann
    • the real story is importantly different -- Alexander Woollcott
  2. it is important that
    • more importantly he stands a chance of having his publication barred -- H. L. Mencken

im·por·ta·tion [,im-,pȯr-'tā-shən, -pər-] -n

  1. the act or practice of importing
  2. something imported

imported cabbage worm -n

  1. a small European white butterfly ( Pieris rapae) introduced into temperate regions worldwide
  2. its green larva that is a pest of cruciferous plants and esp. cabbage

imported fire ant -n

  1. either of two mound-building So. American fire ants ( Solenopsis richteriand S. invicta) introduced into the southeastern U.S. that are agricultural pests and can produce stings requiring medical attention

im·por·tu·nate [im-'pȯr-chə-nət, -tyu̇-nət] -adj, adv, n

  1. troublesomely urgent : overly persistent in request or demand
    • importunate creditors
  2. troublesome

im·por·tune [,im-pər-'tün, -'tyün; im-'pȯr-,, -chən] -adj, adv

  1. importunate

importune -vb, n

  1. to press or urge with troublesome persistence
  2. to request or beg for urgently
  3. annoy, trouble
  4. to beg, urge, or solicit persistently or troublesomely

im·por·tu·ni·ty [,im-pər-'tü-nə-tē, -'tyü-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being importunate
  2. an importunate request or demand

im·pose [im-'pōz] -vb, n

  1. to establish or apply by authority
    • impose a tax
    • impose new restrictions
    • impose penalties
  2. to establish or bring about as if by force
    • those limits imposed by our own inadequacies -- C. H. Plimpton
  3. place, set
  4. to arrange (as pages) in the proper order for printing
  5. pass off
    • impose fake antiques on the public
  6. to force into the company or on the attention of another
    • impose oneself on others
  7. to take unwarranted advantage of something
    • imposed on his good nature

imposing [-ziŋ-lē] -adj, adv

  1. impressive in size, bearing, dignity, or grandeur

im·po·si·tion [,im-pə-'zi-shən] -n

  1. : something imposed: as
  2. levy, tax
  3. an excessive or uncalled-for requirement or burden
  4. the act of imposing
  5. deception
  6. the order of arrangement of imposed pages

im·pos·si·bil·i·ty [(,)im-,pä-sə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being impossible
  2. something impossible

im·pos·si·ble [(,)im-'pä-sə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. incapable of being or of occurring
  2. felt to be incapable of being done, attained, or fulfilled : insuperably difficult
    • an impossible deadline
  3. extremely undesirable : unacceptable
  4. extremely awkward or difficult to deal with
    • the actor was impossible on the set

im·pos·si·bly [-blē] -adv

  1. not possibly
  2. to an improbable degree : unbelievably
    • an impossibly green lawn

im·post ['im-,pōst] -n

  1. something imposed or levied : tax

impost -n

  1. a block, capital, or molding from which an arch springs

im·pos·tor [im-'päs-tər] -n

  1. one that assumes false identity or title for the purpose of deception

im·pos·tume [im-'päs-,chüm] -n

  1. abscess

im·pos·ture [im-'päs-chər] -n

  1. the act or practice of deceiving by means of an assumed character or name
  2. an instance of imposture

im·po·tence ['im-pə-tən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being impotent

im·po·ten·cy [-tən(t)-sē] -n

  1. impotence

im·po·tent ['im-pə-tənt] -adj, n, adv

  1. not potent : lacking in power, strength, or vigor : helpless
  2. unable to engage in sexual intercourse because of inability to have and maintain an erection
  3. sterile
  4. incapable of self-restraint : ungovernable

im·pound [im-'pau̇nd] -vt

  1. to shut up in or as if in a pound : confine
  2. to seize and hold in the custody of the law
  3. to take possession of
    • she was dismissed and her manuscript impound ed -- Jonathan Weiner
  4. to collect and confine (water) in or as if in a reservoir

im·pound·ment [-'pau̇n(d)-mənt] -n

  1. the act of impounding : the state of being impounded
  2. a body of water formed by impounding

im·pov·er·ish [im-'päv-rish, -'pä-və-] -vt, n

  1. to make poor
  2. to deprive of strength, richness, or fertility by depleting or draining of something essential

