in ['in, ən, ᵊn] -prep

  1. used as a function word to indicate inclusion, location, or position within limits
    • in the lake
    • wounded in the leg
    • in the summer
  2. into
    • went in the house
  3. used as a function word to indicate means, medium, or instrumentality
    • written in pencil
    • bound in leather
  4. used as a function word to indicate limitation, qualification, or circumstance
    • alike in some respects
    • left in a hurry
  5. into
    • broke in pieces
  6. used as a function word to indicate purpose
    • said in reply
  7. used as a function word to indicate the larger member of a ratio
    • one in six is eligible
  8. to or toward the inside esp. of a house or other building
    • come in
  9. to or toward some destination or particular place
    • flew in on the first plane
  10. at close quarters : near
    • play close in
  11. so as to incorporate
    • mix in the flour
    often used in combination
    • built- in bookcases
  12. to or at an appropriate place
    • fit a piece in
  13. within a particular place
  14. within the customary place of residence or business
    • the doctor is in
  15. in the position of participant, insider, or officeholder often used with on
    • in on the joke
  16. on good terms
  17. in a specified relation
    • in bad with the boss
  18. in a position of assured or definitive success
  19. in vogue or season
  20. in production
  21. in one's presence, possession, or control
    • after the crops are in
  22. from a condition of indistinguishability to one of clarity
    • fade in
  23. that is located inside or within
    • the in part
  24. that is in position, operation, or power
    • the in party
  25. inside
  26. that is directed or bound inward : incoming
    • the in train
  27. extremely fashionable
    • the in thing to do
  28. keenly aware of and responsive to what is new and fashionable
    • the in crowd
  29. one who is in office or power or on the inside
    • a matter of in s versus outs
  30. influence, pull
    • enjoyed some sort of in with the commandant -- Henriette Roosenburg
  31. inch
  32. inlet

In -symbol

  1. indium

IN -abbr

  1. Indiana

in- -prefix

  1. not : non-, un- usu. il- before l
    • il logical
    , im- before b, m, or p
    • im balance
    • im moral
    • im practical
    , ir- before r
    • ir reducible
    , and in- before other sounds
    • in conclusive
  2. in : within : into : toward : on usu. il- before l
    • il luviation
    , im- before b, m, or p
    • im mingle
    , ir- before r
    • ir radiance
    , and in- before other sounds
    • in filtrate
  3. en-
    • im brute
    • im peril
    • in spirit

in·abil·i·ty [,i-nə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. lack of sufficient power, resources, or capacity
    • his inability to do math

in ab·sen·tia [,in-ab-'sen(t)-sh(ē-)ə] -adv

  1. in absence
    • gave him the award in absentia

in·ac·ces·si·ble [,i-nik-'se-sə-bəl, (,)i-,nak-] -adj, n, adv

  1. not accessible
    • an inaccessible area
    • an inaccessible goal

in·ac·cu·ra·cy [(,)i-'na-kyə-rə-sē, -k(ə-)rə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being inaccurate
  2. mistake, error

in·ac·cu·rate [-'a-kyə-rət, -k(ə-)rət] -adj, adv

  1. not accurate : faulty
    • inaccurate information

in·ac·tion [(,)i-'nak-shən] -n

  1. lack of action or activity : idleness

in·ac·ti·vate [(,)i-'nak-tə-,vāt] -vt, n

  1. to make inactive
    • chemicals to inactivate viruses

in·ac·tive [(,)i-'nak-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not active: as
  2. sedentary
  3. indolent, sluggish
  4. being out of use
  5. relating to or being members of the armed forces who are not performing or available for military duties
  6. quiescent
  7. chemically inert
  8. optically neutral in polarized light
  9. biologically inert esp. because of the loss of some quality (as infectivity or antigenicity)

in·ad·e·qua·cy [(,)i-'na-di-kwə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being inadequate
  2. insufficiency, deficiency

in·ad·e·quate [-kwət] -adj, adv, n

  1. not adequate : insufficient
    • inadequate equipment
  2. not capable
    • was inadequate as a leader

in·ad·mis·si·ble [,i-nəd-'mi-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not admissible
    • inadmissible evidence

in·ad·ver·tence [,i-nəd-'vər-tᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. the fact or action of being inadvertent
  2. a result of inattention : oversight

in·ad·ver·ten·cy [-tᵊn(t)-sē] -n

  1. inadvertence

in·ad·ver·tent [-tᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. not focusing the mind on a matter : inattentive
  2. unintentional
    • an inadvertent omission

in·ad·vis·able [,i-nəd-'vī-zə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. not advisable : not wise or prudent
    • inadvisable haste

in·alien·able [(,)i-'nāl-yə-nə-bəl, -'nā-lē-ə-nə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred
    • inalienable rights

in·al·ter·able [(,)i-'nȯl-t(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not alterable : unalterable

in·amo·ra·ta [i-,na-mə-'rä-tə] -n

  1. a woman with whom one is in love or has intimate relations

inandin [,in-ən(d)-'in] -adv or adj

  1. in repeated generations of the same or closely related stock
    • families...of one blood through mating or marrying inandin -- F. H. Giddings
    • inandin breeding

inane [i-'nān] -adj, adv, n

  1. empty, insubstantial
  2. lacking significance, meaning, or point : silly
    • inane comments
  3. void or empty space
    • a voyage into the limitless inane -- V. G. Childe

in·an·i·mate [(,)i-'na-nə-mət] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not animate:
  2. not endowed with life or spirit
    • an inanimate object
  3. lacking consciousness or power of motion
    • an inanimate body
  4. not animated or lively : dull

in·a·ni·tion [,i-nə-'ni-shən] -n

  1. : the quality or state of being empty:
  2. the exhausted condition that results from lack of food and water
  3. the absence or loss of social, moral, or intellectual vitality or vigor

inan·i·ty [i-'na-nə-tē] -n

  1. : the quality or state of being inane: as
  2. lack of substance : emptiness
  3. vapid, pointless, or fatuous character : shallowness
  4. something that is inane

in·ap·par·ent [,i-nə-'per-ənt] -adj, adv

  1. not apparent

in·ap·peas·able [,i-nə-'pē-zə-bəl] -adj

  1. unappeasable

in·ap·pe·tence [(,)i-'na-pə-tən(t)s] -n

  1. loss or lack of appetite

in·ap·pli·ca·ble [(,)i-'na-pli-kə-bəl also ,i-nə-'pli-kə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. not applicable : irrelevant

in·ap·po·site [(,)i-'na-pə-zət] -adj, adv, n

  1. not apposite : not apt or pertinent

in·ap·pre·cia·ble [,i-nə-'prē-shə-bəl, -'pri-sh(ē-)ə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. too small to be perceived
    • an inappreciable amount

in·ap·pre·cia·tive [,i-nə-'prē-shə-tiv, -'pri- also -'prē-shē-,ā-] -adj, adv, n

  1. not appreciative
    • inappreciative of their workers

in·ap·proach·able [,i-nə-'prō-chə-bəl] -adj

  1. not approachable : inaccessible
    • her boss came across as inapproachable

in·ap·pro·pri·ate [,i-nə-'prō-prē-ət] -adj, adv, n

  1. not appropriate : unsuitable

in·apt [(,)i-'napt] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not apt:
  2. not suitable
    • an inapt analogy
  3. inept

in·ap·ti·tude [(,)i-'nap-tə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. lack of aptitude

in·ar·gu·able [(,)i-'när-gyə-wə-bəl] -adj

  1. not arguable : not open to doubt or debate
    • her impact was substantial and inarguable

in·ar·gu·ably [-blē] -adv

  1. it cannot be argued : unquestionably
    • inarguably, December is the best month for retailers

in·ar·tic·u·la·cy [,i-(,)när-'ti-kyə-lə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being inarticulate

in·ar·tic·u·late [-kyə-lət] -adj, adv, n

  1. uttered or formed without the definite articulations of intelligible speech
  2. incapable of speech esp. under stress of emotion : mute
  3. incapable of being expressed by speech
    • inarticulate fear
  4. not voiced or expressed : unspoken
    • society functions on many inarticulate premises
  5. incapable of giving coherent, clear, or effective expression to one's ideas or feelings
  6. relating to, characteristic of, or being an inarticulate or its shell

inarticulate -n

  1. any of a class (Inarticulata) of brachiopods lacking a hinge connecting the two shell valves

in·ar·tis·tic [,i-när-'tis-tik] -adj, adv

  1. not conforming to the principles of art
  2. not appreciative of art

in·as·much as [,i-nəz-'mə-chəz, -'məch-,az] -conj

  1. in the degree that : insofar as
  2. in view of the fact that : since

in·at·ten·tion [,i-nə-'ten(t)-shən] -n

  1. failure to pay attention

in·at·ten·tive [-'ten-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. not attentive : not paying attention

in·au·di·ble [(,)i-'nȯ-də-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not audible
    • inaudible comments

in·au·gu·ral [i-'nȯ-gyə-rəl, -g(ə-)rəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to an inauguration
  2. marking a beginning : first in a projected series

inaugural -n

  1. an inaugural address
  2. inauguration

in·au·gu·rate [i-'nȯ-gyə-,rāt, -gə-,rāt] -vt, n

  1. to induct into an office with suitable ceremonies
  2. to dedicate ceremoniously : observe formally the beginning of
    • inaugurate a new school
  3. to bring about the beginning of

in·au·gu·ra·tion [-,nȯ-gyə-'rā-shən, -gə-] -n

  1. an act of inaugurating
  2. a ceremonial induction into office

Inauguration Day -n

  1. January 20 following a presidential election on which the president of the U.S. is inaugurated

in·aus·pi·cious [,i-,nȯ-'spi-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not auspicious
    • an inauspicious start

in·au·then·tic [,i-,nȯ-'then-tik] -adj, n

  1. not authentic

inbe·tween [,in-bi-'twēn] -adj or n

  1. intermediate

in between -adv or prep

  1. between

in·board ['in-,bȯrd] -adv

  1. inside the line of a ship's bulwarks or hull
  2. toward the center line of a vehicle or craft (as a ship or aircraft)

inboard -adj

  1. located inboard
    • an inboard engine
    • an inboard spoiler
  2. having an inboard engine
  3. a boat with an inboard motor

in·born ['in-'bȯrn] -adj

  1. present from or as if from birth
  2. hereditary, inherited

in·bound ['in-,bau̇nd] -adj

  1. inward bound
    • inbound traffic

in·bounds ['in-'bau̇n(d)z] -adj

  1. involving putting a basketball in play by passing it onto the court from out of bounds

inbounds line -n

  1. either of two broken lines running the length of a football field at right angles to the yard lines

inbox ['in-,bäks] -n

  1. a box or tray (as on a desk) for holding incoming interoffice mail
  2. a computer folder devoted to incoming e-mail

in·breathe ['in-,brēth] -vt

  1. to breathe (something) in : inhale

in·bred ['in-'bred] -adj, n

  1. rooted and ingrained in one's nature as deeply as if implanted by heredity
    • an inbred love of freedom
  2. subjected to or produced by inbreeding

in·breed ['in-'brēd] -vb

  1. to subject to inbreeding
  2. to engage in inbreeding

inbreeding -n

  1. the interbreeding of closely related individuals esp. to preserve and fix desirable characters of and to eliminate unfavorable characters from a stock
  2. confinement to a narrow range or a local or limited field of choice

in·built ['in-'bilt] -adj

  1. built-in

inc -abbr

  1. incomplete
  2. incorporated
  3. increase

In·ca ['iŋ-kə] -n, adj

  1. a member of the Quechuan peoples of Peru maintaining an empire until the Spanish conquest
  2. a king or noble of the Inca empire
  3. a member of any people under Inca influence

in·cal·cu·la·ble [(,)in-'kal-kyə-lə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : not capable of being calculated: as
  2. very great
    • did incalculable damage
  3. not predictable : uncertain
    • an incalculable outcome

in·ca·les·cence [,in-kə-'le-sᵊn(t)s, ,iŋ-] -n, adj

  1. a growing warm or ardent

in camera -adv

  1. in private : secretly

in·can·desce [,in-kən-'des also -(,)kan-] -vi

  1. to be or become incandescent

in·can·des·cence [,in-kən-'de-sᵊn(t)s also -(,)kan-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being incandescent
  2. emission by a hot body of radiation that makes it visible

in·can·des·cent [-sᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. white, glowing, or luminous with intense heat
  2. strikingly bright, radiant, or clear
  3. marked by brilliance esp. of expression
    • incandescent wit
  4. characterized by glowing zeal : ardent
    • incandescent affection
  5. of, relating to, or being light produced by incandescence
  6. producing light by incandescence

incandescent -n

  1. lightbulb

incandescent lamp -n

  1. lightbulb

in·cant [in-'kant] -vi

  1. recite, utter

in·can·ta·tion [,in-,kan-'tā-shən] -n, adj

  1. a use of spells or verbal charms spoken or sung as a part of a ritual of magic
  2. a written or recited formula of words designed to produce a particular effect

in·ca·pa·ble [(,)in-'kā-pə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : lacking capacity, ability, or qualification for the purpose or end in view: as
  2. not able to take in, hold, or keep
  3. not receptive
  4. not being in a state or of a kind to admit : insusceptible
  5. not able or fit for the doing or performance : incompetent
  6. lacking legal qualification or power (as by reason of mental incompetence) : disqualified

in·ca·pac·i·tate [,in-kə-'pa-sə-,tāt] -vt, n

  1. to make legally incapable or ineligible
  2. to deprive of capacity or natural power : disable

in·ca·pac·i·ty [,in-kə-'pa-sə-tē, -'pas-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being incapable
  2. lack of physical or intellectual power or of natural or legal qualifications

in·car·cer·ate [in-'kär-sə-,rāt] -vt, n

  1. to put in prison
  2. to subject to confinement

in·car·di·na·tion [(,)in-,kär-dᵊn-'ā-shən] -n

  1. the formal acceptance by a diocese of a clergyman from another diocese

in·car·na·dine [in-'kär-nə-,dīn, -,dēn, -dən] -adj

  1. having the pinkish color of flesh
  2. red
  3. bloodred

incarnadine -vt

  1. to make incarnadine : redden

in·car·nate [in-'kär-nət, -,nāt] -adj

  1. invested with bodily and esp. human nature and form
  2. made manifest or comprehensible : embodied
    • a fiend incarnate
  3. incarnadine
    • incarnate clover
  4. : to make incarnate: as
  5. to give bodily form and substance to
    • incarnate s the devil as a serpent
  6. to give a concrete or actual form to : actualize
  7. to constitute an embodiment or type of
    • no one culture incarnate s every important human value -- Denis Goulet

in·car·na·tion [,in-(,)kär-'nā-shən] -n, adj

  1. the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form
  2. the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ
  3. a concrete or actual form of a quality or concept
  4. a person showing a trait or typical character to a marked degree
    • she is the incarnation of goodness
  5. the act of incarnating : the state of being incarnate
  6. a particular physical form or state : version
    • in another incarnation he might be a first vice-president -- Walter Teller
    • TV and movie incarnation s of the story

in case -conj

  1. if
    • in case we are surprised, keep by me -- Washington Irving
  2. as a precaution against the event that
    • carries a gun in case he is attacked

in·cau·tion [(,)in-'kȯ-shən] -n

  1. lack of caution : heedlessness

in·cau·tious [-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. lacking in caution : careless
    • an incautious remark

in·cen·di·a·rism [in-'sen-dē-ə-,ri-zəm] -n

  1. incendiary action or behavior

in·cen·di·ary [in-'sen-dē-,er-ē; -'sen-də-rē, -dyə-] -n

  1. a person who commits arson : arsonist
  2. an incendiary agent (as a bomb)
  3. a person who excites factions, quarrels, or sedition : agitator

incendiary -adj

  1. of, relating to, or involving arson : arsonous
  2. tending to excite or inflame : inflammatory
    • incendiary speeches
  3. igniting combustible materials spontaneously
  4. of, relating to, or being a weapon (as a bomb) designed to start fires
  5. extremely hot
    • incendiary chili peppers

in·cense ['in-,sen(t)s] -n

  1. material used to produce a fragrant odor when burned
  2. the perfume exhaled from some spices and gums when burned
  3. a pleasing scent
  4. pleasing attention : flattery

incense -vt

  1. to apply or offer incense to
  2. to perfume with incense

in·cense [in-'sen(t)s] -vt

  1. to cause (a passion or emotion) to become aroused
  2. to arouse the extreme anger or indignation of

incense cedar -n

  1. a tall tree ( Calocedrus decurrenssyn. Libocedrus decurrens) of the cypress family found growing from Oregon to Baja California that has reddish-brown bark, scalelike foliage, and light soft aromatic wood
  2. its wood

in·cent [in-'sent] -vt

  1. incentivize

in·cen·ter ['in-,sen-tər] -n

  1. the single point in which the three bisectors of the interior angles of a triangle intersect and which is the center of the inscribed circle

in·cen·tive [in-'sen-tiv] -n, adj

  1. something that incites or has a tendency to incite to determination or action

in·cen·tiv·ize [in-'sen-tə-,vīz] -vt

  1. to provide with an incentive
    • would incentivize employees with stock options

in·cep·tion [in-'sep-shən] -n

  1. an act, process, or instance of beginning : commencement

in·cep·tive [in-'sep-tiv] -n

  1. an inchoative verb

inceptive -adj, adv

  1. inchoative
  2. of or relating to a beginning

in·cer·ti·tude [(,)in-'sər-tə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. : uncertainty:
  2. absence of assurance or confidence : doubt
  3. the quality or state of being unstable or insecure

in·ces·san·cy [(,)in-'se-sᵊn(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being incessant

in·ces·sant [(,)in-'se-sᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. continuing or following without interruption : unceasing

in·cest ['in-,sest] -n

  1. sexual intercourse between persons so closely related that they are forbidden by law to marry
  2. the statutory crime of such a relationship

in·ces·tu·ous [in-'ses-chə-wəs, -'sesh-] -adj, adv, n

  1. constituting or involving incest
  2. guilty of incest
  3. excessively or improperly intimate or exclusive
    • mainstream fashion magazines have an incestuous relationship with advertisers -- Guy Trebay

inch ['inch] -n

  1. a unit of length equal to yard
  2. a small amount, distance, or degree
    • is like cutting a dog's tail off by inch es -- Milton Friedman
  3. stature, height
  4. a fall (as of rain or snow) sufficient to cover a surface or to fill a gauge to the depth of one inch
  5. a degree of atmospheric or other pressure sufficient to balance the weight of a column of liquid (as mercury) one inch high in a barometer or manometer
  6. a small advantage esp. from lenient or compassionate treatment usu. used in the phrase give an inch
  7. to move by small degrees : progress slowly
    • the long line of people inch ing up the stairs
  8. to cause to move slowly
    • sooner or later they begin inch ing prices back up -- Forbes
  9. island

inched ['incht] -adj

  1. measuring a specified number of inches

inch·meal ['inch-,mēl, -'mēl] -adv

  1. little by little, gradually

in·cho·ate [in-'kō-ət, 'in-kə-,wāt] -adj, adv, n

  1. being only partly in existence or operation : incipient
  2. imperfectly formed or formulated : formless, incoherent
    • misty, inchoate suspicions that all is not well with the nation -- J. M. Perry

in·cho·a·tive [in-'kō-ə-tiv] -adj, n, adv

  1. initial, formative
    • the inchoative stages
  2. denoting the beginning of an action, state, or occurrence used of verbs

inch·worm ['inch-,wərm] -n

  1. looper

in·ci·dence ['in(t)-sə-dən(t)s, -,den(t)s] -n

  1. angle of incidence
  2. the arrival of something (as a projectile or a ray of light) at a surface
  3. an act or the fact or manner of falling upon or affecting : occurrence
  4. rate of occurrence or influence
    • a high incidence of crime

in·ci·dent ['in(t)-sə-dənt, -,dent] -n

  1. something dependent on or subordinate to something else of greater or principal importance
  2. an occurrence of an action or situation that is a separate unit of experience : happening
  3. an accompanying minor occurrence or condition : concomitant
  4. an action likely to lead to grave consequences esp. in diplomatic matters
    • a serious border incident

incident -adj

  1. occurring or likely to occur esp. as a minor consequence or accompaniment
    • the confusion incident to moving day
  2. dependent on or relating to another thing in law
  3. falling or striking on something
    • incident light rays

in·ci·den·tal [,in(t)-sə-'den-tᵊl] -adj

  1. being likely to ensue as a chance or minor consequence
    • social obligations incidental to the job
  2. minor
  3. occurring merely by chance or without intention or calculation

incidental -n

  1. minor items (as of expense) that are not particularized
  2. something that is incidental

in·ci·den·tal·ly [-'den-tᵊl-ē, esp for 2 -'dent-lē] -adv

  1. in an incidental manner : not intentionally
    • the arrant nonsense of some of his statements is incidentally hilarious -- John Lahr
  2. by way of interjection or digression : by the way
    • fortunate in having a good teacher...-still living, incidentally -- John Fischer

incidental music -n

  1. descriptive music played during a play to project a mood or to accompany stage action

in·cin·er·ate [in-'si-nə-,rāt] -vt, n

  1. to cause to burn to ashes

in·cin·er·a·tor [in-'si-nə-,rā-tər] -n

  1. one that incinerates
  2. a furnace or a container for incinerating waste materials

in·cip·i·ence [in-'si-pē-ən(t)s] -n

  1. incipiency

in·cip·i·en·cy [-ən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the state or fact of being incipient : beginning

in·cip·i·ent [-ənt] -adj, adv

  1. beginning to come into being or to become apparent
    • an incipient solar system
    • evidence of incipient racial tension

in·ci·pit ['in(t)-sə-pət, 'iŋ-kə-,pit; in-'si-pət, -'ki-] -n

  1. the first part : beginning
  2. the opening words of a text of a medieval manuscript or early printed book

in·ci·sal [in-'sī-zəl, -səl] -adj

  1. relating to, involving, or being the cutting edge or surface of a tooth (as an incisor)