impoverished -adj

  1. represented by few species or individuals

im·prac·ti·ca·ble [(,)im-'prak-ti-kə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. impassable
    • an impracticable road
  2. not practicable : incapable of being performed or accomplished by the means employed or at command
    • an impracticable proposal

im·prac·ti·cal [(,)im-'prak-ti-kəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : not practical: as
  2. not wise to put into or keep in practice or effect
  3. incapable of dealing sensibly or prudently with practical matters
  4. impracticable
  5. idealistic

im·pre·cate ['im-pri-,kāt] -vb

  1. to invoke evil on : curse
  2. to utter curses

im·pre·ca·tion [,im-pri-'kā-shən] -n, adj

  1. curse
  2. the act of imprecating

im·pre·cise [,im-pri-'sīs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not precise : inexact, vague
    • an imprecise estimate

im·preg·na·ble [im-'preg-nə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being taken by assault : unconquerable
    • an impregnable fortress
  2. unassailable
  3. impenetrable
    • impregnable walls

im·preg·nant [im-'preg-nənt] -n

  1. a substance used for impregnating another substance

im·preg·nate [im-'preg-,nāt, 'im-,] -vt, n

  1. to cause to be filled, imbued, permeated, or saturated
    • impregnate wood with varnish
  2. to permeate thoroughly
  3. to make pregnant : fertilize
  4. being filled or saturated

im·pre·sa [im-'prā-zə, -sə] -n

  1. a device with a motto used in the 16th and 17th centuries
  2. emblem

im·pre·sa·rio [,im-prə-'sär-ē-,ō, -'ser-, -'zär-] -n

  1. the promoter, manager, or conductor of an opera or concert company
  2. a person who puts on or sponsors an entertainment (as a television show or sports event)
  3. manager, director

im·press [im-'pres] -vb, n, adj

  1. to apply with pressure so as to imprint
  2. to produce (as a mark) by pressure
  3. to mark by or as if by pressure or stamping
  4. to produce a vivid impression of
  5. to affect esp. forcibly or deeply : gain the admiration or interest of
    • her honesty impress ed us
  6. transfer, transmit
  7. to produce an impression
  8. a characteristic or distinctive mark : stamp
    • the impress of a fresh and vital intelligence is stamped...in his work -- Lytton Strachey
  9. impression, effect
    • have an impress on history
  10. the act of impressing
  11. a mark made by pressure : imprint
  12. an image of something formed by or as if by pressure
  13. seal
  14. a product of pressure or influence
  15. to levy or take by force for public service
  16. to force into naval service
  17. to procure or enlist by forcible persuasion
  18. force
    • impress ed him into a white coat for the Christmas festivities -- Nancy Hale
  19. impressment

im·pres·sion [im-'pre-shən] -n

  1. a characteristic, trait, or feature resulting from some influence
    • the impression on behavior produced by the social milieu
  2. an effect of alteration or improvement
    • the settlement left little impression on the wilderness
  3. a telling image impressed on the senses or the mind
  4. : the effect produced by impressing: as
  5. a stamp, form, or figure resulting from physical contact
  6. an imprint of the teeth and adjacent portions of the jaw for use in dentistry
  7. an esp. marked and often favorable influence or effect on feeling, sense, or mind
  8. : the act of impressing: as
  9. an affecting by stamping or pressing
  10. a communicating of a mold, trait, or character by an external force or influence
  11. the amount of pressure with which an inked printing surface deposits its ink on the paper
  12. one instance of the meeting of a printing surface and the material being printed
  13. a single print or copy so made
  14. all the copies (as of a book) printed in one continuous operation from a single makeready
  15. an often indistinct or imprecise notion or remembrance
  16. the first coat of color in painting
  17. a coat of paint for ornament or preservation
  18. an imitation or representation of salient features in an artistic or theatrical medium
  19. an imitation in caricature of a noted personality as a form of theatrical entertainment

im·pres·sion·able [im-'pre-sh(ə-)nə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. capable of being easily impressed