in·cise [in-'sīz, -'sīs] -vt

  1. to cut into
  2. to carve figures, letters, or devices into : engrave
  3. to carve (as an inscription) into a surface

incised -adj

  1. cut in : engraved
  2. decorated with incised figures
  3. having a margin that is deeply and sharply notched
    • an incised leaf

in·ci·sion [in-'si-zhən] -n

  1. cut, gash
  2. a wound made esp. in surgery by incising the body
  3. a marginal notch (as in a leaf)
  4. an act of incising something
  5. the quality or state of being incisive

in·ci·sive [in-'sī-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. impressively direct and decisive (as in manner or presentation)
    • an incisive analysis
    • an incisive unsentimental writer

in·ci·sor [in-'sī-zər] -n

  1. a front tooth typically adapted for cutting
  2. one of the cutting teeth in mammals located between the canines when canines are present

in·ci·ta·tion [,in-,sī-'tā-shən, ,in(t)-sə-] -n

  1. an act of inciting : stimulation
  2. something that incites to action : incentive

in·cite [in-'sīt] -vt, n

  1. to move to action : stir up : spur on : urge on

in·ci·vil·i·ty [,in(t)-sə-'vi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being uncivil
  2. a rude or discourteous act

incl -abbr

  1. include; included; including; inclusive

in·clem·en·cy [(,)in-'kle-mən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being inclement

in·clem·ent [(,)in-'kle-mənt, 'in-klə-] -adj, adv

  1. : lacking mildness: as
  2. severe in temper or action : unmerciful
  3. physically severe : stormy
    • inclement weather

in·clin·able [in-'klī-nə-bəl] -adj

  1. having a tendency or inclination
  2. disposed to favor or think well of
    • inclinable to our pleas
  3. capable of being inclined
    • an inclinable steering column

in·cli·na·tion [,in-klə-'nā-shən, ,iŋ-] -n, adj

  1. natural disposition : character
  2. a particular disposition of mind or character : propensity
  3. liking
    • had little inclination for housekeeping
  4. : an act or the action of bending or inclining: as
  5. bow, nod
  6. a tilting of something
  7. a deviation from the true vertical or horizontal : slant
  8. the degree of such deviation
  9. an inclined surface : slope
  10. the angle determined by two lines or planes
  11. the angle made by a line with the x-axis measured counterclockwise from the positive direction of that axis
  12. a tendency to a particular aspect, state, character, or action
    • the clutch has an inclination to slip

in·cline [in-'klīn] -vb, n

  1. to bend the head or body forward : bow
  2. to lean, tend, or become drawn toward an opinion or course of conduct
  3. to deviate from a line, direction, or course
  4. to deviate from the vertical or horizontal
  5. to cause to stoop or bow : bend
  6. to have influence on : persuade
    • his love of books inclined him toward a literary career
  7. to give a bend or slant to
  8. an inclined plane : grade, slope

in·clined [in-'klīnd, 2 also 'in-,] -adj

  1. having inclination, disposition, or tendency
  2. having a leaning or slope
  3. making an angle with a line or plane

inclined plane -n

  1. a plane surface that makes an oblique angle with the plane of the horizon

in·clin·ing [in-'klī-niŋ] -n

  1. inclination
  2. party, following

in·cli·nom·e·ter [,in-klə-'nä-mə-tər, ,iŋ-; ,in-,klī-] -n

  1. an instrument for indicating the inclination to the horizontal of an axis (as of an airplane)

in·clip [in-'klip] -vt

  1. clasp, enclose

inclose [in-'klōz, en-] -vt

(variant of enclose)

  1. to close in : surround
    • enclose a porch with glass
  2. to fence off (common land) for individual use
  3. to hold in : confine
  4. to include along with something else in a parcel or envelope
    • a check is enclosed herewith

in·clude [in-'klüd] -vt, adj

  1. to shut up : enclose
  2. to take in or comprise as a part of a whole or group
  3. to contain between or within
    • two sides and the included angle

in·clu·sion [in-'klü-zhən] -n, adj

  1. the act of including : the state of being included
  2. : something that is included: as
  3. a gaseous, liquid, or solid foreign body enclosed in a mass (as of a mineral)
  4. a passive usu. temporary product of cell activity (as a starch grain) within the cytoplasm or nucleus
  5. a relation between two classes that exists when all members of the first are also members of the second
  6. the act or practice of including students with disabilities in regular school classes

inclusion body -n

  1. an inclusion, abnormal structure, or foreign cell within a cell (as the eosinophilic body formed by a cytomegalovirus or the abnormal filament characteristic of some myopathies)

in·clu·sive [in-'klü-siv, -ziv] -adj, adv, n

  1. comprehending stated limits or extremes
    • from Monday to Friday inclusive
  2. broad in orientation or scope
  3. covering or intended to cover all items, costs, or services

inclusive disjunction -n

  1. a complex sentence in logic that is true when either or both of its constituent propositions are true

inclusive of -prep

  1. including or taking into account
    • the cost of building inclusive of materials

in·clu·siv·i·ty [in-(,)klü-'si-və-tē, -'zi-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being inclusive : inclusiveness

in·co·erc·ible [,in-kō-'ər-sə-bəl] -adj

  1. incapable of being controlled, checked, or confined

incog -abbr

  1. incognito

in·cog·i·tant [in-'kä-jə-tənt] -adj

  1. thoughtless, inconsiderate
    • incogitant litterbugs

in·cog·ni·ta [,in-,käg-'nē-tə also in-'käg-nə-tə] -adv or adj, n

  1. incognito used only of a woman

in·cog·ni·to [,in-,käg-'nē-(,)tō also in-'käg-nə-,tō] -adv or adj

  1. with one's identity concealed

incognito -n

  1. one appearing or living incognito
  2. the state or assumed identity of one living or traveling incognito or incognita

in·cog·ni·zant [(,)in-'käg-nə-zənt] -adj, n

  1. lacking awareness or consciousness
    • incognizant of the danger

in·co·her·ence [,in-kō-'hir-ən(t)s, -'her-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being incoherent
  2. something that is incoherent

in·co·her·ent [-ənt] -adj, adv

  1. : lacking coherence: as
  2. lacking cohesion : loose
  3. lacking orderly continuity, arrangement, or relevance : inconsistent
    • an incoherent essay
  4. lacking normal clarity or intelligibility in speech or thought
    • incoherent with grief

in·com·bus·ti·ble [,in-kəm-'bəs-tə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. not combustible : incapable of being burned

in·come ['in-,kəm also 'in-kəm or 'iŋ-kəm] -n

  1. a coming in : entrance, influx
    • fluctuations in the nutrient income of a body of water
  2. a gain or recurrent benefit usu. measured in money that derives from capital or labor
  3. the amount of such gain received in a period of time
    • has an income of 30,000 a year

income account -n

  1. a financial statement of a business showing the details of revenues, costs, expenses, losses, and profits for a given period called also income statement

income bond -n

  1. a bond that pays interest at a rate based on the issuer's earnings

in·com·er ['in-,kə-mər] -n

  1. one who comes in : immigrant, newcomer

income tax -n

  1. a tax on the net income of an individual or a business

in·com·ing ['in-,kə-miŋ] -n

  1. the act of coming in : arrival
  2. income usu. used in pl.

incoming -adj

  1. coming in : arriving
    • an incoming ship
    • incoming mail
  2. taking a new place or position esp. as part of a succession
    • the incoming president
  3. just starting or beginning
    • the incoming year

in·com·men·su·ra·ble [,in-kə-'men(t)s-rə-bəl, -'men(t)sh-; -'men(t)-sə-, -shə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. not commensurable
  2. lacking a basis of comparison in respect to a quality normally subject to comparison

in·com·men·su·rate [-'men(t)s-rət, -'men(t)sh-; -'men(t)-sə-, -shə-] -adj

  1. : not commensurate: as
  2. incommensurable
  3. inadequate
  4. disproportionate
    • a confidence incommensurate with their ability

in·com·mode [,in-kə-'mōd] -vt

  1. to give inconvenience or distress to : disturb

in·com·mo·di·ous [,in-kə-'mō-dē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not commodious : inconvenient
    • could sleep in the most incommodious places

in·com·mod·i·ty [-'mä-də-tē] -n

  1. a source of inconvenience : disadvantage
    • the incommodities of a single life -- Samuel Johnson

in·com·mu·ni·ca·ble [,in-kə-'myü-ni-kə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : not communicable: as
  2. uncommunicative
  3. incapable of being communicated or imparted

in·com·mu·ni·ca·do [-,myü-nə-'kä-(,)dō] -adv or adj

  1. without means of communication
  2. in a situation or state not allowing communication
    • a prisoner held incommunicado
    • remained incommunicado while working on her book

in·com·mu·ni·ca·tive [-'myü-nə-,kā-tiv, -ni-kə-tiv] -adj

  1. uncommunicative

in·com·mut·able [,in-kə-'myü-tə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. : not commutable: as
  2. not interchangeable
  3. unchangeable

in·com·pa·ra·ble [(,)in-'käm-p(ə-)rə-bəl also ,in-kəm-'pa-rə-, -'per-ə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. eminent beyond comparison : matchless
  2. not suitable for comparison

in·com·pat·i·bil·i·ty [,in-kəm-,pa-tə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being incompatible
  2. lack of interfertility between two plants
  3. mutually antagonistic things or qualities

in·com·pat·i·ble [,in-kəm-'pa-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being held by one person at one time used of offices that make conflicting demands on the holder
  2. : not compatible: as
  3. incapable of association or harmonious coexistence
    • incompatible colors
  4. unsuitable for use together because of undesirable chemical or physiological effects
    • incompatible drugs
  5. not both true
    • incompatible propositions
  6. incapable of blending into a stable homogeneous mixture

in·com·pe·tence [(,)in-'käm-pə-tən(t)s] -n

  1. the state or fact of being incompetent

in·com·pe·ten·cy [-tən(t)-sē] -n

  1. incompetence

in·com·pe·tent [(,)in-'käm-pə-tənt] -adj, n, adv

  1. not legally qualified
  2. inadequate to or unsuitable for a particular purpose
  3. lacking the qualities needed for effective action
  4. unable to function properly
    • incompetent heart valves

in·com·plete [,in-kəm-'plēt] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not complete : unfinished: as
  2. lacking a part
  3. lacking one or more sets of floral organs
  4. characterized by the absence of a pupal stage between the immature stages and the adult of an insect in which the young usu. resemble the adult
  5. not legally caught

in·com·pli·ant [,in-kəm-'plī-ənt] -adj

  1. not compliant or pliable

in·com·pre·hen·si·ble [(,)in-,käm-pri-'hen(t)-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. having or subject to no limits
  2. impossible to comprehend : unintelligible
    • incomprehensible instructions

in·com·pre·hen·sion [-'hen(t)-shən] -n

  1. lack of comprehension or understanding

in·com·press·ible [,in-kəm-'pre-sə-bəl] -adj

  1. incapable of or resistant to compression

in·com·put·able [,in-kəm-'pyü-tə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not computable : very great

in·con·ceiv·able [,in-kən-'sē-və-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : not conceivable: as
  2. impossible to comprehend
  3. unbelievable

in·con·cin·ni·ty [,in-kən-'si-nə-tē] -n

  1. lack of suitability or congruity : inelegance

in·con·clu·sive [,in-kən-'klü-siv, -ziv] -adj, adv, n

  1. leading to no conclusion or definite result
    • inconclusive evidence
    • an inconclusive argument

in·con·dite [in-'kän-dət, -,dīt] -adj

  1. badly put together : crude
    • incondite prose

in·con·for·mi·ty [,in-kən-'fȯr-mə-tē] -n

  1. nonconformity

in·con·gru·ence [,in-kən-'grü-ən(t)s, (,)in-'käŋ-grə-wən(t)s] -n

  1. incongruity

in·con·gru·ent [-ənt, -wənt] -adj, adv

  1. not congruent
    • incongruent triangles

in·con·gru·i·ty [,in-kən-'grü-ə-tē, -,kän-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being incongruous
  2. something that is incongruous

in·con·gru·ous [(,)in-'käŋ-grə-wəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. : lacking congruity: as
  2. not harmonious : incompatible
    • incongruous colors
  3. not conforming : disagreeing
    • conduct incongruous with principle
  4. inconsistent within itself
    • an incongruous story
  5. lacking propriety : unsuitable
    • incongruous manners

in·con·scient [(,)in-'kän(t)-shənt] -adj

  1. unconscious, mindless

in·con·sec·u·tive [,in-kən-'se-kyə-tiv, -kə-tiv] -adj

  1. not consecutive
    • on inconsecutive days

in·con·se·quence [(,)in-'kän(t)-sə-,kwen(t)s, -si-kwən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being inconsequent

in·con·se·quent [-,kwent, -kwənt] -adj, adv

  1. lacking reasonable sequence : illogical
  2. inconsecutive
  3. inconsequential
  4. irrelevant

in·con·se·quen·tial [(,)in-,kän(t)-sə-'kwen(t)-shəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. illogical
  2. irrelevant
  3. of no significance : unimportant

in·con·sid·er·able [,in-kən-'si-dər-(ə-)bəl, -'si-drə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not considerable : slight, trivial
    • the cost was not inconsiderable

in·con·sid·er·ate [,in-kən-'si-d(ə-)rət] -adj, adv, n

  1. heedless, thoughtless
  2. careless of the rights or feelings of others
  3. not adequately considered : ill-advised

in·con·sis·tence [,in-kən-'sis-tən(t)s] -n

  1. inconsistency

in·con·sis·ten·cy [,in-kən-'sis-tən(t)-sē] -n

  1. an instance of being inconsistent
  2. the quality or state of being inconsistent

in·con·sis·tent [-tənt] -adj, adv

  1. : lacking consistency: as
  2. not compatible with another fact or claim
    • inconsistent statements
  3. containing incompatible elements
    • an inconsistent argument
  4. incoherent or illogical in thought or actions : changeable
  5. not satisfiable by the same set of values for the unknowns
    • inconsistent equations
    • inconsistent inequalities

in·con·sol·able [,in-kən-'sō-lə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being consoled : disconsolate

in·con·so·nance [(,)in-'kän(t)-s(ə-)nən(t)s] -n

  1. lack of consonance or harmony : disagreement

in·con·so·nant [-s(ə-)nənt] -adj

  1. not consonant : discordant

in·con·spic·u·ous [,in-kən-'spi-kyə-wəs, -kyü-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not readily noticeable

in·con·stan·cy [(,)in-'kän(t)-stən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being inconstant

in·con·stant [-stənt] -adj, adv

  1. likely to change frequently without apparent or cogent reason

in·con·sum·able [,in-kən-'sü-mə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not capable of being consumed

in·con·test·able [,in-kən-'tes-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not contestable : indisputable
    • an incontestable fact
    • incontestable talent

in·con·ti·nence [(,)in-'kän-tə-nən(t)s] -n

  1. : the quality or state of being incontinent: as
  2. failure to restrain sexual appetite : unchastity
  3. inability of the body to control the evacuative functions of urination or defecation

in·con·ti·nen·cy [-nən(t)-sē] -n

  1. incontinence

in·con·ti·nent [(,)in-'kän-tə-nənt] -adj

  1. : not continent: as
  2. lacking self-restraint
  3. not being under control
  4. unable to retain urine or feces voluntarily

incontinent -adv

  1. incontinently

in·con·ti·nent·ly -adv

  1. without delay : immediately

incontinently -adv

  1. : in an incontinent or unrestrained manner: as
  2. without moral restraint : lewdly
  3. without due or reasonable consideration

in·con·trol·la·ble [,in-kən-'trō-lə-bəl] -adj

  1. uncontrollable

in·con·tro·vert·ible [(,)in-,kän-trə-'vər-tə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not open to question : indisputable
    • incontrovertible facts

in·con·ve·nience [,in-kən-'vē-nyən(t)s] -n

  1. something that is inconvenient
  2. the quality or state of being inconvenient

inconvenience -vt

  1. to subject to inconvenience : put to trouble
    • sorry to inconvenience you

in·con·ve·nien·cy [,in-kən-'vē-nyən(t)-sē] -n

  1. inconvenience

in·con·ve·nient [,in-kən-'vē-nyənt] -adj, adv

  1. not convenient esp. in giving trouble or annoyance : inopportune
    • an inconvenient time

in·con·vert·ible [-'vər-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : not convertible: as
  2. not exchangeable for coin
  3. not exchangeable for a foreign currency

in·con·vinc·ible [,in-kən-'vin(t)-sə-bəl] -adj

  1. incapable of being convinced

in·co·or·di·na·tion [-(,)kō-,ȯr-də-'nā-shən] -n

  1. lack of coordination
  2. ataxia

in·cor·po·rate [in-'kȯr-pə-,rāt] -vb, adj, n

  1. to unite or work into something already existent so as to form an indistinguishable whole
  2. to blend or combine thoroughly
  3. to form into a legal corporation
  4. to admit to membership in a corporate body
  5. to give material form to : embody
  6. to unite in or as one body
  7. to form or become a corporation
  8. incorporated

incorporated -adj

  1. united in one body
  2. formed into a legal corporation

in·cor·po·re·al [,in-(,)kȯr-'pȯr-ē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. not corporeal : having no material body or form
  2. of, relating to, or constituting a right that is based on property (as bonds or patents) which has no intrinsic value

in·cor·po·re·ity [(,)in-,kȯr-pə-'rē-ə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being incorporeal : immateriality

in·cor·rect [,in-kə-'rekt] -adj, adv, n

  1. not corrected or chastened
  2. inaccurate, faulty
    • an incorrect transcription
  3. not true : wrong
    • incorrect answers
  4. unbecoming, improper
    • incorrect behavior

in·cor·ri·gi·ble [(,)in-'kȯr-ə-jə-bəl, -'kär-] -adj, n, adv

  1. : incapable of being corrected or amended: as
  2. not reformable : depraved
  3. delinquent
  4. not manageable : unruly
  5. unalterable, inveterate

in·cor·rupt [,in-kə-'rəpt] -adj, adv, n

  1. : free from corruption: as
  2. not affected with decay
  3. not defiled or depraved : upright
  4. free from error

in·cor·rupt·ible [,in-kə-'rəp-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : incapable of corruption: as
  2. not subject to decay or dissolution
  3. incapable of being bribed or morally corrupted

in·cor·rup·tion [,in-kə-'rəp-shən] -n

  1. the quality or state of being free from physical decay

incr -abbr

  1. increase; increased

in·crease [in-'krēs, 'in-,] -vb, adj, n

  1. to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)
  2. to multiply by the production of young
  3. to make greater : augment
  4. enrich
  5. : the act or process of increasing: as
  6. addition or enlargement in size, extent, or quantity
  7. propagation
  8. something that is added to an original stock or amount by augmentation or growth (as offspring, produce, profit)

increased -adj

  1. made or become greater : augmented
    • at increased risk for heart disease

in·creas·ing·ly [in-'krē-siŋ-lē, 'in-,krē-] -adv

  1. to an increasing degree
    • an increasingly dangerous situation

in·cre·ate [,in-krē-'āt, in-'krē-ət] -adj

  1. uncreated

in·cred·i·ble [(,)in-'kre-də-bəl] -adj, n

  1. too extraordinary and improbable to be believed
    • making incredible claims
  2. amazing, extraordinary
    • incredible skill
    • an incredible appetite
    • met an incredible woman

in·cred·i·bly [-blē] -adv

  1. in an incredible manner
  2. extremely
    • incredibly difficult

in·cre·du·li·ty [,in-kri-'dü-lə-tē, -'dyü-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being incredulous : disbelief

in·cred·u·lous [(,)in-'kre-jə-ləs, -dyə-ləs] -adj, adv

  1. unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true : not credulous : skeptical
  2. incredible
  3. expressing incredulity
    • an incredulous stare

in·cre·ment ['iŋ-krə-mənt, 'in-] -n

  1. the action or process of increasing esp. in quantity or value : enlargement
  2. something gained or added
  3. one of a series of regular consecutive additions
  4. a minute increase in quantity
  5. the amount or degree by which something changes
  6. the amount of positive or negative change in the value of one or more of a set of variables

in·cre·men·tal [,iŋ-krə-'men-tᵊl, ,in-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, being, or occurring in esp. small increments
    • incremental additions
    • incremental change

in·cre·men·tal·ism [,iŋ-krə-'men-tə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. a policy or advocacy of a policy of political or social change by degrees : gradualism

incremental repetition -n

  1. repetition in each stanza (as of a ballad) of part of the preceding stanza usu. with a slight change in wording for dramatic effect

in·cres·cent [in-'kre-sᵊnt] -adj

  1. becoming gradually greater : waxing
    • the increscent moon

in·crim·i·nate [in-'kri-mə-,nāt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to charge with or show evidence or proof of involvement in a crime or fault

incrust [in-'krəst, iŋ-] -vb

(variant of encrust)

  1. to cover, line, or overlay with or as if with a crust
  2. to form a crust

in·crus·ta·tion [,in-,krəs-'tā-shən] -n

  1. a crust or hard coating
  2. a growth or accumulation (as of habits, opinions, or customs) resembling a crust
  3. the act of encrusting : the state of being encrusted
  4. overlay
  5. inlay

in·cu·bate ['iŋ-kyə-,bāt, 'in-] -vb, adj

  1. to sit on (eggs) so as to hatch by the warmth of the body
  2. to maintain (as an embryo or a chemically active system) under conditions favorable for hatching, development, or reaction
  3. to cause or aid the development of
    • incubate an idea
  4. to sit on eggs
  5. to undergo incubation : develop

in·cu·ba·tion [,iŋ-kyə-'bā-shən, ,in-] -n

  1. the act or process of incubating
  2. incubation period

incubation period -n

  1. the period between the infection of an individual by a pathogen and the manifestation of the illness or disease it causes

in·cu·ba·tor ['iŋ-kyə-,bā-tər, 'in-] -n

  1. : one that incubates: as
  2. an apparatus by which eggs are hatched artificially
  3. an apparatus with a chamber used to provide controlled environmental conditions esp. for the cultivation of microorganisms or the care and protection of premature or sick babies
  4. an organization or place that aids the development of new business ventures esp. by providing low-cost commercial space, management assistance, or shared services

in·cu·bus ['iŋ-kyə-bəs, 'in-] -n

  1. an evil spirit that lies on persons in their sleep
  2. one that has sexual intercourse with women while they are sleeping
  3. nightmare
  4. one that oppresses or burdens like a nightmare

in·cul·cate [in-'kəl-,kāt, 'in-(,)] -vt, n

  1. to teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions

in·cul·pa·ble [(,)in-'kəl-pə-bəl] -adj

  1. free from guilt : blameless

in·cul·pate [in-'kəl-,pāt, 'in-(,)] -vt, n, adj

  1. incriminate

in·cult [in-'kəlt] -adj

  1. coarse, uncultured

in·cum·ben·cy [in-'kəm-bən(t)-sē] -n

  1. something that is incumbent : duty
  2. the quality or state of being incumbent
  3. the sphere of action or period of office of an incumbent

in·cum·bent [in-'kəm-bənt] -n

  1. the holder of an office or ecclesiastical benefice
  2. one that occupies a particular position or place

incumbent -adj

  1. imposed as a duty : obligatory
    • incumbent on us to take action
  2. having the status of an incumbent
    • the team's incumbent third baseman
  3. occupying a specified office
  4. lying or resting on something else
  5. bent over so as to rest on or touch an underlying surface

in·cum·ber [in-'kəm-bər] -vt

(variant of encumber)

  1. weigh down, burden
    • tourists encumber ed by heavy luggage
  2. to impede or hamper the function or activity of : hinder
    • negotiations encumber ed by a lack of trust
  3. to burden with a legal claim (as a mortgage)
    • encumber an estate

in·cu·na·ble [in-'kyü-nə-bəl] -n

  1. incunabulum

in·cu·nab·u·lum [,in-kyə-'na-byə-ləm, ,iŋ-] -n

  1. a book printed before 1501
  2. a work of art or of industry of an early period

in·cur [in-'kər] -vt

  1. to become liable or subject to : bring down upon oneself
    • incur expenses

in·cur·able [(,)in-'kyu̇r-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not curable
    • an incurable disease
  2. not likely to be changed or corrected
    • incurable optimism

in·cu·ri·ous [(,)in-'kyu̇r-ē-əs] -adj, n, adv

  1. lacking a normal or usual curiosity : uninterested
    • a blank incurious stare

in·cur·rence [in-'kər-ən(t)s, -'kə-rən(t)s] -n

  1. the act or process of incurring

in·cur·rent [-ənt, -rənt] -adj

  1. giving passage to a current that flows inward

in·cur·sion [in-'kər-zhən] -n

  1. a hostile entrance into a territory : raid
  2. an entering in or into (as an activity or undertaking)
    • his only incursion into the arts

in·cur·vate ['in-,kər-,vāt, (,)in-'kər-] -vt, adj, n

  1. to cause to curve inward : bend

in·curve [(,)in-'kərv, 'in-,] -vt

  1. to bend so as to curve inward

in·cus ['iŋ-kəs] -n

  1. the middle bone of a chain of three small bones in the ear of a mammal called also anvil

in·cuse [in-'kyüz, -'kyüs] -adj

  1. formed by stamping or punching in used chiefly of old coins or features of their design

ind -abbr

  1. independent
  2. index
  3. industrial; industry

Ind ['ind, 'īnd] -n

  1. India
  2. Indies
  3. Indian
  4. Indiana

IND -abbr

  1. investigational new drug

ind- -comb form

  1. indigo
    • ind oxyl
  2. resembling indigo (as in color)
    • indo phenol

in·da·ba [in-'dä-bə] -n

  1. conference, parley

in·da·gate ['in-də-,gāt] -vt, n

  1. to search into : investigate

IndE -abbr

  1. industrial engineer

in·debt·ed [in-'de-təd] -adj

  1. owing gratitude or recognition to another : beholden
  2. owing money

in·debt·ed·ness -n

  1. the condition of being indebted
  2. something (as an amount of money) that is owed

in·de·cen·cy [(,)in-'dē-sᵊn(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being indecent
  2. something (as a word or action) that is indecent

in·de·cent [-sᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. : not decent: as
  2. grossly improper or offensive
    • indecent language
  3. unseemly, inappropriate
    • he took indecent pleasure in her troubles

indecent assault -n

  1. an offensive sexual act or series of acts exclusive of rape committed against another person without consent

indecent exposure -n

  1. intentional exposure of part of one's body (as the genitals) in a place where such exposure is likely to be an offense against the generally accepted standards of decency

in·de·ci·pher·able [,in-di-'sī-f(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj

  1. incapable of being deciphered

in·de·ci·sion [,in-di-'si-zhən] -n

  1. a wavering between two or more possible courses of action : irresolution

in·de·ci·sive [,in-di-'sī-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. not decisive : inconclusive
    • an indecisive battle
  2. marked by or prone to indecision : irresolute
    • an indecisive state of mind
  3. not clearly marked out : indefinite

in·de·clin·able [,in-di-'klī-nə-bəl] -adj

  1. having no grammatical inflections

in·de·com·pos·able [,in-,dē-kəm-'pō-zə-bəl] -adj

  1. not capable of being separated into component parts or elements

in·de·co·rous [(,)in-'de-k(ə-)rəs; ,in-di-'kȯr-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not decorous : conflicting with accepted standards of good conduct or good taste

in·de·co·rum [,in-di-'kȯr-əm] -n

  1. something that is indecorous
  2. lack of decorum : impropriety

in·deed [in-'dēd] -adv

  1. without any question : truly, undeniably often used interjectionally to express irony or disbelief or surprise
  2. in reality
  3. all things considered : as a matter of fact

in·de·fat·i·ga·ble [,in-di-'fa-ti-gə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being fatigued : untiring
    • an indefatigable worker

in·de·fea·si·ble [-'fē-zə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not capable of being annulled or voided or undone
    • an indefeasible right

in·de·fec·ti·ble [-'fek-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not subject to failure or decay : lasting
  2. free of faults : flawless

in·de·fen·si·ble [-'fen(t)-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being maintained as right or valid : untenable
  2. incapable of being justified or excused : inexcusable
    • indefensible comments
  3. incapable of being protected against physical attack

in·de·fin·able [-'fī-nə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being precisely described or analyzed
    • indefinable feelings
    • an indefinable concept

in·def·i·nite [(,)in-'def-nət, -'de-fə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. : not definite: as
  2. typically designating an unidentified, generic, or unfamiliar person or thing
    • the indefinite articles a and an
    • indefinite pronouns
  3. not precise : vague
  4. having no exact limits

indefinite integral -n

  1. any function whose derivative is a given function

in·de·his·cent [,in-di-'hi-sᵊnt] -adj, n

  1. remaining closed at maturity
    • indehiscent fruits

in·del·i·ble [in-'de-lə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. that cannot be removed, washed away, or erased
  2. making marks that cannot easily be removed
    • an indelible pencil
  3. lasting
    • indelible memories
  4. unforgettable, memorable
    • an indelible performance

in·del·i·ca·cy [(,)in-'de-li-kə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being indelicate
  2. something that is indelicate

in·del·i·cate [-li-kət] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not delicate:
  2. lacking in or offending against propriety : improper
  3. verging on the indecent : coarse
  4. marked by a lack of feeling for the sensibilities of others : tactless

in·dem·ni·fi·ca·tion [in-,dem-nə-fə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. the action of indemnifying
  2. the condition of being indemnified
  3. indemnity

in·dem·ni·fy [in-'dem-nə-,fī] -vt, n

  1. to secure against hurt, loss, or damage
  2. to make compensation to for incurred hurt, loss, or damage

in·dem·ni·ty [in-'dem-nə-tē] -n

  1. security against hurt, loss, or damage
  2. exemption from incurred penalties or liabilities
  3. indemnification
  4. something that indemnifies
  5. fee-for-service usu. used attributively
    • an indemnity plan

in·de·mon·stra·ble [,in-di-'män(t)-strə-bəl, (,)in-'de-mən-strə-] -adj, adv

  1. incapable of being demonstrated : not subject to proof

in·dent [in-'dent] -vb, n

  1. to divide (a document) so as to produce sections with irregular edges that can be matched for authentication
  2. to draw up (as a deed) in two or more exactly corresponding copies
  3. to notch the edge of : make jagged
  4. indenture
  5. to set (as a line of a paragraph) in from the margin
  6. to order by an indent
  7. to make a formal or express agreement
  8. to form an indentation
  9. to make out an indent for something
  10. indenture
  11. a certificate issued by the U.S. at the close of the American Revolution for the principal or interest on the public debt
  12. an official requisition
  13. a purchase order for goods esp. when sent from a foreign country
  14. indention
  15. to force inward so as to form a depression
  16. to form a dent in
  17. indentation

in·den·ta·tion [,in-,den-'tā-shən] -n

  1. an angular cut in an edge : notch
  2. a recess in a surface
  3. the action of indenting : the condition of being indented
  4. dent
  5. indention

in·den·tion [in-'den(t)-shən] -n

  1. indentation
  2. the action of indenting : the condition of being indented
  3. the blank space produced by indenting

in·den·ture [in-'den(t)-shər] -n

  1. a document or a section of a document that is indented
  2. a formal or official document usu. executed in two or more copies
  3. a contract binding one person to work for another for a given period of time often used in pl.
  4. a formal certificate (as an inventory or voucher) prepared for purposes of control
  5. a document stating the terms under which a security (as a bond) is issued
  6. indentation
  7. dent

indenture [-'den(t)-shriŋ, -'den(t)-shə-riŋ] -vt

  1. to bind (as an apprentice) by or as if by indentures

indentured servant -n

  1. a person who signs and is bound by indentures to work for another for a specified time esp. in return for payment of travel expenses and maintenance

in·de·pen·dence [,in-də-'pen-dən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being independent
  2. competence

Independence Day -n

  1. a civil holiday for the celebration of the anniversary of the beginnings of national independence
  2. July 4 observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. in commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776

in·de·pen·den·cy [,in-də-'pen-dən(t)-sē] -n

  1. independence
  2. the Independent polity or movement
  3. an independent political unit

in·de·pen·dent [,in-də-'pen-dənt] -adj, adv

  1. : not dependent: as
  2. not subject to control by others : self-governing
  3. not affiliated with a larger controlling unit
    • an independent bookstore
  4. not requiring or relying on something else : not contingent
    • an independent conclusion
  5. not looking to others for one's opinions or for guidance in conduct
  6. not bound by or committed to a political party
  7. not requiring or relying on others (as for care or livelihood)
    • independent of her parents
  8. being enough to free one from the necessity of working for a living
    • a person of independent means
  9. showing a desire for freedom
    • an independent manner
  10. not determined by or capable of being deduced or derived from or expressed in terms of members (as axioms or equations) of the set under consideration
  11. having linear independence
    • an independent set of vectors
  12. having the property that the joint probability (as of events or samples) or the joint probability density function (as of random variables) equals the product of the probabilities or probability density functions of separate occurrence
  13. of or relating to the Independents
  14. main
    • an independent clause
  15. neither deducible from nor incompatible with another statement
    • independent postulates

independent -n

  1. a sectarian of an English religious movement for congregational autonomy originating in the late 16th century, giving rise to Congregationalists, Baptists, and Friends, and forming one of the major political groupings of the period of Cromwell
  2. one that is independent
  3. one that is not bound by or definitively committed to a political party

independent assortment -n

  1. formation of random combinations of chromosomes in meiosis and of genes on different pairs of homologous chromosomes by the passage according to the laws of probability of one of each diploid pair of homologous chromosomes into each gamete independently of each other pair

independent variable -n

  1. a mathematical variable that is independent of the other variables in an expression or function and whose value determines one or more of the values of the other variables

indepth [(')in-'depth] -adj

  1. comprehensive, thorough
    • an indepth study

in·de·scrib·able [,in-di-'skrī-bə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. that cannot be described
    • an indescribable sensation
  2. surpassing description
    • indescribable joy

in·de·struc·ti·ble [-'strək-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being destroyed, ruined, or rendered ineffective

in·de·ter·min·able [,in-di-'tərm-nə-bəl, -'tər-mə-] -adj, adv

  1. incapable of being definitely decided or settled
  2. incapable of being definitely fixed or ascertained

in·de·ter·mi·na·cy [-nə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being indeterminate

indeterminacy principle -n

  1. uncertainty principle

in·de·ter·mi·nate [,in-di-'tərm-nət, -'tər-mə-] -adj, adv, n

  1. not definitely or precisely determined or fixed : vague
  2. not known in advance
  3. not leading to a definite end or result
  4. having an infinite number of solutions
    • a system of indeterminate equations
  5. being one of the seven undefined mathematical expressions
  6. characterized by sequential flowering from the lateral or basal buds to the central or uppermost buds
  7. characterized by growth in which the main stem continues to elongate indefinitely without being limited by a terminal inflorescence

in·de·ter·min·ism [-'tər-mə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj

  1. a theory that the will is free and that deliberate choice and actions are not determined by or predictable from antecedent causes
  2. a theory that holds that not every event has a cause
  3. the quality or state of being indeterminate
  4. unpredictability

in·dex ['in-,deks] -n

  1. a device (as the pointer on a scale or the gnomon of a sundial) that serves to indicate a value or quantity
  2. something (as a physical feature or a mode of expression) that leads one to a particular fact or conclusion : indication
  3. : a list (as of bibliographical information or citations to a body of literature) arranged usu. in alphabetical order of some specified datum (as author, subject, or keyword): as
  4. a list of items (as topics or names) treated in a printed work that gives for each item the page number where it may be found
  5. thumb index
  6. a bibliographical analysis of groups of publications that is usu. published periodically
  7. a list of publicly traded companies and their stock prices
  8. a list of restricted or prohibited material
  9. a formerly published list of books the reading of which was prohibited or restricted for Roman Catholics by the church authorities
  10. a number or symbol or expression (as an exponent) associated with another to indicate a mathematical operation to be performed or to indicate use or position in an arrangement
    • 3 is the index of the expression 5 to indicate the cube root of 5
  11. a character used to direct attention to a note or paragraph called also fist
  12. a number (as a ratio) derived from a series of observations and used as an indicator or measure
  13. index number
  14. the ratio of one dimension of a thing (as an anatomical structure) to another dimension

index -vt, n

  1. to provide with an index
  2. to list in an index
    • all persons and places mentioned are carefully index ed
  3. to serve as an index of
  4. to regulate (as wages, prices, or interest rates) by indexation
  5. to index something

in·dex·ation [,in-dek-'sā-shən] -n

  1. a system of economic control in which certain variables (as wages and interest) are tied to a cost-of-living index so that both rise or fall at the same rate and the detrimental effect of inflation is theoretically eliminated

index finger -n

  1. the finger next to the thumb called also forefinger

index fossil -n

  1. a fossil usu. with a narrow time range and wide spatial distribution that is used in the identification of related geologic formations

in·dex·i·cal [(,)in-'dek-si-kəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to an index
  2. varying in reference with the individual speaker
    • the indexical words I, here, now
  3. associated with or identifying an individual speaker
    • indexical features of speech

indexical -n

  1. an indexical word, sign, or feature

indexing -n

  1. indexation

index number -n

  1. a number used to indicate change in magnitude (as of cost or price) as compared with the magnitude at some specified time usu. taken as 100

index of refraction

  1. refractive index

In·dia ['in-dē-ə]

  1. a communications code word for the letter i

india ink -n

  1. a solid black pigment (as specially prepared lampblack) used in drawing and lettering
  2. a fluid ink consisting usu. of a fine suspension of india ink in a liquid

In·dia·man ['in-dē-ə-mən] -n

  1. a merchant ship formerly used in trade with India
  2. a large sailing ship used in this trade

In·di·an ['in-dē-ən, dial -jən or -din] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of India or of the East Indies
  2. a person of Indian descent
  3. american indian
  4. one of the native languages of American Indians

Indian agent -n

  1. an official representative of the U.S. federal government to American Indian tribes esp. on reservations

Indian club -n

  1. a usu. wooden club shaped like a large bottle or tenpin that is swung for gymnastic exercise

Indian corn -n

  1. a tall widely cultivated American cereal grass ( Zea mays) bearing seeds on elongated ears
  2. the ears of Indian corn
  3. its edible seeds

Indian elephant -n

  1. elephant

Indian file -n, adv

  1. single file

Indian giver -n

  1. a person who gives something to another and then takes it back or expects an equivalent in return

Indian grass -n

  1. a tall perennial No. American grass ( Sorghastrum nutans) with long flat leaves and narrow feathery golden-brown panicles

Indian hemp -n

  1. a No. American dogbane ( Apocynum cannabinum) with milky juice, tough fibrous bark, and an emetic and cathartic root
  2. hemp

In·di·an·ism ['in-dē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj or n

  1. the qualities or culture distinctive of American Indians
  2. policy designed to further the interests or culture of American Indians

In·di·an·ize ['in-dē-ə-,nīz] -vt, n

  1. to cause to acquire or conform to the characteristics, culture, or usage of American Indians or of India
  2. to bring (as a region) under the cultural or political influence or control of India

Indian licorice -n

  1. rosary pea

Indian meal -n

  1. cornmeal

Indian paintbrush -n

  1. any of a genus ( Castilleja) of herbaceous plants of the snapdragon family that have brightly colored bracts called also painted cup
  2. orange hawkweed

Indian pipe -n

  1. a waxy white saprophytic herb ( Monotropa unifloraof the family Monotropaceae, the Indian-pipe family) of Asia and No. America with leaves reduced to scales and that turns black in drying

Indian pudding -n

  1. a baked pudding made chiefly of cornmeal, milk, and molasses

Indian red -n

  1. any of various usu. dark red pigments consisting chiefly of iron oxide
  2. a strong or moderate reddish brown

Indian sign -n

  1. hex, spell

Indian summer -n

  1. a period of warm or mild weather in late autumn or early winter
  2. a happy or flourishing period occurring toward the end of something
    • the crowning performance of the Indian summer of her career -- Octavio Roca

Indian tobacco -n

  1. a poisonous No. American annual lobelia ( Lobelia inflata) with small blue or white flowers
  2. a wild tobacco ( Nicotiana bigeloviisyn. N. quadrivalvis) found in dry valleys from southern California to southern Oregon

In·di·anwres·tle ['in-dē-ən-,re-səl, -,ra-] -vi

  1. to engage in Indian wrestling

Indian wrestling -n

  1. wrestling in which two people lie side by side on their backs in reversed position locking their near arms and raising and locking the corresponding legs and attempt to force each other's leg down and turn the other wrestler facedown
  2. wrestling in which two people stand face to face gripping usu. their right hands and setting the outsides of the corresponding feet together and attempt to force each other off balance
  3. arm wrestling

India paper -n

  1. a thin absorbent paper used esp. for proving inked intaglio surfaces (as steel engravings)
  2. a thin tough opaque printing paper

india rubber -n

  1. rubber

In·dic ['in-dik] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to the subcontinent of India : indian
  2. of, relating to, or constituting the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages

in·di·can ['in-də-,kan] -n

  1. an indigo-forming substance C 8H 7NO 4S found as a salt in urine and other animal fluids
  2. its potassium salt C 8H 6KNO 4S
  3. a glucoside C 14H 17NO 6occurring esp. in the indigo plant and being a source of natural indigo

in·di·cant ['in-di-kənt] -n

  1. something that serves to indicate

in·di·cate ['in-də-,kāt] -vt

  1. to point out or point to
  2. to be a sign, symptom, or index of
    • the high fever indicate s a serious condition
  3. to demonstrate or suggest the necessity or advisability of
    • indicated the need for a new school
    • the indicated treatment
  4. to state or express briefly
    • indicated a desire to cooperate

in·di·ca·tion [,in-də-'kā-shən] -n, adj

  1. something that serves to indicate
  2. something that is indicated as advisable or necessary
  3. the action of indicating

in·dic·a·tive [in-'di-kə-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a verb form or set of verb forms that represents the denoted act or state as an objective fact
    • the indicative mood
  2. serving to indicate
    • actions indicative of fear

indicative -n

  1. the indicative mood of a language
  2. a form in the indicative mood

in·di·ca·tor ['in-də-,kā-tər] -n, adj

  1. : one that indicates: as
  2. an index hand (as on a dial) : pointer
  3. gauge , dial
  4. an instrument for automatically making a diagram that indicates the pressure in and volume of the working fluid of an engine throughout the cycle
  5. a substance (as litmus) used to show visually (as by change of color) the condition of a solution with respect to the presence of a particular material (as a free acid or alkali)
  6. tracer
  7. an organism or ecological community so strictly associated with particular environmental conditions that its presence is indicative of the existence of these conditions
  8. any of a group of statistical values (as level of employment) that taken together give an indication of the health of the economy

indices ['in-,deks] -n

(variant of index)