im·pres·sion·ism [im-'pre-shə-,ni-zəm] -n

  1. a theory or practice in painting esp. among French painters of about 1870 of depicting the natural appearances of objects by means of dabs or strokes of primary unmixed colors in order to simulate actual reflected light
  2. the depiction (as in literature) of scene, emotion, or character by details intended to achieve a vividness or effectiveness more by evoking subjective and sensory impressions than by recreating an objective reality
  3. a style of musical composition designed to create subtle moods and impressions

im·pres·sion·ist [im-'pre-sh(ə-)nist] -n

  1. one (as a painter) who practices or adheres to the theories of impressionism
  2. an entertainer who does impressions

im·pres·sion·is·tic [(,)im-,pre-shə-'nis-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or constituting impressionism
  2. based on or involving impression as distinct from expertise or fact
    • intuitions and impressionistic anecdotal accounts -- Sidney Hook

im·pres·sive [im-'pre-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. making or tending to make a marked impression : having the power to excite attention, awe, or admiration
    • an impressive display of skill

im·press·ment [im-'pres-mənt] -n

  1. the act of seizing for public use or of impressing into public service

im·pres·sure [im-'pre-shər] -n

  1. a mark made by pressure : impression

im·prest ['im-,prest] -n

  1. a loan or advance of money

im·pri·ma·tur [,im-prə-'mä-,tu̇r, im-'pri-mə-,tu̇r, -,tyu̇r] -n

  1. a license to print or publish esp. by Roman Catholic episcopal authority
  2. approval of a publication under circumstances of official censorship
  3. sanction, approval
  4. imprint
  5. a mark of approval or distinction

im·pri·mis [im-'prī-məs, -'prē-] -adv

  1. in the first place used to introduce a list of items or considerations

im·print [im-'print, 'im-,] -vb, n

  1. to mark by or as if by pressure : impress
  2. to fix indelibly or permanently (as on the memory)
  3. to subject to or induce by imprinting
    • an imprint ed preference
  4. to undergo imprinting
  5. : something imprinted or printed: as
  6. a mark or depression made by pressure
    • the fossil imprint of a dinosaur's foot
  7. an identifying name (as of a publisher) placed conspicuously on a product
  8. the name under which a publisher issues books
  9. an indelible distinguishing effect or influence

im·print·ing ['im-,prin-tiŋ, im-'] -n

  1. a rapid learning process that takes place early in the life of a social animal (as a goose) and establishes a behavior pattern (as recognition of and attraction to its own kind or a substitute)

im·pris·on [im-'pri-zᵊn] -vt, n

  1. to put in or as if in prison : confine

im·prob·a·ble [(,)im-'prä-bə-bəl, -'präb-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. unlikely to be true or to occur
  2. unlikely but real or true

im·promp·tu [im-'präm(p)-(,)tü, -(,)tyü] -n

  1. something that is impromptu
  2. a musical composition suggesting improvisation

impromptu -adj, adv

  1. made, done, or formed on or as if on the spur of the moment : improvised
  2. composed or uttered without previous preparation : extemporaneous

im·prop·er [(,)im-'prä-pər] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not proper: as
  2. not in accord with fact, truth, or right procedure : incorrect
    • improper inference
  3. not regularly or normally formed or not properly so called
  4. not suited to the circumstances, design, or end
    • improper medicine
  5. not in accord with propriety, modesty, good manners, or good taste
    • improper language

improper fraction -n

  1. a fraction whose numerator is equal to, larger than, or of equal or higher degree than the denominator

improper integral -n

  1. a definite integral whose region of integration is unbounded or includes a point at which the integrand is undefined or tends to infinity

im·pro·pri·e·ty [,im-p(r)ə-'prī-ə-tē] -n

  1. an improper or indecorous act or remark
  2. an unacceptable use of a word or of language
  3. the quality or state of being improper

im·prov ['im-,präv] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being improvisation and esp. an improvised comedy routine

im·prove [im-'prüv] -vb, n, adj

  1. employ, use
  2. to enhance in value or quality : make better
  3. to increase the value of (land or property) by making it more useful for humans (as by cultivation or the erection of buildings)
  4. to grade and drain (a road) and apply surfacing material other than pavement
  5. to use to good purpose
  6. to advance or make progress in what is desirable
  7. to make useful additions or amendments

im·prove·ment [im-'prüv-mənt] -n

  1. the act or process of improving
  2. the state of being improved
  3. enhanced value or excellence
  4. an instance of such improvement : something that enhances value or excellence

im·prov·i·dence [(,)im-'prä-və-dən(t)s, -,den(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being improvident

im·prov·i·dent [-dənt, -,dent] -adj, adv

  1. not provident : not foreseeing and providing for the future

im·pro·vi·sa·tion [(,)im-,prä-və-'zā-shən, ,im-prə-və- also ,im-prə-(,)vī-] -n, adj, adv