  1. a device (as the pointer on a scale or the gnomon of a sundial) that serves to indicate a value or quantity
  2. something (as a physical feature or a mode of expression) that leads one to a particular fact or conclusion : indication
  3. : a list (as of bibliographical information or citations to a body of literature) arranged usu. in alphabetical order of some specified datum (as author, subject, or keyword): as
  4. a list of items (as topics or names) treated in a printed work that gives for each item the page number where it may be found
  5. thumb index
  6. a bibliographical analysis of groups of publications that is usu. published periodically
  7. a list of publicly traded companies and their stock prices
  8. a list of restricted or prohibited material
  9. a formerly published list of books the reading of which was prohibited or restricted for Roman Catholics by the church authorities
  10. a number or symbol or expression (as an exponent) associated with another to indicate a mathematical operation to be performed or to indicate use or position in an arrangement
    • 3 is the index of the expression 5 to indicate the cube root of 5
  11. a character used to direct attention to a note or paragraph called also fist
  12. a number (as a ratio) derived from a series of observations and used as an indicator or measure
  13. index number
  14. the ratio of one dimension of a thing (as an anatomical structure) to another dimension

in·di·cia [in-'di-sh(ē-)ə] -n pl

  1. distinctive marks : indications
  2. postal markings often imprinted on mail or on labels to be affixed to mail

in·dict [in-'dīt] -vt, n

  1. to charge with a fault or offense : criticize, accuse
  2. to charge with a crime by the finding or presentment of a jury (as a grand jury) in due form of law

in·dict·able [-'dī-tə-bəl] -adj

  1. subject to being indicted : liable to indictment
  2. making one liable to indictment
    • an indictable offense

in·dic·tion [in-'dik-shən] -n

  1. a 15-year cycle used as a chronological unit in several ancient and medieval systems

in·dict·ment [in-'dīt-mənt] -n

  1. the action or the legal process of indicting
  2. the state of being indicted
  3. a formal written statement framed by a prosecuting authority and found by a jury (as a grand jury) charging a person with an offense
  4. an expression of strong disapproval
    • an indictment of government policy on immigrants

in·die ['in-dē] -n, adj

  1. one that is independent
  2. an unaffiliated record or motion-picture production company
  3. something (as a record or film) produced by an indie

in·dif·fer·ence [in-'di-fərn(t)s, -f(ə-)rən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality, state, or fact of being indifferent
  2. lack of difference or distinction between two or more things
  3. absence of compulsion to or toward one thing or another

in·dif·fer·en·cy [-fərn(t)-sē, -f(ə-)rən(t)-sē] -n

  1. indifference

in·dif·fer·ent [in-'di-fərnt, -f(ə-)rənt] -adj, adv

  1. marked by impartiality : unbiased
  2. that does not matter one way or the other
  3. of no importance or value one way or the other
  4. marked by no special liking for or dislike of something
    • indifferent about which task he was given
  5. marked by a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern for something : apathetic
    • indifferent to suffering and poverty
  6. being neither excessive nor inadequate : moderate
    • hills of indifferent size
  7. being neither good nor bad : mediocre
    • does indifferent work
  8. being neither right nor wrong
  9. characterized by lack of active quality : neutral
    • an indifferent chemical
  10. not differentiated
    • indifferent tissues of the human body
  11. capable of development in more than one direction
  12. not yet embryologically determined

in·dif·fer·ent·ism [-fərn-,ti-zəm, -f(ə-)rən-] -n

  1. indifference
  2. belief that all religions are equally valid

in·di·gence ['in-di-jən(t)s] -n

  1. a level of poverty in which real hardship and deprivation are suffered and comforts of life are wholly lacking

in·di·gene ['in-də-,jēn] -n

  1. native

in·dig·e·nize [in-'di-jə-,nīz] -vt, n

  1. to cause to have indigenous characteristics or personnel
    • the former colony began to indigenize its businesses

in·dig·e·nous [in-'di-jə-nəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. having originated in and being produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment
    • indigenous plants
    • the indigenous culture
  2. innate, inborn

in·di·gent ['in-di-jənt] -adj, n

  1. suffering from indigence : impoverished
  2. deficient
  3. totally lacking in something specified

in·di·gest·ed [,in-(,)dī-'jes-təd, -də-] -adj

  1. not carefully thought out or arranged : formless

in·di·gest·ible [-'jes-tə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. not digestible : not easily digested

in·di·ges·tion [-'jes-chən, -'jesh-] -n

  1. inability to digest or difficulty in digesting something
  2. a case or attack of indigestion marked esp. by a burning sensation or discomfort in the upper abdomen

in·dign [in-'dīn] -adj

  1. unworthy, undeserving
  2. unbecoming, disgraceful

in·dig·nant [in-'dig-nənt] -adj, adv

  1. filled with or marked by indignation
    • became indignant at the accusation

in·dig·na·tion [,in-dig-'nā-shən] -n

  1. anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean

in·dig·ni·ty [in-'dig-nə-tē] -n

  1. an act that offends against a person's dignity or self-respect : insult
  2. humiliating treatment
  3. lack or loss of dignity or honor

in·di·go ['in-di-,gō] -n

  1. a blue vat dye obtained from plants (as indigo plants)
  2. the principal coloring matter C 16H 10N 2O 2of natural indigo usu. synthesized as a blue powder with a coppery luster
  3. indigo plant
  4. a deep reddish blue

indigo bunting -n

  1. a small finch ( Passerina cyaneaof the family Cardinalidae) chiefly of eastern No. America of which the male is largely deep blue in spring and summer

indigo plant -n

  1. a plant that yields indigo
  2. any of a genus ( Indigofera) of leguminous herbs

indigo snake -n

  1. a very large blue-black or brownish colubrid snake ( Drymarchon corais) of the southeastern U.S. and Texas to Argentina called also gopher snake

in·di·go·tin [in-'di-gə-tən, ,in-di-'gō-tᵊn] -n

  1. indigo

in·din·a·vir [(,)in-'di-nə-,vir] -n

  1. a protease inhibitor C 36H 47N 5O 4used in the form of its sulfate in combination with antiretroviral drugs (as AZT) to treat HIV infection

in·di·rect [,in-də-'rekt, -(,)dī-] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not direct: as
  2. deviating from a direct line or course : roundabout
  3. not going straight to the point
    • an indirect accusation
  4. being or involving proof of a proposition or theorem by demonstration that its negation leads to an absurdity or contradiction
  5. not straightforward and open : deceitful
  6. not directly aimed at or achieved
    • indirect consequences
  7. stating what a real or supposed original speaker said with changes in wording that conform the statement grammatically to the sentence in which it is included
    • indirect discourse
    • an indirect question
  8. not effected by the action of the people or the electorate
    • indirect government representation

indirect cost -n

  1. a cost that is not identifiable with a specific product, function, or activity

indirect evidence -n

  1. evidence that establishes immediately collateral facts from which the main fact may be inferred : circumstantial evidence

in·di·rec·tion [,in-də-'rek-shən, -(,)dī-] -n

  1. indirect action or procedure
  2. lack of direction : aimlessness
  3. lack of straightforwardness and openness : deceitfulness
  4. something (as an act or statement) marked by lack of straightforwardness
    • hated diplomatic indirection s -- Rev. of Reviews

indirect lighting -n

  1. lighting in which the light emitted by a source is diffusely reflected (as by the ceiling)

indirect object -n

  1. a grammatical object representing the secondary goal of the action of its verb (as herin I gave her the book)

in·dis·cern·ible [,in-di-'sər-nə-bəl, -'zər-] -adj

  1. incapable of being discerned : not recognizable as distinct

in·dis·ci·plin·able [(,)in-,di-sə-'pli-nə-bəl; -'di-sə-plə-] -adj

  1. not subject to or capable of being disciplined

in·dis·ci·pline [(,)in-'di-sə-plən] -n, adj

  1. lack of discipline

in·dis·cov·er·able [,in-dis-'kəv-rə-bəl, -'kə-və-] -adj

  1. not discoverable

in·dis·creet [,in-di-'skrēt] -adj, adv, n

  1. not discreet : imprudent
    • an indiscreet comment

in·dis·cre·tion [,in-dis-'kre-shən] -n

  1. lack of discretion : imprudence
    • dietary indiscretion
  2. something (as an act or remark) marked by lack of discretion
  3. an act at variance with the accepted morality of a society
    • resigned because of financial indiscretion s

in·dis·crim·i·nate [,in-dis-'krim-nət, -'kri-mə-] -adj, adv, n

  1. not marked by careful distinction : deficient in discrimination and discernment
    • indiscriminate reading habits
    • indiscriminate mass destruction
  2. haphazard, random
    • indiscriminate application of a law
  3. promiscuous, unrestrained
    • indiscriminate sexual behavior
  4. heterogeneous, motley
    • an indiscriminate collection

in·dis·crim·i·nat·ing [-'kri-mə-,nā-tiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not discriminating

in·dis·crim·i·na·tion [-,kri-mə-'nā-shən] -n

  1. lack of discrimination

in·dis·pens·able [,in-di-'spen(t)-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not subject to being set aside or neglected
    • an indispensable obligation
  2. absolutely necessary : essential
    • an indispensable member of the staff

in·dis·pose [,in-di-'spōz] -vt

  1. to make unfit : disqualify
  2. to make averse : disincline
  3. to cause to be in poor physical health

in·dis·posed [-'spōzd] -adj

  1. slightly ill
  2. averse

in·dis·po·si·tion [(,)in-,dis-pə-'zi-shən] -n

  1. : the condition of being indisposed:
  2. disinclination
  3. a usu. slight illness

in·dis·put·able [,in-di-'spyü-tə-bəl, (,)in-'dis-pyə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. not disputable : unquestionable
    • indisputable proof

in·dis·so·cia·ble [,in-di-'sō-sh(ē-)ə-bəl, -sē-ə-] -adj, adv

  1. not dissociated : inseparable

in·dis·sol·u·ble [,in-di-'säl-yə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not dissoluble
  2. incapable of being annulled, undone, or broken : permanent
    • an indissoluble contract

in·dis·tinct [,in-di-'stiŋ(k)t] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not distinct: as
  2. not sharply outlined or separable : blurred
    • indistinct figures in the fog
  3. faint, dim
    • an indistinct light in the distance
  4. not clearly recognizable or understandable : uncertain

in·dis·tinc·tive [-'stiŋ(k)-tiv] -adj

  1. lacking distinctive qualities

in·dis·tin·guish·able [,in-di-'stiŋ-gwi-shə-bəl, -'stiŋ-wi-] -adj, n, adv

  1. : not distinguishable: as
  2. indeterminate in shape or structure
    • indistinguishable forms in the mist
  3. not clearly recognizable or understandable
    • indistinguishable differences
  4. lacking identifying or individualizing qualities
    • seemingly indistinguishable alternatives

in·dite [in-'dīt] -vt, n

  1. make up, compose
    • indite a poem
  2. to give literary or formal expression to
  3. to put down in writing
    • indite a message
  4. dictate

in·di·um ['in-dē-əm] -n

  1. a silvery malleable fusible chiefly trivalent metallic element that occurs esp. in sphalerite ores and is used esp. as a plating material, in alloys, and in electronics

indium antimonide -n

  1. a synthetic compound InSb of indium and antimony that is a semiconducting and photosensitive material and is used esp. in infrared photodetectors

indiv -abbr

  1. individual

in·di·vid·u·al [,in-də-'vij-wəl, -'vi-jə-wəl, -'vi-jəl, -'vi-jü-əl] -adj, adv

  1. inseparable
  2. of, relating to, or distinctively associated with an individual
    • an individual effort
  3. being an individual or existing as an indivisible whole
  4. intended for one person
    • an individual serving
  5. existing as a distinct entity : separate
  6. having marked individuality
    • an individual style

individual -n

  1. : a particular being or thing as distinguished from a class, species, or collection: as
  2. a single human being as contrasted with a social group or institution
    • a teacher who works with individual s
  3. a single organism as distinguished from a group
  4. a particular person
    • are you the individual I spoke with on the telephone?
  5. an indivisible entity
  6. the reference of a name or variable of the lowest logical type in a calculus

in·di·vid·u·al·ise [-'vij-wə-,līz, -'vi-jə-wə-, -'vi-jə-,līz] -vt, n

(variant of individualize)

  1. to make individual in character
  2. to treat or notice individually : particularize
  3. to adapt to the needs or special circumstances of an individual
    • individualize teaching according to student ability

in·di·vid·u·al·ism [,in-də-'vij-wə-,li-zəm, -'vi-jə-wə-, -'vi-jə-,li-] -n

  1. a doctrine that the interests of the individual are or ought to be ethically paramount
  2. conduct guided by such a doctrine
  3. the conception that all values, rights, and duties originate in individuals
  4. a theory maintaining the political and economic independence of the individual and stressing individual initiative, action, and interests
  5. conduct or practice guided by such a theory
  6. individuality
  7. an individual peculiarity : idiosyncrasy

in·di·vid·u·al·ist [-list] -n, adj, adv

  1. one that pursues a markedly independent course in thought or action
  2. one that advocates or practices individualism

in·di·vid·u·al·i·ty [-,vi-jə-'wa-lə-tē] -n

  1. total character peculiar to and distinguishing an individual from others
  2. personality
  3. the quality or state of being indivisible
  4. separate or distinct existence
  5. individual, person

in·di·vid·u·al·ize [-'vij-wə-,līz, -'vi-jə-wə-, -'vi-jə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to make individual in character
  2. to treat or notice individually : particularize
  3. to adapt to the needs or special circumstances of an individual
    • individualize teaching according to student ability

individual medley -n

  1. a swimming race in which each contestant swims each part of the course with a different stroke

individual retirement account -n

  1. ira

in·di·vid·u·ate [,in-də-'vi-jə-,wāt] -vt

  1. to give individuality to
  2. to form into a distinct entity

in·di·vid·u·a·tion [-,vi-jə-'wā-shən] -n

  1. : the act or process of individuating: as
  2. the development of the individual from the universal
  3. the determination of the individual in the general
  4. the process by which individuals in society become differentiated from one another
  5. regional differentiation along a primary embryonic axis
  6. the state of being individuated
  7. individuality

in·di·vis·i·ble [,in-də-'vi-zə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not divisible

indn -abbr

  1. indication

Indo- -comb form

  1. India or the East Indies
    • Indo- Pakistani
  2. Indo-European
    • Indo- Hittite

In·doAr·y·an [,in-dō-'er-ē-ən, -'är-yən] -n, adj

  1. a member of one of the peoples of the Indian subcontinent speaking an Indo-European language
  2. one of the early Indo-European invaders of southern Asia
  3. a branch of the Indo-European language family that includes Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, and other languages spoken primarily in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka

In·doChi·nese [-,chī-'nēz, -'nēs] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of Indochina
  2. sino-tibetan

in·doc·ile [(,)in-'dä-səl also -,sī(-ə)l, esp Brit -'dō-,sīl] -adj, n

  1. unwilling or indisposed to be taught or disciplined : intractable

in·doc·tri·nate [in-'däk-trə-,nāt] -vt, n

  1. to instruct esp. in fundamentals or rudiments : teach
  2. to imbue with a usu. partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle

In·doEu·ro·pe·an [,in-dō-,yu̇r-ə-'pē-ən] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting the Indo-European languages

IndoEuropean -n

  1. a member of the people speaking an unrecorded prehistoric language from which the Indo-European languages are descended
  2. this language
  3. indo-european languages

In·doEu·ro·pe·an·ist [-,yu̇r-ə-'pē-ə-nist] -n

  1. a specialist in Indo-European linguistics

IndoEuropean languages -n pl

  1. a family of languages comprising those spoken in most of Europe and in the parts of the world colonized by Europeans since 1500 and also in Persia, the subcontinent of India, and some other parts of Asia

In·doGer·man·ic [,in-dō-jər-'ma-nik] -adj, n

  1. indo-european

In·doHit·tite [-'hi-,tīt] -n, adj

  1. a hypothetical parent language of Indo-European and Anatolian
  2. a language family including Indo-European and Anatolian

In·doIra·ni·an [-ir-'ā-nē-ən] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a subfamily of the Indo-European languages that consists of the Indo-Aryan and the Iranian branches

in·dole ['in-,dōl] -n

  1. a crystalline alkaloid compound C 8H 7N that is a decomposition product of proteins containing tryptophan, that can be made synthetically, and that is used in perfumes
  2. a derivative of indole

in·dole·ace·tic acid [,in-(,)dō-lə-'sē-tik-] -n

  1. a crystalline plant hormone C 10H 9NO 2that is a naturally occurring auxin promoting growth and rooting of plants

in·dole·bu·tyr·ic acid [,in-(,)dōl-byü-'tir-ik-] -n

  1. a crystalline acid C 12H 13NO 2similar to indoleacetic acid in its effects on plants

in·do·lence ['in-də-lən(t)s] -n

  1. inclination to laziness : sloth

in·do·lent [-lənt] -adj, adv

  1. causing little or no pain
  2. slow to develop or heal
    • indolent tumors
    • indolent ulcers
  3. averse to activity, effort, or movement : habitually lazy
  4. conducive to or encouraging laziness
    • indolent heat
  5. exhibiting indolence
    • an indolent sigh

In·dol·o·gy [(,)in-'dä-lə-jē] -n

  1. the study of India and its people

in·do·meth·a·cin [,in-dō-'me-thə-sən] -n

  1. a nonsteroidal drug C 19H 16ClNO 4with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic properties used esp. to treat painful inflammatory conditions (as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis)

in·dom·i·ta·ble [in-'dä-mə-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being subdued : unconquerable
    • indomitable courage

Indon -abbr

  1. Indonesia; Indonesian

In·do·ne·sian [,in-də-'nē-zhən, -shən] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of the Malay Archipelago
  2. a native or inhabitant of the Republic of Indonesia
  3. the language based on Malay that is the national language of the Republic of Indonesia

in·door ['in-'dȯr] -adj

  1. of or relating to the interior of a building
  2. living, located, or carried on within a building
    • an indoor sport

in·doors ['in-'dȯrz, (,)in-] -adv

  1. in or into a building

in·do·phe·nol [,in-dō-'fē-,nōl, -,nȯl, ,in-(,)dō-fi-'] -n

  1. any of various blue or green dyes

indorse [in-'dȯrs, en-] -vt, adj, n

(variant of endorse)

  1. to write on the back of
  2. to sign one's name as payee on the back of (a check) in order to obtain the cash or credit represented on the face
  3. to inscribe (one's signature) on a check, bill, or note
  4. to inscribe (as an official document) with a title or memorandum
  5. to make over to another (the value represented in a check, bill, or note) by inscribing one's name on the document
  6. to acknowledge receipt of (a sum specified) by one's signature on a document
  7. to approve openly
    • endorse an idea
  8. to express support or approval of publicly and definitely
    • endorse a mayoral candidate
  9. to recommend (as a product or service) usu. for financial compensation
    • shoes endorsed by a pro basketball player

in·dox·yl [in-'däk-səl] -n

  1. a crystalline compound C 8H 7NO found in plants and animals or synthesized as a step in indigo manufacture

in·draft ['in-,draft, -,dräft] -n

  1. an inward flow or current (as of air or water)
  2. a drawing or pulling in

in·drawn ['in-,drȯn] -adj

  1. aloof, reserved
  2. drawn in

in·dri ['in-drē] -n

  1. a large diurnal black-and-white lemur ( Indri indri) of Madagascar that is about two feet long with a rudimentary tail

in·du·bi·ta·ble [(,)in-'dü-bə-tə-bəl, -'dyü-] -adj, n, adv

  1. too evident to be doubted : unquestionable

in·duce [in-'düs, -'dyüs] -vt

  1. to move by persuasion or influence
  2. to call forth or bring about by influence or stimulation
  3. effect, cause
  4. to cause the formation of
  5. to produce (as an electric current) by induction
  6. to determine by induction
  7. to infer from particulars

in·duce·ment [in-'düs-mənt, -'dyüs-] -n

  1. a motive or consideration that leads one to action or to additional or more effective actions
  2. the act or process of inducing
  3. matter presented by way of introduction or background to explain the principal allegations of a legal cause, plea, or defense

in·duc·er [-'dü-sər, -'dyü-] -n

  1. one that induces
  2. a substance that is capable of activating the transcription of a gene by combining with and inactivating a genetic repressor

in·duc·ible [in-'dü-sə-bəl, -'dyü-] -adj, n

  1. : capable of being induced: as
  2. formed by a cell in response to the presence of its substrate
    • inducible enzymes
  3. activated or undergoing expression only in the presence of a particular molecule
    • an inducible promoter

in·duct [in-'dəkt] -vt

  1. to put in formal possession (as of a benefice or office) : install
    • was induct ed as president of the college
  2. to admit as a member
    • induct ed into a scholastic society
  3. introduce, initiate
  4. to enroll for military training or service (as under a selective service act)
  5. lead, conduct

in·duc·tance [in-'dək-tən(t)s] -n

  1. a property of an electric circuit by which an electromotive force is induced in it by a variation of current either in the circuit itself or in a neighboring circuit
  2. the measure of this property that is equal to the ratio of the induced electromotive force to the rate of change of the inducing current
  3. a circuit or a device possessing inductance

in·duct·ee [(,)in-,dək-'tē, in-'dək-,] -n

  1. one who is inducted

in·duc·tion [in-'dək-shən] -n

  1. the act or process of inducting (as into office)
  2. an initial experience : initiation
  3. the formality by which a civilian is inducted into military service
  4. inference of a generalized conclusion from particular instances
  5. a conclusion arrived at by induction
  6. mathematical demonstration of the validity of a law concerning all the positive integers by proving that it holds for the integer 1 and that if it holds for an arbitrarily chosen positive integer k,it must hold for the integer k 1 called also mathematical induction
  7. a preface, prologue, or introductory scene esp. of an early English play
  8. the act of bringing forward or adducing (as facts or particulars)
  9. the act of causing or bringing on or about
  10. the process by which an electrical conductor becomes electrified when near a charged body, by which a magnetizable body becomes magnetized when in a magnetic field or in the magnetic flux set up by a magnetomotive force, or by which an electromotive force is produced in a circuit by varying the magnetic field linked with the circuit
  11. the inspiration of the fuel-air charge from the carburetor into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine
  12. the process by which the fate of embryonic cells is determined (as by the action of adjacent cells) and morphogenetic differentiation brought about

induction coil -n

  1. an apparatus for obtaining intermittent high voltage that consists of a primary coil through which the direct current flows, an interrupter, and a secondary coil of a larger number of turns in which the high voltage is induced

induction heating -n

  1. heating of material by means of an electric current that is caused to flow through the material or its container by electromagnetic induction

induction motor -n

  1. an alternating-current motor in which torque is produced by the reaction between a varying magnetic field generated in the stator and the current induced in the coils of the rotor

in·duc·tive [in-'dək-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. leading on : inducing
  2. of, relating to, or employing mathematical or logical induction
    • inductive reasoning
  3. of or relating to inductance or electrical induction
  4. introductory
  5. involving the action of an embryological organizer : tending to produce induction

in·duc·tor [in-'dək-tər] -n

  1. one that inducts
  2. a part of an electrical apparatus that acts upon another or is itself acted upon by induction
  3. reactor
  4. organizer

indue [in-'dü, -'dyü, en-] -vt

(variant of endue)

  1. provide, endow
    • endued with the rights of a citizen
  2. imbue, transfuse
    • a mummy again endued with animation -- Mary W. Shelley
  3. put on, don

in·dulge [in-'dəlj] -vb, n

  1. to give free rein to
  2. to take unrestrained pleasure in : gratify
  3. to yield to the desire of : humor
    • please indulge me for a moment
  4. to treat with excessive leniency, generosity, or consideration
  5. to indulge oneself

in·dul·gence [in-'dəl-jən(t)s] -n

  1. remission of part or all of the temporal and esp. purgatorial punishment that according to Roman Catholicism is due for sins whose eternal punishment has been remitted and whose guilt has been pardoned (as through the sacrament of reconciliation)
  2. the act of indulging : the state of being indulgent
  3. an indulgent act
  4. an extension of time for payment or performance granted as a favor
  5. the act of indulging in something
  6. self-indulgence
  7. something indulged in
    • walk off gastronomic indulgence s -- Barbara L. Michaels

in·dul·gent [in-'dəl-jənt] -adj, adv

  1. indulging or characterized by indulgence
  2. lenient

in·dult ['in-,dəlt, in-'] -n

  1. a special often temporary dispensation granted in the Roman Catholic Church

in·du·rate ['in-də-rət, -dyə-; in-'du̇r-ət, -'dyu̇r-] -adj

  1. physically or morally hardened
  2. to make unfeeling, stubborn, or obdurate
  3. to make hardy : inure
  4. to make hard
    • great heat indurate s clay
  5. to establish firmly : confirm
  6. to grow hard : harden
  7. to become established

indurated -adj

  1. having become firm or hard esp. by increase of fibrous elements
    • indurated tissue

in·du·ra·tion [,in-də-'rā-shən, -dyə-] -n, adj

  1. the process of or condition produced by growing hard
  2. sclerosis esp. when associated with inflammation

indus -abbr

  1. industrial; industry

in·du·si·um [in-'dü-zē-əm, -'dyü-, -zhē-] -n

  1. : an investing outgrowth or membrane
  2. an outgrowth of a fern frond that covers the sori

in·dus·tri·al [in-'dəs-trē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to industry
  2. derived from human industry
    • industrial wealth
  3. engaged in industry
    • the industrial classes
  4. used in or developed for use in industry
    • industrial diamonds
  5. heavy-duty
    • an industrial zipper
  6. characterized by highly developed industries
    • an industrial nation

industrial -n

  1. one that is employed in industry
  2. a company engaged in industrial production or service
  3. a stock or bond issued by an industrial corporation or enterprise

industrial action -n

  1. job action

industrial archaeology -n

  1. the study of the buildings, machinery, and equipment of the industrial revolution

industrial arts -n pl but sing in constr

  1. a subject taught in elementary and secondary schools that aims at developing manual skill and familiarity with tools and machines

industrial engineering -n

  1. engineering that deals with the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems (as of people, materials, and energy) in industry

in·dus·tri·al·ise [in-'dəs-trē-ə-,līz] -vb, n

(variant of industrialize)

  1. to make industrial
    • industrialize an agricultural region
  2. to become industrial

in·dus·tri·al·ism [in-'dəs-trē-ə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. social organization in which industries and esp. large-scale industries are dominant

in·dus·tri·al·ist [-list] -n

  1. one owning or engaged in the management of an industry : manufacturer

in·dus·tri·al·ize [in-'dəs-trē-ə-,līz] -vb, n

  1. to make industrial
    • industrialize an agricultural region
  2. to become industrial

industrial melanism -n

  1. genetically determined melanism as a population phenomenon esp. in moths in which the proportion of dark individuals tends to increase due to differential predation esp. by birds which more easily find and eat lighter-colored individuals in habitats darkened by industrial pollution

industrial psychology -n

  1. the application of the findings and methods of experimental, clinical, and social psychology to industrial concerns

industrial relations -n pl

  1. the dealings or relationships of a usu. large business or industrial enterprise with its own workers, with labor in general, with governmental agencies, or with the public

industrial revolution -n

  1. a rapid major change in an economy (as in England in the late 18th century) marked by the general introduction of power-driven machinery or by an important change in the prevailing types and methods of use of such machines

industrial school -n

  1. a school specializing in the teaching of industrial arts
  2. one for juvenile delinquents

industrial sociology -n

  1. sociological analysis directed at institutions and social relationships within and largely controlled or affected by industry

in·dus·tri·alstrength [in-'dəs-trē-əl-'streŋ(k)th, -'stren(t)th] -adj

  1. suitable for industrial use
  2. marked by more than usual power, durability, or intensity
    • industrialstrength boots
    • an industrialstrength voice

industrial union -n

  1. a labor union open to workers in an industry irrespective of their occupation or craft

in·dus·tri·ous [in-'dəs-trē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. skillful, ingenious
  2. constantly, regularly, or habitually active or occupied : diligent
    • an industrious worker

in·dus·try ['in-(,)dəs-trē] -n

  1. diligence in an employment or pursuit
  2. steady or habitual effort
  3. systematic labor esp. for some useful purpose or the creation of something of value
  4. a department or branch of a craft, art, business, or manufacture
  5. one that employs a large personnel and capital esp. in manufacturing
  6. a distinct group of productive or profit-making enterprises
    • the banking industry
  7. manufacturing activity as a whole
    • the nation's industry
  8. work devoted to the study of a particular subject or author
    • the Shakespeare industry

in·dwell [in-'dwel, 'in-,] -vi, n

  1. to exist as an inner activating spirit, force, or principle
  2. to exist within as an activating spirit, force, or principle

in·dwell·ing ['in-,dwe-liŋ] -adj

  1. being an inner activating or guiding force
  2. left within a bodily organ or passage esp. to promote drainage used of an implanted tube (as a catheter)

In·dy car ['in-dē-] -n

  1. a single-seat open-cockpit racing car with the engine in the rear

in·ebri·ant [i-'nē-brē-ənt] -n

  1. intoxicant

in·ebri·ate [i-'nē-brē-,āt] -vt, n

  1. to exhilarate or stupefy as if by liquor
  2. to make drunk : intoxicate
  3. affected by alcohol : drunk
  4. addicted to excessive drinking
  5. one who is drunk
  6. drunkard

in·ebri·at·ed [-brē-,ā-təd] -adj

  1. exhilarated or confused by or as if by alcohol : intoxicated

in·ebri·ety [,i-ni-'brī-ə-tē] -n

  1. the state of being inebriated : drunkenness

in·ed·i·ble [(,)i-'ne-də-bəl] -adj

  1. not fit to be eaten

in·ed·u·ca·ble [(,)i-'ne-jə-kə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. incapable of being educated

in·ef·fa·ble [(,)i-'ne-fə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being expressed in words : indescribable
    • ineffable joy
  2. unspeakable
    • ineffable disgust
  3. not to be uttered : taboo
    • the ineffable name of Jehovah

in·ef·face·able [,i-nə-'fā-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not effaceable : ineradicable

in·ef·fec·tive [,i-nə-'fek-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. not producing an intended effect : ineffectual
    • ineffective lighting
  2. not capable of performing efficiently or as expected : incapable
    • an ineffective executive

in·ef·fec·tu·al [,i-nə-'fek-chə(-wə)l, -'feksh-wəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not producing the proper or intended effect : futile
  2. ineffective

in·ef·fi·ca·cious [(,)i-,ne-fə-'kā-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. lacking the power to produce a desired effect : ineffective

in·ef·fi·ca·cy [(,)i-'ne-fi-kə-sē] -n

  1. lack of power to produce a desired effect

in·ef·fi·cien·cy [,i-nə-'fi-shən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being inefficient
  2. something that is inefficient

in·ef·fi·cient [-'fi-shənt] -adj, n, adv

  1. : not efficient: as
  2. not producing the effect intended or desired
  3. wasteful of time or energy
    • inefficient operating procedures
  4. incapable, incompetent
    • an inefficient worker

in·e·gal·i·tar·i·an [,i-ni-,ga-lə-'ter-ē-ən] -adj

  1. marked by disparity in social and economic standing

in·elas·tic [,i-nə-'las-tik] -adj, n

  1. : not elastic: as
  2. slow to react or respond to changing conditions
  3. inflexible, unyielding

inelastic collision -n

  1. a collision in which part of the kinetic energy of the colliding particles changes into another form of energy (as heat or radiation)

inelastic scattering -n

  1. a scattering of particles as the result of inelastic collision in which the total kinetic energy of the colliding particles changes

in·el·e·gance [(,)i-'ne-li-gən(t)s] -n

  1. lack of elegance

in·el·e·gant [-gənt] -adj, adv

  1. lacking in refinement, grace, or good taste

in·el·i·gi·ble [(,)i-'ne-lə-jə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. : not eligible: as
  2. not qualified for an office or position
  3. not permitted under football rules to catch a forward pass
    • an ineligible receiver

in·el·o·quent [(,)i-'nə-lə-kwənt] -adj, adv

  1. not eloquent : having or showing a lack of eloquence

in·eluc·ta·ble [,i-ni-'lək-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not to be avoided, changed, or resisted : inevitable
    • an ineluctable fate

in·elud·ible [,i-ni-'lü-də-bəl] -adj

  1. inescapable

in·enar·ra·ble [,i-ni-'na-rə-bəl] -adj

  1. incapable of being narrated : indescribable

in·ept [i-'nept] -adj, adv, n

  1. lacking in fitness or aptitude : unfit
    • inept at sports
  2. lacking sense or reason : foolish
  3. not suitable to the time, place, or occasion : inappropriate often to an absurd degree
    • an inept metaphor
  4. generally incompetent : bungling
    • inept leadership

in·ep·ti·tude [(,)i-'nep-tə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. the quality or state of being inept
  2. incompetence

in·equal·i·ty [,i-ni-'kwä-lə-tē] -n

  1. : the quality of being unequal or uneven: as
  2. lack of evenness
  3. social disparity
  4. disparity of distribution or opportunity
  5. the condition of being variable : changeableness
  6. an instance of being unequal
  7. a formal statement of inequality between two quantities usu. separated by a sign of inequality (as , , or signifying respectively is less than, is greater than,or is not equal to)

in·eq·ui·ta·ble [(,)i-'ne-kwə-tə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not equitable : unfair
    • an inequitable distribution of funds

in·eq·ui·ty [(,)i-'ne-kwə-tē] -n

  1. injustice, unfairness
  2. an instance of injustice or unfairness

in·erad·i·ca·ble [,i-ni-'ra-di-kə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being eradicated

in·er·ran·cy [(,)i-'ner-ən(t)-sē] -n

  1. exemption from error : infallibility
    • the question of biblical inerrancy

in·er·rant [-ənt] -adj

  1. free from error

in·ert [i-'nərt] -adj, n, adv

  1. lacking the power to move
  2. very slow to move or act : sluggish
  3. deficient in active properties
  4. lacking a usual or anticipated chemical or biological action

inert gas -n

  1. noble gas

in·er·tia [i-'nər-shə, -shē-ə] -n, adj, adv

  1. a property of matter by which it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the same straight line unless acted upon by some external force
  2. an analogous property of other physical quantities (as electricity)
  3. indisposition to motion, exertion, or change : inertness

inertial guidance -n

  1. guidance (as of an aircraft or spacecraft) by means of self-contained automatically controlling devices that respond to inertial forces called also inertial navigation

in·es·cap·able [,i-nə-'skā-pə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. incapable of being avoided, ignored, or denied : inevitable

in·es·sen·tial [,i-nə-'sen(t)-shəl] -adj, n

  1. having no essence
  2. not essential : unessential

in·es·ti·ma·ble [(,)i-'nes-tə-mə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. incapable of being estimated or computed
    • storms caused inestimable damage
  2. too valuable or excellent to be measured or appreciated
    • has performed an inestimable service for his country

in·ev·i·ta·ble [i-'ne-və-tə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. incapable of being avoided or evaded
    • an inevitable outcome

in·ev·i·ta·bly [-blē] -adv

  1. in an inevitable way
  2. as is to be expected
    • inevitably, it rained

in·ex·act [,i-nig-'zakt] -adj, adv, n

  1. not precisely correct or true : inaccurate
    • an inexact translation
  2. not rigorous and careful
    • an inexact thinker

in·ex·ac·ti·tude [(,)i-,nig-'zak-tə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. lack of exactitude or precision
  2. an instance of inexactness

in ex·cel·sis [,in-ik-'sel-səs also -'chel-] -adv

  1. in the highest degree

in·ex·cus·able [,i-nik-'skyü-zə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. impossible to excuse or justify
    • inexcusable rudeness

in·ex·haust·ible [,i-nig-'zȯ-stə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : not exhaustible: as
  2. incapable of being used up
    • inexhaustible riches
  3. incapable of being wearied or worn out
    • an inexhaustible hiker

in·ex·is·tence [,i-nig-'zis-tən(t)s] -n

  1. absence of existence : nonexistence

in·ex·is·tent [-tənt] -adj

  1. not having existence : nonexistent

in·ex·o·ra·ble [(,)i-'neks-rə-bəl, -'nek-sə-, -'neg-zə-rə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped : relentless
    • inexorable progress

in·ex·pe·di·ence [,i-nik-'spē-dē-ən(t)s] -n

  1. inexpediency

in·ex·pe·di·en·cy [-ən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or fact of being inexpedient

in·ex·pe·di·ent [-ənt] -adj, adv

  1. not expedient : inadvisable

in·ex·pen·sive [,i-nik-'spen(t)-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. reasonable in price : cheap

in·ex·pe·ri·ence [,i-nik-'spir-ē-ən(t)s] -n, adj

  1. lack of practical experience
  2. lack of knowledge of the ways of the world

in·ex·pert [(,)i-'nek-,spərt, ,i-nik-'] -adj, n, adv

  1. not expert : unskilled

in·ex·pi·a·ble [(,)i-'nek-spē-ə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not capable of being atoned for
  2. implacable, unappeasable

in·ex·plain·able [,i-nik-'splā-nə-bəl] -adj

  1. inexplicable

in·ex·pli·ca·ble [,i-nik-'spli-kə-bəl, (,)i-'nek-(,)spli-] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being explained, interpreted, or accounted for
    • an inexplicable disappearance

in·ex·plic·it [,i-nik-'spli-sət] -adj

  1. not explicit

in·ex·press·ible [-'spre-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not capable of being expressed : indescribable
    • inexpressible joy

in·ex·pres·sive [-'spre-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. inexpressible
  2. lacking expression or meaning
    • an inexpressive face

in·ex·pug·na·ble [,i-nik-'spəg-nə-bəl, -'spyü-nə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being subdued or overthrown : impregnable
    • an inexpugnable position
  2. stable, fixed
    • inexpugnable hatred

in·ex·pung·ible [,i-nik-'spən-jə-bəl] -adj

  1. incapable of being obliterated

in ex·ten·so [,in-ik-'sten(t)-(,)sō] -adv

  1. at full length
    • the passage was quoted in extenso

in·ex·tin·guish·able [,i-nik-'stiŋ-gwi-shə-bəl, -'stiŋ-wi-] -adj, adv

  1. not extinguishable : unquenchable
    • an inextinguishable flame
    • an inextinguishable longing

in ex·tre·mis [,in-ik-'strē-məs, -'strā-] -adv

  1. in extreme circumstances
  2. at the point of death

in·ex·tri·ca·ble [,i-nik-'stri-kə-bəl, (,)i-'nek-(,)stri-] -adj, n, adv

  1. forming a maze or tangle from which it is impossible to get free
  2. incapable of being disentangled or untied
    • an inextricable knot
  3. not capable of being solved

inf -abbr

  1. infantry
  2. infinitive

INF -abbr

  1. intermediate range nuclear forces

in·fal·li·ble [(,)in-'fa-lə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of error : unerring
    • an infallible memory
  2. not liable to mislead, deceive, or disappoint : certain
    • an infallible remedy
  3. incapable of error in defining doctrines touching faith or morals

in·fall·ing ['in-,fȯ-liŋ] -adj, n

  1. moving under the influence of gravity toward a celestial object (as a black hole)

in·fa·mous ['in-fə-məs] -adj, adv

  1. having a reputation of the worst kind : notoriously evil
    • an infamous traitor
  2. causing or bringing infamy : disgraceful
    • an infamous crime
  3. convicted of an offense bringing infamy

in·fa·my [-mē] -n

  1. evil reputation brought about by something grossly criminal, shocking, or brutal
  2. an extreme and publicly known criminal or evil act
  3. the state of being infamous

in·fan·cy ['in-fən(t)-sē] -n

  1. early childhood
  2. a beginning or early period of existence
  3. the legal status of an infant

in·fant ['in-fənt] -n

  1. a child in the first period of life
  2. a person who is not of full age : minor

infant -adj

  1. intended for young children
  2. being in an early stage of development
  3. of, relating to, or being in infancy

in·fan·ta [in-'fan-tə, -'fän-] -n

  1. a daughter of a Spanish or Portuguese monarch

in·fan·te [in-'fan-tē, -'fän-(,)tā] -n

  1. a younger son of a Spanish or Portuguese monarch

in·fan·ti·cide [in-'fan-tə-,sīd] -n, adj

  1. the killing of an infant
  2. one who kills an infant

in·fan·tile ['in-fən-,tī(-ə)l, -tᵊl, -,tēl, -(,)til] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to infants or infancy
  2. suitable to or characteristic of an infant
  3. very immature
    • infantile humor

infantile paralysis -n

  1. poliomyelitis

in·fan·til·ism ['in-fən-,tī-,li-zəm, -tə-,li-; in-'fan-tə-,li-] -n

  1. retention of childish physical, mental, or emotional qualities in adult life
  2. failure to attain sexual maturity
  3. an act or expression that indicates lack of maturity

in·fan·til·ize ['in-fən-,tī-,līz, -fən-tə-,līz, in-'fan-tə-] -vt, n

  1. to make or keep infantile
  2. to treat as if infantile

in·fan·tine ['in-fən-,tīn, -,tēn] -adj

  1. infantile, childish

in·fan·try ['in-fən-trē] -n

  1. soldiers trained, armed, and equipped to fight on foot
  2. a branch of an army composed of these soldiers
  3. an infantry regiment or division

in·fan·try·man [-trē-mən] -n

  1. an infantry soldier

infant school -n

  1. a school for children aged five to seven or eight

in·farct ['in-,färkt, in-'] -n, adj

  1. an area of necrosis in a tissue or organ resulting from obstruction of the local circulation by a thrombus or embolus

in·fare ['in-,fer] -n

  1. a reception for a newly married couple

in·fat·u·ate [in-'fa-chə-wət, -chü-ət] -adj

  1. being in an infatuated state or condition
  2. to cause to be foolish : deprive of sound judgment
  3. to inspire with a foolish or extravagant love or admiration

in·fau·na ['in-,fȯ-nə, -,fä-] -n, adj

  1. benthic fauna living in the substrate and esp. in a soft sea bottom

in·fea·si·ble [(,)in-'fē-zə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. not feasible : impracticable

in·fect [in-'fekt] -vt, n

  1. to contaminate with a disease-producing substance or agent (as bacteria)
  2. to communicate a pathogen or a disease to
  3. to invade (an individual or organ) usu. by penetration
  4. to become transmitted and copied to (as a computer)
  5. contaminate, corrupt
    • the inflated writing that infect s such stories
  6. to work upon or seize upon so as to induce sympathy, belief, or support
    • trying to infect their salespeople with their enthusiasm

in·fec·tion [in-'fek-shən] -n

  1. the act or result of affecting injuriously
  2. an infective agent or material contaminated with an infective agent
  3. the state produced by the establishment of an infective agent in or on a suitable host
  4. a disease resulting from infection
  5. an act or process of infecting
  6. the establishment of a pathogen in its host after invasion
  7. the communication of emotions or qualities through example or contact

in·fec·tious [-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. capable of causing infection
    • viruses and other infectious agents
  2. communicable by infection
    • an infectious disease
  3. that corrupts or contaminates
  4. spreading or capable of spreading rapidly to others
    • their enthusiasm was infectious
    • an infectious grin

infectious hepatitis -n

  1. hepatitis a

infectious mononucleosis -n

  1. an acute infectious disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and characterized by fever, swelling of lymph nodes, and lymphocytosis

in·fec·tive [in-'fek-tiv] -adj, n

  1. producing or capable of producing infection
  2. affecting others : infectious

in·fe·lic·i·tous [,in-fi-'li-sə-təs] -adj, adv

  1. : not felicitous: as
  2. not appropriate or well-timed
    • an infelicitous remark
  3. awkward, unfortunate
    • an infelicitous moment

in·fe·lic·i·ty [-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being infelicitous
  2. something (as a word or phrase) that is infelicitous
    • minor infelicities

in·fer [in-'fər] -vb, adj, n

  1. to derive as a conclusion from facts or premises
    • we see smoke and infer fire -- L. A. White
  2. guess, surmise
    • your letter...allows me to infer that you are as well as ever -- O. W. Holmes 1935
  3. to involve as a normal outcome of thought
  4. to point out : indicate
    • this doth infer the zeal I had to see him -- Shak.
    • another survey...infer s that two-thirds of all present computer installations are not paying for themselves -- H. R. Chellman
  5. suggest, hint
    • are you inferring I'm incompetent?
  6. to draw inferences
    • men...have observed, inferred, and reasoned...to all kinds of results -- John Dewey