  1. the act or art of improvising
  2. something (as a musical or dramatic composition) improvised

im·prov·i·sa·tor [im-'prä-və-,zā-tər] -n, adj

  1. one that improvises

im·pro·vi·sa·to·re [(,)im-,prä-və-zə-'tȯr-ē, ,im-prə-,vē-zə-] -n

  1. one that improvises (as verse) usu. extemporaneously

im·pro·vise ['im-prə-,vīz also ,im-prə-'] -vb, n

  1. to compose, recite, play, or sing extemporaneously
  2. to make, invent, or arrange offhand
  3. to make or fabricate out of what is conveniently on hand
    • improvise a meal
  4. to improvise something

im·pru·dence [(,)im-'prü-dᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being imprudent
  2. an imprudent act

im·pru·dent [-dᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. not prudent : lacking discretion, wisdom, or good judgment
    • an imprudent investor

im·pu·dence ['im-pyə-dən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being impudent

im·pu·dent [-dənt] -adj, adv

  1. lacking modesty
  2. marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others : insolent

im·pugn [im-'pyün] -vt, adj, n

  1. to assail by words or arguments : oppose or attack as false or lacking integrity
    • impugn ed the defendant's character
  2. assail
  3. resist

im·puis·sance [(,)im-'pwi-sᵊn(t)s, (,)im-'pyü-ə-sən(t)s; ,im-pyü-'i-sᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. weakness, powerlessness

im·puis·sant [-sᵊnt, -sənt] -adj

  1. weak, powerless

im·pulse ['im-,pəls, im-'] -vt

  1. to give an impulse to
  2. inspiration, motivation
  3. a force so communicated as to produce motion suddenly
  4. incentive
  5. the act of driving onward with sudden force : impulsion
  6. motion produced by such an impulsion : impetus
  7. a wave of excitation transmitted through tissues and esp. nerve fibers and muscles that results in physiological activity or inhibition
  8. a sudden spontaneous inclination or incitement to some usu. unpremeditated action
  9. a propensity or natural tendency usu. other than rational
  10. the product of the average value of a force and the time during which it acts : the change in momentum produced by the force
  11. pulse

im·pul·sion [im-'pəl-shən] -n

  1. the act of impelling : the state of being impelled
  2. an impelling force
  3. an onward tendency derived from an impulsion
  4. impulse
  5. compulsion

im·pul·sive [im-'pəl-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. having the power of or actually driving or impelling
  2. arising from an impulse
    • an impulsive decision
  3. prone to act on impulse
    • an impulsive young man
  4. acting momentarily

im·pu·ni·ty [im-'pyü-nə-tē] -n

  1. exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss
    • laws were flouted with impunity

im·pure [(,)im-'pyu̇r] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not pure: as
  2. lewd, unchaste
  3. containing something unclean : foul
    • impure water
  4. ritually unclean
  5. mixed or impregnated with an extraneous and usu. unwanted substance
    • an impure chemical

im·pu·ri·ty [(,)im-'pyu̇r-ə-tē] -n

  1. something that is impure or makes something else impure
    • removing impurities from water
  2. the quality or state of being impure

im·pu·ta·tion [,im-pyə-'tā-shən] -n, adj, adv

  1. : the act of imputing: as
  2. attribution, ascription
  3. accusation
    • denied any imputation of unfairness
  4. insinuation
  5. something imputed

im·pute [im-'pyüt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to lay the responsibility or blame for often falsely or unjustly
  2. to credit to a person or a cause : attribute
    • our vices as well as our virtues have been imputed to bodily derangement -- B. N. Cardozo