in·fer·ence ['in-f(ə-)rən(t)s, -fərn(t)s] -n

  1. : the act or process of inferring: as
  2. the act of passing from one proposition, statement, or judgment considered as true to another whose truth is believed to follow from that of the former
  3. the act of passing from statistical sample data to generalizations (as of the value of population parameters) usu. with calculated degrees of certainty
  4. something that is inferred
  5. a proposition arrived at by inference
  6. the premises and conclusion of a process of inferring

in·fer·en·tial [,in-fə-'ren(t)-shəl] -adj

  1. relating to, involving, or resembling inference
  2. deduced or deducible by inference

in·fer·en·tial·ly [-'ren(t)-sh(ə-)lē] -adv

  1. by way of inference : through inference

in·fe·ri·or [in-'fir-ē-ər] -adj, n, adv

  1. situated lower down : lower
  2. of low or lower degree or rank
  3. of poor quality : mediocre
  4. of little or less importance, value, or merit
  5. situated below another and esp. another similar superior part of an upright body
  6. situated in a relatively low posterior or ventral position in a quadrupedal body
  7. situated below another plant part or organ
  8. abaxial
  9. relating to or being a subscript

inferior conjunction -n

  1. a conjunction of an inferior planet with the sun in which the planet is aligned between the earth and the sun

inferiority complex -n

  1. an acute sense of personal inferiority often resulting either in timidity or through overcompensation in exaggerated aggressiveness
  2. a collective sense of cultural, regional, or national inferiority

inferior planet -n

  1. either of the planets Mercury and Venus whose orbits lie within that of the earth

in·fer·nal [in-'fər-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a nether world of the dead
  2. of or relating to hell
  3. hellish, diabolical
  4. damnable
    • an infernal nuisance

infernal machine -n

  1. a machine or apparatus maliciously designed to explode and destroy life or property
  2. a concealed or disguised bomb

in·fer·no [in-'fər-(,)nō] -n

  1. a place or a state that resembles or suggests hell
    • the inferno of war
  2. an intense fire : conflagration
    • a raging inferno

in·fer·tile [(')in-'fər-tᵊl] -adj, n

  1. not fertile or productive
    • infertile eggs
    • infertile fields
  2. incapable of or unsuccessful in achieving pregnancy
    • infertile couples

in·fest [in-'fest] -vt, n

  1. to spread or swarm in or over in a troublesome manner
    • a slum infest ed with crime
    • shark- infested waters
  2. to live in or on as a parasite

in·fib·u·la·tion [(,)in-,fi-byə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. extreme female genital mutilation involving complete excision of the clitoris, labia minora, and most of the labia majora followed by stitching to close up most of the vagina

in·fi·del ['in-fə-dᵊl, -fə-,del] -n, adj

  1. one who is not a Christian or who opposes Christianity
  2. an unbeliever with respect to a particular religion
  3. one who acknowledges no religious belief
  4. a disbeliever in something specified or understood

in·fi·del·i·ty [,in-fə-'de-lə-tē, -(,)fī-] -n

  1. lack of belief in a religion
  2. unfaithfulness to a moral obligation : disloyalty
  3. marital unfaithfulness or an instance of it

in·field ['in-,fēld] -n

  1. a field near a farmhouse
  2. the area of a baseball field enclosed by the three bases and home plate
  3. the defensive positions comprising first base, second base, shortstop, and third base
  4. the players who play these positions
  5. the area enclosed by a racetrack or running track

in·field·er [-,fēl-dər] -n

  1. a baseball player who plays in the infield

infield hit -n

  1. a base hit on a ball that does not leave the infield

infield out -n

  1. a ground ball on which the batter is put out by an infielder

in·fight·ing ['in-,fī-tiŋ] -n, vi

  1. fighting or boxing at close quarters
  2. rough-and-tumble fighting
  3. prolonged and often bitter dissension or rivalry among members of a group or organization
    • bureaucratic infighting

in·fil·trate [in-'fil-,trāt, 'in-(,)] -vb, n, adj

  1. to cause (as a liquid) to permeate something by penetrating its pores or interstices
  2. to pass into or through (a substance) by filtering or permeating
  3. to pass (troops) singly or in small groups through gaps in the enemy line
  4. to enter or become established in gradually or unobtrusively usu. for subversive purposes
    • the intelligence staff had been infiltrated by spies
  5. to enter, permeate, or pass through a substance or area by filtering or by insinuating gradually

in·fi·nite ['in-fə-nət] -adj, adv, n

  1. extending indefinitely : endless
    • infinite space
  2. immeasurably or inconceivably great or extensive : inexhaustible
    • infinite patience
  3. subject to no limitation or external determination
  4. extending beyond, lying beyond, or being greater than any preassigned finite value however large
    • infinite number of positive numbers
  5. extending to infinity
    • infinite plane surface
  6. characterized by an infinite number of elements or terms
    • an infinite set
    • an infinite series

infinite -n

  1. something that is infinite (as in extent, duration, or number)

in·fin·i·tes·i·mal [(,)in-,fi-nə-'te-sə-məl, -zə-məl] -n

  1. an infinitesimal quantity or variable

infinitesimal [-mə-lē] -adj, adv

  1. taking on values arbitrarily close to but greater than zero
  2. immeasurably or incalculably small
    • an infinitesimal difference

infinitesimal calculus -n

  1. calculus

in·fin·i·ti·val [(,)in-,fi-nə-'tī-vəl] -adj

  1. relating to the infinitive

in·fin·i·tive [in-'fi-nə-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. formed with the infinitive

infinitive -n

  1. a verb form normally identical in English with the first person singular that performs some functions of a noun and at the same time displays some characteristics of a verb and that is used with to(as in I asked him to go) except with auxiliary and various other verbs (as in no one saw him leave)

in·fin·i·tude [in-'fi-nə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. the quality or state of being infinite : infiniteness
  2. something that is infinite esp. in extent
  3. an infinite number or quantity

in·fin·i·ty [in-'fi-nə-tē] -n

  1. the quality of being infinite
  2. unlimited extent of time, space, or quantity : boundlessness
  3. an indefinitely great number or amount
    • an infinity of stars
  4. the limit of the value of a function or variable when it tends to become numerically larger than any preassigned finite number
  5. a part of a geometric magnitude that lies beyond any part whose distance from a given reference position is finite
    • do parallel lines ever meet if they extend to infinity
  6. a transfinite number (as aleph-null)
  7. a distance so great that the rays of light from a point source at that distance may be regarded as parallel

infinity pool -n

  1. an outdoor swimming pool having an edge over which water flows into a trough but seems to flow to the horizon

in·firm [in-'fərm] -adj, adv

  1. of poor or deteriorated vitality
  2. feeble from age
  3. weak of mind, will, or character : irresolute, vacillating
  4. not solid or stable : insecure

in·fir·ma·ry [in-'fərm-rē, -'fər-mə-] -n

  1. a place where the infirm or sick are lodged for care and treatment

in·fir·mi·ty [in-'fər-mə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being infirm
  2. the condition of being feeble : frailty
  3. disease, malady
  4. a personal failing : foible
    • one of the besetting infirmities of living creatures is egotism -- A. J. Toynbee

in·fix ['in-,fiks, in-'] -vt, n

  1. to fasten or fix by piercing or thrusting in
  2. to impress firmly in the consciousness or disposition
  3. to insert (as a sound or letter) as an infix
  4. a derivational or inflectional affix appearing in the body of a word (as Sanskrit -n-in vindamiI know as contrasted with vidto know)
  5. characterized by placement of a binary operator between the operands
    • a b is expressed in infix notation

infl -abbr

  1. influenced

in fla·gran·te [,in-flə-,grän-tē, -,gran-] -adv

  1. in flagrante delicto

in flagrante de·lic·to [-di-'lik-(,)tō] -adv

  1. in the very act of committing a misdeed : red-handed
  2. in the midst of sexual activity

in·flame [in-'flām] -vb, n

  1. to excite to excessive or uncontrollable action or feeling
  2. to make angry
  3. to make more heated or violent : intensify
    • insults served only to inflame the feud
  4. to set on fire : kindle
  5. to cause to redden or grow hot from anger or excitement
    • a face inflamed with passion
  6. to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)
  7. to burst into flame
  8. to become excited or angered
  9. to become affected with inflammation

in·flam·ma·ble [in-'fla-mə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. flammable
  2. easily inflamed, excited, or angered : irascible

in·flam·ma·tion [,in-flə-'mā-shən] -n

  1. a local response to cellular injury that is marked by capillary dilatation, leukocytic infiltration, redness, heat, and pain and that serves as a mechanism initiating the elimination of noxious agents and of damaged tissue
  2. the act of inflaming : the state of being inflamed

in·flam·ma·to·ry [in-'fla-mə-,tȯr-ē] -adj, adv

  1. tending to excite anger, disorder, or tumult : seditious
  2. tending to inflame or excite the senses
  3. accompanied by or tending to cause inflammation

inflammatory bowel disease -n

  1. : either of two inflammatory diseases of the bowel:
  2. crohn's disease
  3. ulcerative colitis

in·flat·able [in-'flā-tə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. capable of being inflated
    • an inflatable boat

in·flate [in-'flāt] -vb, n

  1. to swell or distend with air or gas
  2. to puff up : elate
    • inflate one's ego
  3. to expand or increase abnormally or imprudently
  4. to become inflated

inflated -adj

  1. elaborated or heightened by artificial or empty means
    • an inflated style of writing
  2. distended with air or gas
  3. expanded to an abnormal or unjustifiable volume or level
    • inflated prices
  4. being hollow and enlarged or distended

in·fla·tion [in-'flā-shən] -n

  1. : an act of inflating : a state of being inflated: as
  2. distension
  3. a hypothetical extremely brief period of very rapid expansion of the universe immediately following the big bang
  4. empty pretentiousness : pomposity
  5. a continuing rise in the general price level usu. attributed to an increase in the volume of money and credit relative to available goods and services

in·fla·tion·ary [-shə-,ner-ē] -adj

  1. of, characterized by, or productive of inflation
    • inflationary policies

inflationary spiral -n

  1. a continuous rise in prices that is sustained by the tendency of wage increases and cost increases to react on each other

in·fla·tion·ism [in-'flā-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. the policy of economic inflation

in·flect [in-'flekt] -vb, adj

  1. to turn from a direct line or course : curve
  2. to vary (a word) by inflection : decline, conjugate
  3. to change or vary the pitch of (as the voice)
  4. to affect or alter noticeably : influence
    • an approach inflect ed by feminism
  5. to become modified by inflection

in·flec·tion [in-'flek-shən] -n

  1. the act or result of curving or bending : bend
  2. change in pitch or loudness of the voice
  3. the change of form that words undergo to mark such distinctions as those of case, gender, number, tense, person, mood, or voice
  4. a form, suffix, or element involved in such variation
  5. accidence
  6. change in curvature of an arc or curve from concave to convex or conversely
  7. inflection point

in·flec·tion·al [-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by inflection
    • an inflectional suffix

inflection point -n

  1. a point on a curve that separates an arc concave upward from one concave downward and vice versa

in·flexed ['in-,flekst] -adj

  1. bent or turned abruptly inward or downward or toward the axis
    • inflexed petals

in·flex·i·ble [(,)in-'flek-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. rigidly firm in will or purpose : unyielding
  2. not readily bent : lacking or deficient in suppleness
  3. incapable of change : unalterable

in·flex·ion [in-'flek-shən] -n

(variant of inflection)

  1. the act or result of curving or bending : bend
  2. change in pitch or loudness of the voice
  3. the change of form that words undergo to mark such distinctions as those of case, gender, number, tense, person, mood, or voice
  4. a form, suffix, or element involved in such variation
  5. accidence
  6. change in curvature of an arc or curve from concave to convex or conversely
  7. inflection point

in·flict [in-'flikt] -vt, n, adj

  1. afflict
  2. to give by or as if by striking
    • inflict pain
  3. to cause (something unpleasant) to be endured

in·flic·tion [in-'flik-shən] -n

  1. the act of inflicting
  2. something (as punishment or suffering) that is inflicted

inflight ['in-'flīt, (,)in-] -adj

  1. made, carried out, or provided for use or enjoyment while in flight
    • inflight movies

in·flo·res·cence [,in-flə-'re-sᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. the mode of development and arrangement of flowers on an axis
  2. a floral axis with its appendages
  3. a flower cluster
  4. the budding and unfolding of blossoms : flowering

in·flow ['in-,flō] -n

  1. a flowing in
    • the inflow of air
    • an inflow of funds

in·flu·ence ['in-,flü-ən(t)s, esp Southern in-'] -n

  1. an ethereal fluid held to flow from the stars and to affect the actions of humans
  2. an emanation of occult power held to derive from stars
  3. an emanation of spiritual or moral force
  4. the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command
  5. corrupt interference with authority for personal gain
  6. the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways : sway
  7. one that exerts influence

influence [-ən(t)-sə-bəl] -vt, adj

  1. to affect or alter by indirect or intangible means
  2. to have an effect on the condition or development of

in·flu·ent ['in-,flü-ənt, in-'] -adj

  1. flowing in

influent -n

  1. : something that flows in: as
  2. a tributary stream
  3. fluid input into a reservoir or process
  4. a factor modifying the balance and stability of an ecological community

in·flu·en·tial [,in-(,)flü-'en(t)-shəl] -adj, adv

  1. exerting or possessing influence

influential -n

  1. one who has great influence

in·flu·en·za [,in-(,)flü-'en-zə] -n, adj

  1. an acute typically severe respiratory disease caused by an orthomyxovirus (species Influenza A virusof the genus Influenzavirus A) and marked by sudden onset, fever, prostration, severe aches and pains, and progressive inflammation of the respiratory mucous membranes called also influenza A
  2. either of two usu. milder or even subclinical respiratory diseases caused by two other orthomyxoviruses (species Influenza B virusof the genus Influenzavirus Band species Influenza C virusof the genus Influenzavirus C) often used with the letter B or C to denote the causative species
  3. any of various human respiratory infections of undetermined cause not used technically
  4. any of numerous febrile usu. virus diseases of domestic animals marked by respiratory symptoms, inflammation of mucous membranes, and often systemic involvement

in·flux ['in-,fləks] -n

  1. a coming in
    • an influx of tourists

in·fo ['in-(,)fō] -n

  1. information

in·fold [in-'fōld] -vt

  1. enfold, envelop
  2. to fold inward or toward one another

in·fo·mer·cial ['in-(,)fō-,mər-shəl, -fə-] -n

  1. a television program that is an extended advertisement often including a discussion or demonstration

in·form [in-'fȯrm] -vb

  1. to give material form to
  2. to give character or essence to
    • the principles which inform modern teaching
  3. to be the characteristic quality of : animate
    • the compassion that inform s her work
  4. guide, direct
  5. to make known
  6. to communicate knowledge to
    • inform a prisoner of his rights
  7. to impart information or knowledge
  8. to give information (as of another's wrongdoing) to an authority
    • inform ed on a member of his own gang

in·for·mal [(,)in-'fȯr-məl] -adj, n, adv

  1. marked by the absence of formality or ceremony
    • an informal meeting
  2. characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary, casual, or familiar use
    • informal clothes

in·for·mant [in-'fȯr-mənt] -n

  1. : a person who gives information: as
  2. informer
  3. one who supplies cultural or linguistic data in response to interrogation by an investigator

in for·ma pau·pe·ris [,in-'fȯr-mə-'pȯ-pə-rəs, -'pau̇-] -adj or adv

  1. as a poor person

in·for·mat·ics [,in-fər-'ma-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. information science

in·for·ma·tion [,in-fər-'mā-shən] -n, adj, adv

  1. the communication or reception of knowledge or intelligence
  2. knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction
  3. intelligence, news
  4. facts, data
  5. the attribute inherent in and communicated by one of two or more alternative sequences or arrangements of something (as nucleotides in DNA or binary digits in a computer program) that produce specific effects
  6. a signal or character (as in a communication system or computer) representing data
  7. something (as a message, experimental data, or a picture) which justifies change in a construct (as a plan or theory) that represents physical or mental experience or another construct
  8. a quantitative measure of the content of information
  9. a numerical quantity that measures the uncertainty in the outcome of an experiment to be performed
  10. the act of informing against a person
  11. a formal accusation of a crime made by a prosecuting officer as distinguished from an indictment presented by a grand jury

information retrieval -n

  1. the techniques of storing and recovering and often disseminating recorded data esp. through the use of a computerized system

information science -n

  1. the collection, classification, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of recorded knowledge treated both as a pure and as an applied science

information superhighway -n

  1. a telecommunications infrastructure or system (as of television, telephony, or computer networks) used for widespread and usu. rapid access to information
  2. internet called also infobahn, information highway

information technology -n

  1. the technology involving the development, maintenance, and use of computer systems, software, and networks for the processing and distribution of data

information theory -n

  1. a theory that deals statistically with information, with the measurement of its content in terms of its distinguishing essential characteristics or by the number of alternatives from which it makes a choice possible, and with the efficiency of processes of communication between humans and machines

in·for·ma·tive [in-'fȯr-mə-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. imparting knowledge : instructive

in·for·ma·to·ry [-mə-,tȯr-ē] -adj, adv

  1. conveying information

in·formed [in-'fȯrmd] -adj, adv

  1. having information
    • informed sources
    • informed observers
  2. based on possession of information
    • an informed opinion
  3. educated, knowledgeable
    • what the informed person should know

informed consent -n

  1. consent to surgery by a patient or to participation in a medical experiment by a subject after achieving an understanding of what is involved

in·form·er [in-'fȯr-mər] -n

  1. one that imparts knowledge or news
  2. one that informs against another
  3. one who makes a practice esp. for a financial reward of informing against others for violations of penal laws

in·fo·tain·ment [,in-(,)fō-'tān-mənt] -n

  1. a television program that presents information (as news) in a manner intended to be entertaining

in·fo·tech ['in-fō-,tek] -n

  1. information technology

in·fra ['in-frə also -,frä] -adv

  1. later in this writing : below
    • for additional examples see infra

infra- -prefix

  1. below
    • infra human
    • infra sonic
  2. within
    • infra specific
  3. below in a scale or series
    • infra red

in·frac·tion [in-'frak-shən] -n, vt

  1. the act of infringing : violation

in·fra dig ['in-frə-'dig, -(,)frä-] -adj

  1. being beneath one's dignity : undignified
    • while his work...was financially profitable, it was just a bit infra dig -- John McCarten

in·fra·hu·man [,in-frə-'hyü-mən, -(,)frä-, -'yü-] -adj, n

  1. less or lower than human
    • infrahuman primates

in·fran·gi·ble [(,)in-'fran-jə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not capable of being broken or separated into parts
    • infrangible iron bars
  2. not to be infringed or violated
    • infrangible laws

in·fra·or·der ['in-frə-,ȯr-dər] -n

  1. a taxonomic category in biological classification ranking above a superfamily and below a suborder

in·fra·red [,in-frə-'red, -(,)frä-, -fə-] -adj, n

  1. situated outside the visible spectrum at its red end used of radiation having a wavelength between about 700 nanometers and 1 millimeter
  2. relating to, producing, or employing infrared radiation
    • infrared therapy
  3. sensitive to infrared radiation
    • infrared sensors that detect body heat

in·fra·son·ic [,in-frə-'sä-nik, -(,)frä-] -adj

  1. having or relating to a frequency below the audibility range of the human ear
  2. utilizing or produced by infrasonic waves or vibrations

in·fra·spe·cif·ic [-spi-'si-fik] -adj

  1. occurring within a species
    • infraspecific variability

in·fra·struc·ture ['in-frə-,strək-chər, -(,)frä-] -n, adj

  1. the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization)
  2. the permanent installations required for military purposes
  3. the system of public works of a country, state, or region
  4. the resources (as personnel, buildings, or equipment) required for an activity

in·fre·quence [(,)in-'frē-kwən(t)s] -n

  1. infrequency

in·fre·quen·cy [-kwən(t)-sē] -n

  1. rarity of occurrence

in·fre·quent [(,)in-'frē-kwənt] -adj, adv

  1. seldom happening or occurring : rare
  2. placed or occurring at wide intervals in space or time
    • a slope dotted with infrequent pines
    • infrequent visits

in·fringe [in-'frinj] -vb, n

  1. to encroach upon in a way that violates law or the rights of another
    • infringe a patent
  2. defeat, frustrate
  3. encroach used with on or upon
    • infringe on our rights

in·fringe·ment [in-'frinj-mənt] -n

  1. the act of infringing : violation
  2. an encroachment or trespass on a right or privilege

in·fun·dib·u·lar [,in-(,)fən-'di-byə-lər] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or having an infundibulum

in·fun·dib·u·lum [,in-(,)fən-'di-byə-ləm] -n

  1. : any of various funnel-shaped organs or parts: as
  2. the hollow conical process of gray matter connecting the pituitary gland to the hypothalamus
  3. the calyx of a kidney
  4. the abdominal opening of a fallopian tube

in·fu·ri·ate [in-'fyu̇r-ē-,āt] -vt, adv, n

  1. to make furious
  2. furiously angry

in·fuse [in-'fyüz] -vt, n

  1. to cause to be permeated with something (as a principle or quality) that alters usu. for the better
    • infuse the team with confidence
  2. introduce, insinuate
    • a new spirit was infused into American art -- Amer. Guide Series: N.Y.
  3. inspire, animate
    • the sense of purpose that infuses scientific research
  4. to steep in liquid (as water) without boiling so as to extract the soluble constituents or principles
  5. to administer or inject by infusion
    • stem cells were infused into the patient

in·fus·ible [(,)in-'fyü-zə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. incapable of being fused : very difficult to fuse

in·fu·sion [in-'fyü-zhən] -n

  1. the act or process of infusing
    • an infusion of new ideas
  2. a product obtained by infusing
    • herbal infusion s
  3. the continuous slow introduction of a solution esp. into a vein

in·fu·so·ri·al earth ['in-fyü-'zȯr-ē-əl-, -'sȯr-] -n

  1. kieselguhr

in·fu·so·ri·an [-ē-ən] -n, adj

  1. any of a heterogeneous group of minute organisms found esp. in water with decomposing organic matter
  2. a ciliated protozoan

in·gath·er ['in-,ga-thər, -,ge-] -vt, n

  1. to gather in
  2. assemble

in·ge·nious [in-'jēn-yəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. showing or calling for intelligence, aptitude, or discernment
  2. marked by especial aptitude at discovering, inventing, or contriving
  3. marked by originality, resourcefulness, and cleverness in conception or execution
    • an ingenious contraption

in·ge·nue ['an-jə-,nü, 'än-; 'aⁿ-zhə-, 'äⁿ-] -n

  1. a naive girl or young woman
  2. the stage role of an ingenue
  3. an actress playing such a role

in·ge·nu·i·ty [,in-jə-'nü-ə-tē, -'nyü-] -n

  1. candor, ingenuousness
  2. skill or cleverness in devising or combining : inventiveness
  3. cleverness or aptness of design or contrivance
  4. an ingenious device or contrivance

in·gen·u·ous [in-'jen-yə-wəs, -yü-əs] -adj

  1. ingenious

ingenuous -adj, adv, n

  1. noble, honorable
  2. showing innocent or childlike simplicity and candidness
    • her ingenuous thirst for experience -- Christopher Rawson
  3. lacking craft or subtlety
    • ingenuous in their brutality

in·gest [in-'jest] -vt, adj, n

  1. to take in for or as if for digestion

in·ges·ta [in-'jes-tə] -n pl

  1. material taken into the body by way of the digestive tract

in·gle ['iŋ-gəl, 'iŋ-əl] -n

  1. a fire in a fireplace
  2. fireplace
  3. corner, angle

in·gle·nook [-,nu̇k] -n

  1. a nook by a large open fireplace
  2. a bench or settle occupying this nook

in·glo·ri·ous [(,)in-'glȯr-ē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. shameful, ignominious
    • an inglorious defeat
  2. not glorious : lacking fame or honor
    • made an inglorious comeback

in·got ['iŋ-gət] -n

  1. a mold in which metal is cast
  2. a mass of metal cast into a convenient shape for storage or transportation to be later processed

ingot iron -n

  1. iron containing only small proportions of impurities (as less than 0.05 percent carbon)

in·grain [(,)in-'grān] -vt

  1. to work indelibly into the natural texture or mental or moral constitution
  2. made of fiber that is dyed before being spun into yarn
  3. made of yarn that is dyed before being woven or knitted
  4. thoroughly worked in : innate
  5. innate quality or character

in·grained ['in-,grānd, (,)in-'] -adj, adv

  1. worked into the grain or fiber
  2. forming a part of the essence or inmost being : deep-seated
    • ingrained prejudice

in·grate ['in-,grāt] -n

  1. an ungrateful person

in·gra·ti·ate [in-'grā-shē-,āt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to gain favor or favorable acceptance for by deliberate effort usu. used with with
    • ingratiate themselves with the community leaders -- William Attwood

ingratiating [-'grā-shē-,ā-tiŋ-lē] -adj, adv

  1. capable of winning favor : pleasing
    • an ingratiating smile
  2. intended or adopted in order to gain favor : flattering

in·grat·i·tude [(,)in-'gra-tə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. forgetfulness of or poor return for kindness received : ungratefulness

in·gre·di·ent [in-'grē-dē-ənt] -n, adj

  1. something that enters into a compound or is a component part of any combination or mixture : constituent

in·gress ['in-,gres] -n

  1. the act of entering : entrance
    • the seal prevents ingress of moisture
  2. the power or liberty of entrance or access
    • an area with restricted ingress

in·gres·sive [in-'gre-siv] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or involving ingress
  2. produced by ingress of air into the vocal tract
    • ingressive sounds
  3. inchoative

in·ground ['in-,grau̇nd] -adj

  1. built into the ground
    • an inground pool

ingroup ['in-,grüp] -n

  1. a group with which one feels a sense of solidarity or community of interests
  2. clique

in·grow·ing ['in-,grō-iŋ] -adj

  1. growing or tending inward

in·grown [-,grōn] -adj, n

  1. grown in
  2. having the free tip or edge embedded in the flesh
    • an ingrown toenail
  3. having the direction of growth or activity or interest inward rather than outward
    • swarms of ingrown, infighting bureaucracies -- H. R. Cilley

in·growth ['in-,grōth] -n

  1. a growing inward (as to fill a void)
  2. something that grows in or into a space

in·gui·nal ['iŋ-gwə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or situated in the region of the groin or in either of the lowest lateral regions of the abdomen
    • an inguinal hernia

in·gur·gi·tate [in-'gər-jə-,tāt] -vt, n

  1. to swallow greedily or in large quantities : guzzle

INH -abbr

  1. isoniazid

in·hab·it [in-'ha-bət] -vb, adj, n

  1. to occupy as a place of settled residence or habitat : live in
    • inhabit a small house
  2. to be present in or occupy in any manner or form
    • the human beings who inhabit this tale -- Al Newman
  3. to have residence in a place : dwell

in·hab·i·tan·cy [in-'ha-bə-tən(t)-sē] -n

  1. inhabitation

in·hab·i·tant [in-'ha-bə-tənt] -n

  1. one that occupies a particular place regularly, routinely, or for a period of time
    • inhabitant s of large cities
    • the tapeworm is an inhabitant of the intestine

in·hab·i·ta·tion [in-,ha-bə-'tā-shən] -n

  1. the act of inhabiting : the state of being inhabited

inhabited -adj

  1. having inhabitants

in·hal·ant [in-'hā-lənt] -n, adj

  1. something (as an allergen or medication) that is inhaled

in·ha·la·tion [,in-hə-'lā-shən, ,i-nə-'lā-] -n, adj

  1. the act or an instance of inhaling
  2. material (as medication) to be taken in by inhaling

in·ha·la·tor ['in-hə-,lā-tər, 'i-nə-,lā-] -n

  1. a device providing a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide for breathing that is used esp. in conjunction with artificial respiration

in·hale [in-'hāl] -vb, n

  1. to draw in by breathing
  2. to take in eagerly or greedily
    • inhaled about four meals at once -- Ring Lardner
  3. to breathe in

in·hal·er [in-'hā-lər] -n

  1. a device by means of which medicinal material is inhaled
    • an asthma inhaler
  2. one that inhales

in·har·mon·ic [,in-(,)här-'mä-nik] -adj

  1. not harmonic

in·har·mo·ni·ous [-'mō-nē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not harmonious : discordant
  2. not fitting or congenial : conflicting
    • inharmonious personalities

in·har·mo·ny [(,)in-'här-mə-nē] -n

  1. discord

in·here [in-'hir] -vi

  1. to be inherent
    • does selfishness inhere in each of us?

in·her·ence [in-'hir-ən(t)s, -'her-] -n

  1. the quality, state, or fact of inhering

in·her·ent [-ənt] -adj, adv

  1. involved in the constitution or essential character of something : belonging by nature or habit : intrinsic
    • risks inherent in the venture

in·her·it [in-'her-ət, -'he-rət] -vb, n

  1. to come into possession of or receive esp. as a right or divine portion
    • and every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters...for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life -- Mt 19:29 (RSV)
  2. to receive from an ancestor as a right or title descendible by law at the ancestor's death
  3. to receive as a devise or legacy
  4. to receive from a parent or ancestor by genetic transmission
    • inherit a defective enzyme
  5. to have in turn or receive as if from an ancestor
    • inherit ed the problem from his predecessor
  6. to take or hold a possession or rights by inheritance

in·her·it·able [in-'her-ə-tə-bəl, -'he-rə-] -adj, n

  1. capable of being inherited : transmissible
    • an inheritable title
  2. capable of taking by inheritance
    • the eldest son is inheritable to the crown

in·her·i·tance [in-'her-ə-tən(t)s, -'he-rə-] -n

  1. the act of inheriting property
  2. the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring
  3. the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations
  4. something that is or may be inherited
  5. tradition
  6. a valuable possession that is a common heritage from nature
  7. possession

inheritance tax -n

  1. a tax on a decedent's net estate that is levied after the estate is transmitted to the inheritors
  2. death tax
  3. estate tax

in·hib·in [in-'hi-bən] -n

  1. a glycoprotein hormone that is secreted by the pituitary gland and in the male by the Sertoli cells and in the female by the granulosa cells and that inhibits the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone

in·hib·it [in-'hi-bət] -vb, adj

  1. to prohibit from doing something
  2. to hold in check : restrain
  3. to discourage from free or spontaneous activity esp. through the operation of inner psychological or external social constraints
  4. to cause inhibition

in·hi·bi·tion [,in-hə-'bi-shən, ,i-nə-] -n

  1. the act of inhibiting : the state of being inhibited
  2. something that forbids, debars, or restricts
  3. : an inner impediment to free activity, expression, or functioning: as
  4. a mental process imposing restraint upon behavior or another mental process (as a desire)
  5. a restraining of the function of a bodily organ or an agent (as an enzyme)

in·hib·i·tor [in-'hi-bə-tər] -n

  1. : one that inhibits: as
  2. an agent that slows or interferes with a chemical action
  3. a substance that reduces or suppresses the activity of another substance (as an enzyme)

in·hold·ing ['in-,hōl-diŋ] -n

  1. privately owned land inside the boundary of a national park

in·ho·mo·ge·ne·i·ty [(,)in-,hō-mə-jə-'nē-ə-tē, -'nā- also ÷-'nī-; esp Brit -,hä-mə-] -n, adj

  1. the condition or an instance of not being homogeneous
  2. a part that is not homogeneous with the larger uniform mass in which it occurs
  3. a localized collection of matter in the universe

in·hos·pi·ta·ble [,in-(,)hä-'spi-tə-bəl, (,)in-'häs-(,)pi-] -adj, n, adv

  1. not showing hospitality : not friendly or receptive
  2. providing no shelter or sustenance
    • an inhospitable environment

in·hos·pi·tal·i·ty [(,)in-,häs-pə-'ta-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being inhospitable

inhouse ['in-,hau̇s, -'hau̇s] -adj, adv

  1. existing, originating, or carried on within a group or organization or its facilities : not outside
    • an inhouse publication
    • a company's inhouse staff

in·hu·man [(,)in-'hyü-mən, -'yü-] -adj, adv, n

  1. lacking pity, kindness, or mercy : savage
    • an inhuman tyrant
  2. cold, impersonal
    • his usual quiet, almost inhuman courtesy -- F. Tennyson Jesse
  3. not worthy of or conforming to the needs of human beings
    • inhuman living conditions
  4. of or suggesting a nonhuman class of beings

in·hu·mane [,in-(,)hyü-'mān, -(,)yü-] -adj, adv

  1. not humane : inhuman
    • the inhumane treatment of prisoners

in·hu·man·i·ty [-'ma-nə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being cruel or barbarous
  2. a cruel or barbarous act
  3. absence of warmth or geniality : impersonality

in·hume [in-'hyüm] -vt, n

  1. bury, inter

in·im·i·cal [i-'ni-mi-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. being adverse often by reason of hostility or malevolence
    • forces inimical to democracy
  2. having the disposition of an enemy : hostile
    • inimical factions
  3. reflecting or indicating hostility : unfriendly
    • his father's inimical glare

in·im·i·ta·ble [(,)i-'ni-mə-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not capable of being imitated : matchless
    • her own inimitable style

in·i·on ['i-nē-,än, -ən] -n

  1. the external occipital protuberance of the skull

in·iq·ui·tous [i-'ni-kwə-təs] -adj, adv, n

  1. characterized by iniquity

in·iq·ui·ty [-kwə-tē] -n

  1. gross injustice : wickedness
  2. a wicked act or thing : sin

ini·tial [i-'ni-shəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. of or relating to the beginning : incipient
    • his initial reaction
  2. placed at the beginning : first
    • the initial word of the verse

initial -n

  1. the first letter of a name
  2. the first letter of each word in a full name
    • found that their initial s were identical
  3. a large letter beginning a text or a division or paragraph
  4. anlage, precursor
  5. a meristematic cell
  6. to affix an initial to
  7. to authenticate or give preliminary approval to by affixing the initials of an authorizing representative

ini·tial·ism [i-'ni-shə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. an abbreviation formed from initial letters

ini·tial·ize [-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to set (as a computer program counter) to a starting position, value, or configuration

initial rhyme -n

  1. alliteration

initial side -n

  1. a stationary straight line that contains a point about which another straight line is rotated to form an angle

ini·ti·ate [i-'ni-shē-,āt] -vt, n

  1. to cause or facilitate the beginning of : set going
    • initiate a program of reform
    • enzymes that initiate fermentation
  2. to induct into membership by or as if by special rites
  3. to instruct in the rudiments or principles of something : introduce

ini·tiate [i-'ni-sh(ē-)ət] -adj

  1. initiated or properly admitted (as to membership or an office)
  2. instructed in some secret knowledge
  3. relating to an initiate
  4. a person who is undergoing or has undergone an initiation
  5. a person who is instructed or adept in some special field

ini·ti·a·tion [i-,ni-shē-'ā-shən] -n

  1. the act or an instance of initiating
  2. the process of being initiated
  3. the rites, ceremonies, ordeals, or instructions with which one is made a member of a sect or society or is invested with a particular function or status
  4. the condition of being initiated into some experience or sphere of activity : knowledgeableness

ini·tia·tive [i-'ni-shə-tiv also -shē-ə-tiv] -adj

  1. of or relating to initiation : introductory, preliminary

initiative -n

  1. an introductory step
    • took the initiative in attempting to settle the issue
  2. energy or aptitude displayed in initiation of action : enterprise
    • showed great initiative
  3. the right to initiate legislative action
  4. a procedure enabling a specified number of voters by petition to propose a law and secure its submission to the electorate or to the legislature for approval

ini·tia·to·ry [i-'ni-sh(ē-)ə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. constituting a beginning
    • initiatory proceedings
  2. tending or serving to initiate
    • initiatory rites

in·ject [in-'jekt] -vt, adj or n, n

  1. to introduce into something forcefully
    • inject fuel into an engine
  2. to force a fluid into (as for medical purposes)
    • inject a drug into the bloodstream
  3. to introduce as an element or factor in or into some situation or subject
    • condemning any attempt to inject religious bigotry into the campaign -- Current Biog.

in·jec·tant [-'jek-tənt] -n

  1. a substance that is injected into something

in·jec·tion [in-'jek-shən] -n

  1. an act or instance of injecting
  2. the placing of an artificial satellite or a spacecraft into an orbit or on a trajectory
  3. the time or place at which injection occurs
  4. something (as a medication) that is injected
  5. a mathematical function that is a one-to-one mapping

injection molding -n, adj

  1. a method of forming articles (as of plastic) by heating the molding material until it can flow and injecting it into a mold

in·jec·tive [in-'jek-tiv] -adj

  1. being a one-to-one mathematical function

injoke ['in-,jōk, -'jōk] -n

  1. a joke for or about a select group of people

in·ju·di·cious [,in-jü-'di-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not judicious : indiscreet, unwise
    • injudicious outbursts

in·junc·tion [in-'jəŋ(k)-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act or an instance of enjoining : order, admonition
  2. a writ granted by a court of equity whereby one is required to do or to refrain from doing a specified act

in·jure ['in-jər] -vt, n

  1. to do an injustice to : wrong
  2. to harm, impair, or tarnish the standing of
    • injured his reputation
  3. to give pain to
    • injure a person's pride
  4. to inflict bodily hurt on
  5. to impair the soundness of
    • injured her health
  6. to inflict material damage or loss on

in·ju·ri·ous [in-'ju̇r-ē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. inflicting or tending to inflict injury : detrimental
    • injurious to health
  2. abusive, defamatory
    • speak not injurious words -- George Washington

in·ju·ry ['inj-rē, 'in-jə-] -n

  1. an act that damages or hurts : wrong
  2. violation of another's rights for which the law allows an action to recover damages
  3. hurt, damage, or loss sustained

in·jus·tice [(,)in-'jəs-təs] -n

  1. absence of justice : violation of right or of the rights of another : unfairness
  2. an unjust act : wrong

ink ['iŋk] -n, adj

  1. a colored usu. liquid material for writing and printing
  2. the black protective secretion of a cephalopod
  3. publicity
  4. to put ink on
    • ink a pen
  5. to draw or write on in ink
  6. sign
    • ink ed a new contract
  7. sign

ink·ber·ry ['iŋk-,ber-ē] -n

  1. a holly ( Ilex glabra) of eastern No. America with evergreen oblong leathery leaves and small usu. black berries
  2. pokeweed
  3. the fruit of an inkberry

ink·blot test ['iŋk-,blät-] -n

  1. any of several psychological tests (as a Rorschach test) based on the interpretation of irregular figures (as blots of ink)

ink·horn ['iŋk-,hȯrn] -n

  1. a small portable bottle (as of horn) for holding ink

inkhorn -adj

  1. ostentatiously learned : pedantic
    • inkhorn terms

inkind ['in-'kīnd] -adj

  1. consisting of something (as goods or commodities) other than money
    • inkind relief for the poor

inkjet ['iŋk-'jet] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being a printer in which electrically charged droplets of ink are sprayed onto the paper

in·kle ['iŋ-kəl] -n

  1. a colored linen tape or braid woven on a very narrow loom and used for trimming
  2. the thread used

in·kling ['iŋ-kliŋ] -n

  1. a slight indication or suggestion : hint, clue
    • there was no path-no inkling even of a track -- New Yorker
  2. a slight knowledge or vague notion
    • had not the faintest inkling of what it was all about -- H. W. Carter

ink·stand ['iŋk-,stand] -n

  1. inkwell
  2. a stand with fittings for holding ink and pens

ink·stone ['iŋk-,stōn] -n

  1. a stone used in Chinese art and calligraphy on which dry ink and water are mixed

ink·well ['iŋk-,wel] -n

  1. a container (as in a desk) for ink

inky cap -n

  1. a mushroom (genus Coprinus,esp. C. atramentarius) whose pileus deliquesces into an inky fluid after the spores have matured called also ink cap

in·laid ['in-'lād] -adj

  1. set into a surface in a decorative design
    • tables with inlaid marble
  2. decorated with a design or material set into a surface
    • a table with an inlaid top
  3. having a design that goes all the way through to the backing

in·land ['in-,land, -lənd] -adj

  1. of or relating to the interior of a country
  2. not foreign : domestic

inland -n

  1. the interior part of a country
  2. into or toward the interior

in·land·er ['in-,lan-dər, -lən-] -n

  1. one who lives inland

inlaw ['in-,lȯ] -n

  1. a relative by marriage

in·lay [(,)in-'lā, 'in-,] -vt, n

  1. to set into a surface or ground material
  2. to adorn with insertions
  3. to insert (as a color plate) into a mat or other reinforcement
  4. to rub, beat, or fuse (as wire) into an incision in metal, wood, or stone
  5. inlaid work or a decorative inlaid pattern
  6. a tooth filling shaped to fit a cavity and then cemented into place

in·let ['in-,let, -lət] -n

  1. a bay or recess in the shore of a sea, lake, or river
  2. creek
  3. a narrow water passage between peninsulas or through a barrier island leading to a bay or lagoon
  4. a way of entering
  5. an opening for intake

in·li·er ['in-,lī(-ə)r] -n

  1. a mass of rock whose outcrop is surrounded by rock of younger age
  2. a distinct area or formation completely surrounded by another
  3. enclave

inline ['in-'līn, ,in-] -adj or adv

  1. having the parts or units arranged in a straight line
  2. being so arranged

inline engine [(,)in-'līn-, 'in-,] -n

  1. an internal combustion engine in which the cylinders are arranged in one or more straight lines

inline skate -n

  1. a roller skate whose wheels are set in-line for greater speed and maneuverability

in lo·co pa·ren·tis [in-'lō-kō-pə-'ren-təs] -adv

  1. in the place of a parent
    • school officials acting in loco parentis

in loco parentis -n

  1. regulation or supervision by an administrative body (as at a university) acting in loco parentis

in·ly ['in-lē] -adv

  1. inwardly
  2. in a manner suggesting great depth of knowledge or understanding : thoroughly

in·mate ['in-,māt] -n

  1. any of a group occupying a single place of residence
  2. a person confined (as in a prison or hospital)

in me·di·as res [in-'me-dē-əs-'rās, -'mē-dē-əs-'rēz] -adv

  1. in or into the middle of a narrative or plot

in me·mo·ri·am [,in-mə-'mȯr-ē-əm] -prep

  1. in memory of used esp. in epitaphs

inmi·grant ['in-,mī-grənt] -n

  1. one that in-migrates

inmi·grate ['in-,mī-,grāt] -vi, n

  1. to move into or come to live in a region or community esp. as part of a large-scale and continuing movement of population

in·most ['in-,mōst] -adj

  1. deepest within : farthest from the outside

inn ['in] -n

  1. an establishment for the lodging and entertaining of travelers
  2. tavern
  3. a residence formerly provided for British students in London and esp. for students of law
  4. to put up at an inn

in·nards ['i-nərdz] -n pl

  1. the internal organs of a human being or animal
  2. viscera
  3. the internal parts esp. of a structure or mechanism

in·nate [i-'nāt, 'i-,] -adj, adv, n

  1. existing in, belonging to, or determined by factors present in an individual from birth : native, inborn
    • innate behavior
  2. belonging to the essential nature of something : inherent
  3. originating in or derived from the mind or the constitution of the intellect rather than from experience

in·ner ['i-nər] -adj, n, adv

  1. situated farther in
    • the inner bark
  2. being near a center esp. of influence
    • the inner circles of political power
  3. of or relating to the mind or spirit
    • the inner life
  4. existing as an often repressed part of one's psychological makeup
    • inner child
    • inner artist

inner city -n, adj

  1. the usu. older, poorer, and more densely populated central section of a city

in·nerdi·rect·ed ['i-nər-də-'rek-təd, -(,)dī-] -adj

  1. directed in thought and action by one's own scale of values as opposed to external norms

inner ear -n

  1. the essential organ of hearing and equilibrium that is located in the temporal bone, is innervated by the auditory nerve, and includes the vestibule, the semicircular canals, and the cochlea

inner light -n

  1. a divine presence held (as in Quaker doctrine) to enlighten and guide the soul

in·ner·most ['i-nər-,mōst] -adj

  1. farthest inward : inmost

innermost -n

  1. the inmost part

inner planet -n

  1. any of the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars whose orbits are within the asteroid belt

inner product -n

  1. scalar product

in·ner·sole ['i-nər-'sōl] -n

  1. insole

inner space -n

  1. space at or near the earth's surface and esp. under the sea
  2. one's inner self

in·ner·spring ['i-nər-'spriŋ] -adj

  1. having coil springs inside a padded casing
    • innerspring mattress

inner tube -n

  1. an inflatable usu. ring-shaped rubber tube designed for use inside a pneumatic tire

in·ner·vate [i-'nər-,vāt, 'i-(,)nər-] -vt, n

  1. to supply with nerves

in·ning ['i-niŋ] -n

  1. a division of a cricket match
  2. a division of a baseball game consisting of a turn at bat for each team
  3. a baseball team's turn at bat ending with the third out
  4. a player's turn (as in horseshoes, pool, or croquet)
  5. a chance or opportunity for action or accomplishment usu. used in pl. but sing. or pl. in constr.
    • that momentous inning s which was to project him into world politics -- Times Lit. Supp.

inn·keep·er ['in-,kē-pər] -n

  1. a proprietor of an inn
  2. hotelman

in·no·cence ['i-nə-sən(t)s] -n

  1. freedom from guilt or sin through being unacquainted with evil : blamelessness
  2. chastity
  3. freedom from legal guilt of a particular crime or offense
  4. freedom from guile or cunning : simplicity
  5. lack of worldly experience or sophistication
  6. lack of knowledge : ignorance
    • written in entire innocence of the Italian language -- E. R. Bentley
  7. one that is innocent
  8. bluet

in·no·cen·cy [-sən(t)-sē] -n

  1. innocence
  2. an innocent action or quality

in·no·cent ['i-nə-sənt] -adj, n, adv

  1. free from guilt or sin esp. through lack of knowledge of evil : blameless
    • an innocent child
  2. harmless in effect or intention
    • searching for a hidden motive in even the most innocent conversation -- Leonard Wibberley
  3. candid
    • gave me an innocent gaze
  4. free from legal guilt or fault
  5. lawful
    • a wholly innocent transaction
  6. lacking or reflecting a lack of sophistication, guile, or self-consciousness : artless, ingenuous
  7. ignorant
    • almost entirely innocent of Latin -- C. L. Wrenn
  8. unaware
    • perfectly innocent of the confusion he had created -- B. R. Haydon
  9. lacking or deprived of something
    • her face innocent of cosmetics -- Marcia Davenport

in·noc·u·ous [i-'nä-kyə-wəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. producing no injury : harmless
  2. not likely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility : inoffensive, insipid

in·nom·i·nate [i-'nä-mə-nət] -adj

  1. having no name : unnamed
  2. anonymous

innominate artery -n

  1. brachiocephalic artery

innominate bone -n

  1. hip bone

innominate vein -n

  1. brachiocephalic vein

in·no·vate ['i-nə-,vāt] -vb, n, adj

  1. to introduce as or as if new
  2. to effect a change in
    • the dictates of my father were...not to be altered, innovated, or even discussed -- Sir Walter Scott
  3. to make changes : do something in a new way

in·no·va·tion [,i-nə-'vā-shən] -n, adj

  1. the introduction of something new
  2. a new idea, method, or device : novelty

in·no·va·tive ['i-nə-,vā-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. characterized by, tending to, or introducing innovations

Inns of Court

  1. the four sets of buildings in London belonging to four societies of students and practitioners of the law
  2. the four societies that alone admit to practice at the English bar

in·nu·en·do [,in-yə-'wen-(,)dō, -yü-'en-] -n

  1. an oblique allusion : hint, insinuation
  2. a veiled or equivocal reflection on character or reputation
  3. the use of such allusions
    • resorting to innuendo
  4. a parenthetical explanation introduced into the text of a legal document

in·nu·mer·a·ble [i-'nüm-rə-bəl, -'nyüm-; -'n(y)ü-mə-] -adj, adv

  1. too many to be numbered : countless
  2. very many

in·nu·mer·ate [-rət] -adj, n

  1. marked by an ignorance of mathematics and the scientific approach

in·nu·mer·ous [-rəs] -adj

  1. innumerable

in·ob·ser·vance [,in-əb-'zər-vən(t)s] -n, adj

  1. lack of attention : heedlessness
  2. failure to fulfill : nonobservance

in·oc·u·lant [i-'nä-kyə-lənt] -n

  1. inoculum

in·oc·u·late [i-'nä-kyə-,lāt] -vt, adj, n

  1. to introduce a microorganism into
    • inoculate mice with anthrax
    • beans inoculated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria
  2. to introduce (as a microorganism) into a suitable situation for growth
  3. to introduce immunologically active material (as an antibody or antigen) into esp. in order to treat or prevent a disease
    • inoculate children against diphtheria
  4. to introduce something into the mind of
  5. to protect as if by inoculation

in·oc·u·la·tion [i-,nä-kyə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. the act or process or an instance of inoculating
  2. the introduction of a pathogen or antigen into a living organism to stimulate the production of antibodies
  3. inoculum

in·oc·u·lum [i-'nä-kyə-ləm] -n

  1. material used for inoculation

in·of·fen·sive [,in-ə-'fen(t)-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. causing no harm or injury
  2. giving no provocation : peaceable
  3. not objectionable to the senses

in·op·er·a·ble [(,)in-'ä-p(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj

  1. not treatable or remediable by surgery
  2. inoperative

in·op·er·a·tive [-'ä-p(ə-)rə-tiv, -'ä-pə-,rā-] -adj, n

  1. : not operative: as
  2. not functioning
    • an inoperative clock
  3. having no effect or force
    • an inoperative law

in·op·por·tune [(,)in-,ä-pər-'tün, -'tyün] -adj, adv, n

  1. inconvenient, unseasonable

in order that -conj

  1. that

in·or·di·nate [in-'ȯr-dᵊn-ət, -'ȯrd-nət] -adj, adv, n

  1. disorderly, unregulated
  2. exceeding reasonable limits : immoderate

inorg -abbr

  1. inorganic

in·or·gan·ic [,in-(,)ȯr-'ga-nik] -adj, adv

  1. being or composed of matter other than plant or animal : mineral
  2. forming or belonging to the inanimate world
  3. of, relating to, or dealt with by a branch of chemistry concerned with substances not usu. classed as organic
  4. not arising from natural growth : artificial
  5. lacking structure, character, or vitality
    • dull inorganic things, without individuality or prestige -- John Buchan

in·os·cu·late [i-'näs-kyə-,lāt] -vb, n

  1. join, unite

ino·sine ['i-nə-,sēn, 'ī-, -sən] -n

  1. a nucleoside C 10H 12N 4O 5that is composed of hypoxanthine and ribose, that in the form of its monophosphate is a biosynthetic precursor of both AMP and its guanosine analog, and that binds to adenine, cytosine, or uracil esp. in some transfer RNAs

ino·si·tol [i-'nō-sə-,tȯl, ī-'nō-, -,tōl] -n

  1. any of several crystalline stereoisomeric cyclic alcohols C 6H 12O 6
  2. myoinositol

ino·trope ['ī-nə-,trōp] -n

  1. an inotropic drug or agent (as epinephrine or a beta-blocker)

ino·tro·pic [,ē-nə-'trō-pik, ,ī-nə-, -'trä-] -adj

  1. increasing or decreasing the force of muscular contractions
    • an inotropic drug

INP -abbr

  1. International News Photo

in·pa·tient ['in-,pā-shənt] -n

  1. a hospital patient who receives lodging and food as well as treatment

in per·so·nam [,in-pər-'sō-,nam, -,näm] -adv or adj

  1. against a person for the purpose of imposing a liability or obligation used esp. of legal actions, judgments, or jurisdiction

in pet·to [in-'pe-(,)tō] -adv or adj

  1. in private : secretly
  2. in miniature

in·pour·ing ['in-,pȯr-iŋ] -n

  1. inrush

inprint ['in-'print] -adj

  1. being in print

inpro·cess [(,)in-'prä-,ses, -'prō-, -səs] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being goods in manufacture as distinguished from raw materials or from finished products

in pro·pria per·so·na [in-'prō-prē-ə-pər-'sō-nə] -adv

  1. in one's own person or character : personally
  2. without the assistance of an attorney

in·put ['in-,pu̇t] -n

  1. : something that is put in: as
  2. an amount put in
    • increased input of fertilizer increases crop yield
  3. power or energy put into a machine or system for storage, conversion in kind, or conversion of characteristics usu. with the intent of sizable recovery in the form of output
  4. a component of production (as land, labor, or raw materials)
  5. information fed into a data processing system or computer
  6. advice, opinion, comment
  7. a stimulus that acts on and is integrated into a bodily system
    • sensory input
  8. the means by which or the point at which an input (as of energy, material, or data) is made
  9. the act or process of putting in

input -vt

  1. to enter (as data) into a computer or data processing system

inq -abbr

  1. inquire

in·quest ['in-,kwest] -n

  1. a judicial or official inquiry or examination esp. before a jury
    • a coroner's inquest
  2. a body of people (as a jury) assembled to hold such an inquiry
  3. the finding of the jury upon such inquiry or the document recording it
  4. inquiry, investigation

in·qui·etude [(,)in-'kwī-ə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. disturbed state : disquietude

in·qui·line ['in-kwə-,līn, 'iŋ-, -lən] -n

  1. an animal that lives habitually in the nest or abode of some other species

in·quire [in-'kwī(-ə)r] -vb, n, adv

  1. to ask about
    • some kindred spirit shall inquire thy fate -- Thomas Gray
  2. to search into : investigate
  3. to put a question : seek for information by questioning
    • inquired about the horses
  4. to make investigation or inquiry often used with into

in·qui·ry [in-'kwī(-ə)r-ē, 'in-,; 'in-kwə-rē, 'iŋ-; 'in-,kwir-ē] -n

  1. examination into facts or principles : research
  2. a request for information
  3. a systematic investigation often of a matter of public interest

in·qui·si·tion [,in-kwə-'zi-shən, ,iŋ-] -n, adj

  1. the act of inquiring : examination
  2. a judicial or official inquiry or examination usu. before a jury
  3. the finding of the jury
  4. a former Roman Catholic tribunal for the discovery and punishment of heresy
  5. an investigation conducted with little regard for individual rights
  6. a severe questioning

in·quis·i·tive [in-'kwi-zə-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. given to examination or investigation
  2. inclined to ask questions
  3. inordinately or improperly curious about the affairs of others

in·quis·i·tor [in-'kwi-zə-tər] -n, adj, adv

  1. one who inquires or makes inquisition
  2. one who is unduly harsh, severe, or hostile in making an inquiry

in re [in-'rā, -'rē] -prep

  1. in the matter of : concerning, re often used in the title or name of a law case

in rem [in-'rem] -adv or adj

  1. against a thing (as a right, status, or property) used esp. of legal actions, judgments, or jurisdiction

INRI -abbr

  1. Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews

in·ro ['in-(,)rō] -n

  1. a small compartmented and usu. ornamented container hung from an obi to hold small objects (as medicines)

in·road ['in-,rōd] -n

  1. a sudden hostile incursion : raid
  2. an advance or penetration often at the expense of someone or something usu. used in pl.

in·run ['in-,rən] -n

  1. the approach ramp of a ski jump

in·rush ['in-,rəsh] -n

  1. a crowding or flooding in

ins -abbr

  1. inches
  2. insurance

INS -abbr

  1. Immigration and Naturalization Service
  2. inertial navigation system

in·sa·lu·bri·ous [,in-sə-'lü-brē-əs] -adj, n

  1. not conducive to health : unwholesome
    • an insalubrious climate

ins and outs [,inz-ən(d)-'au̇ts] -n pl

  1. characteristic peculiarities or technicalities : workings
  2. ramifications

in·sane [(,)in-'sān] -adj, adv, n

  1. mentally disordered : exhibiting insanity
  2. used by, typical of, or intended for insane persons
    • an insane asylum
  3. absurd
    • an insane scheme for making money
  4. extreme

in·san·i·tary [(,)in-'sa-nə-,ter-ē] -adj, n

  1. unclean enough to endanger health : contaminated

in·san·i·ty [in-'sa-nə-tē] -n

  1. a deranged state of the mind usu. occurring as a specific disorder (as schizophrenia)
  2. such unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding as prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or as removes one from criminal or civil responsibility
  3. extreme folly or unreasonableness
  4. something utterly foolish or unreasonable

in·sa·tia·ble [(,)in-'sā-shə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being satisfied : quenchless
    • had an insatiable desire for wealth

in·sa·tiate [(,)in-'sā-sh(ē-)ət] -adj, adv, n

  1. insatiable

in·scribe [in-'skrīb] -vt, n

  1. to write, engrave, or print as a lasting record
  2. to enter on a list : enroll
  3. to write, engrave, or print characters upon
  4. to autograph or address (a book) as a gift
  5. to dedicate to someone
  6. to draw within a figure so as to touch in as many places as possible
    • a regular polygon inscribed in a circle
  7. to register the name of the holder of (a security)

in·scrip·tion [in-'skrip-shən] -n, adj

  1. something that is inscribed
  2. superscription
  3. epigraph
  4. the wording on a coin, medal, seal, or currency note
  5. the dedication of a book or work of art
  6. the act of inscribing
  7. the entering of a name on or as if on a list : enrollment
  8. the act of inscribing securities
  9. inscribed securities

in·scrip·tive [in-'skrip-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. relating to or constituting an inscription

in·scroll [in-'skrōl] -vt

  1. to write on a scroll : record

in·scru·ta·ble [in-'skrü-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood : mysterious
    • an inscrutable smile
    • inscrutable motives

in·sculp [in-'skəlp] -vt

  1. engrave, sculpture

in·seam ['in-,sēm] -n

  1. the seam on the inside of the leg of a pair of pants
  2. the length of this seam

in·sect ['in-,sekt] -n, adj

  1. any of numerous small invertebrate animals (as spiders or centipedes) that are more or less obviously segmented not used technically
  2. any of a class (Insecta) of arthropods (as bugs or bees) with well-defined head, thorax, and abdomen, only three pairs of legs, and typically one or two pairs of wings
  3. a trivial or contemptible person

in·sec·ta·ry ['in-,sek-tə-rē, in-'] -n

  1. a place for the keeping or rearing of living insects

in·sec·ti·cid·al [(,)in-,sek-tə-'sī-dᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. destroying or controlling insects
  2. of or relating to an insecticide

in·sec·ti·cide [in-'sek-tə-,sīd] -n

  1. an agent that destroys insects

in·sec·tile [(,)in-'sek-tᵊl, -,tī(-ə)l, -(,)til] -adj

  1. being or suggestive of an insect

in·sec·ti·vore [in-'sek-tə-,vȯr] -n

  1. any of an order (Insectivora) of small usu. nocturnal mammals (as moles, shrews, and hedgehogs) that feed mainly on insects
  2. an insectivorous plant or animal

in·sec·tiv·o·rous [,in-,sek-'tiv-rəs, -'ti-və-] -adj

  1. feeding on insects

in·se·cure [,in-si-'kyu̇r] -adj, adv, n

  1. not confident or sure : uncertain
    • feeling somewhat insecure of his reception
  2. not adequately guarded or sustained : unsafe
    • an insecure investment
  3. not firmly fastened or fixed : shaky
    • the hinge is loose and insecure
  4. not highly stable or well-adjusted
    • an insecure marriage
  5. deficient in assurance : beset by fear and anxiety
    • always felt insecure in a group of strangers

in·sel·berg ['in(t)-səl-,bərg, 'in-zəl-, -,berg] -n

  1. an isolated mountain

in·sem·i·nate [in-'se-mə-,nāt] -vt, n

  1. sow
  2. to introduce semen into the genital tract of (a female)

in·sem·i·na·tor [-'se-mə-,nā-tər] -n

  1. one that inseminates cattle artificially

in·sen·sate [(,)in-'sen-,sāt, -sət] -adj, adv

  1. lacking sense or understanding
  2. foolish
  3. lacking animate awareness or sensation
  4. lacking humane feeling : brutal

in·sen·si·ble [(,)in-'sen(t)-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. imperceptible
    • dampened by an insensible dew
  2. slight, gradual
    • insensible motion
  3. : incapable or bereft of feeling or sensation: as
  4. not endowed with life or spirit : insentient
    • insensible earth
  5. unconscious
    • knocked insensible by a sudden blow
  6. lacking sensory perception or ability to react
    • insensible to pain
  7. lacking emotional response : apathetic, indifferent
    • insensible to fear
  8. unaware
    • insensible of their danger
  9. stupid, senseless
  10. not intelligible : meaningless
  11. lacking delicacy or refinement

in·sen·si·tive [(,)in-'sen(t)-s(ə-)tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. not responsive or susceptible
    • insensitive to the demands of the public
  2. lacking feeling or tact
    • so insensitive as to laugh at someone in pain
  3. not physically or chemically sensitive

in·sen·tient [(,)in-'sen(t)-sh(ē-)ənt] -adj, n

  1. lacking perception, consciousness, or animation

in·sep·a·ra·ble [(,)in-'se-p(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being separated or disjoined
    • inseparable issues
  2. seemingly always together : very intimate
    • inseparable friends

in·sert [in-'sərt] -vb, n

  1. to put or thrust in
    • insert the key in the lock
    • insert a spacecraft into orbit
  2. to put or introduce into the body of something : interpolate
    • insert a change in a manuscript
  3. to set in and make fast
  4. to insert by sewing between two cut edges
  5. to place into action (as in a game)
    • insert a new pitcher
  6. to be in attachment to the part to be moved
  7. something that is inserted or is for insertion
  8. written or printed material inserted (as between the leaves of a book)

in·ser·tion [in-'sər-shən] -n, adj

  1. : something that is inserted: as
  2. the part of a muscle that inserts
  3. the mode or place of attachment of an organ or part
  4. embroidery or needlework inserted as ornament between two pieces of fabric
  5. a section of genetic material that is inserted into an existing gene sequence
  6. the act or process of inserting
  7. the mutational process producing a genetic insertion

inser·vice ['in-'sər-vəs] -adj

  1. going on or continuing while one is fully employed
    • inservice teacher education workshops
  2. of, relating to, or being one that is fully employed
    • inservice police officers

in·set ['in-,set] -n

  1. a place where something flows in : channel
  2. a setting or flowing in
  3. : something that is inset: as
  4. a small graphic representation (as a map or picture) set within a larger one
  5. a piece of cloth set into a garment (as for decoration)
  6. a part or section of a utensil that fits into an outer part
  7. set in
  8. to insert within something else in such a way as to be visible
  9. to provide with an inset

in·shore ['in-'shȯr] -adj

  1. situated, living, or carried on near shore
  2. moving toward shore
    • an inshore current

inshore -adv

  1. to or toward shore
    • boats driven inshore by the storm

in·side [(,)in-'sīd, 'in-,] -n

  1. an interior or internal part or place : the part within
  2. inward nature, thoughts, or feeling
  3. viscera, entrails usu. used in pl.
  4. an inner side or surface
  5. a position of power, trust, or familiarity
    • only someone on the inside could have told
  6. confidential information
    • has the inside on what happened at the convention
  7. : the area nearest a specified or implied point of reference: as
  8. the side of home plate nearest the batter
  9. the middle portion of a playing area
  10. the area near or underneath the basket in basketball

inside -adv

  1. on the inner side
  2. in or into the interior
    • stayed inside during the storm
  3. to or on the inside
  4. in prison
  5. of, relating to, or being on or near the inside
    • an inside pitch
  6. relating or known to a select group
    • inside information
  7. behind-the-scenes
  8. in or into or as if in or into the interior of
    • waited inside the church
  9. on the inner side of
    • just inside the door
  10. within
    • inside an hour

inside address -n

  1. address

inside of -prep

  1. inside

inside out -adv

  1. in such a manner that the inner surface becomes the outer
    • turned the shirt inside out
  2. to a thorough degree
    • knows the subject inside out
  3. in or into a state of disarray often involving drastic reorganization
    • turned the business inside out

in·sid·er [(,)in-'sī-dər, 'in-,] -n

  1. : a person recognized or accepted as a member of a group, category, or organization: as
  2. a person who is in a position of power or has access to confidential information
  3. one (as an officer or director) who is in a position to have special knowledge of the affairs of or to influence the decisions of a company

insider trading -n

  1. the illegal use of information available only to insiders in order to make a profit in financial trading

inside track -n

  1. an advantageous competitive position
    • the owner's son has the inside track for the job

in·sid·i·ous [in-'si-dē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. awaiting a chance to entrap : treacherous
  2. harmful but enticing : seductive
    • insidious drugs
  3. having a gradual and cumulative effect : subtle
    • the insidious pressures of modern life
  4. developing so gradually as to be well established before becoming apparent

in·sight ['in-,sīt] -n

  1. the power or act of seeing into a situation : penetration
  2. the act or result of apprehending the inner nature of things or of seeing intuitively

in·sight·ful ['in-,sīt-fəl, in-'] -adj, adv

  1. exhibiting or characterized by insight
    • insightful criticism

in·sig·nia [in-'sig-nē-ə] -n

  1. a badge of authority or honor
  2. a distinguishing mark or sign

in·sig·nif·i·cance [,in(t)-sig-'ni-fi-kən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being insignificant

in·sig·nif·i·can·cy [-kən(t)-sē] -n

  1. insignificance
  2. an insignificant thing or person

in·sig·nif·i·cant [-kənt] -adj, adv

  1. : not significant: as
  2. lacking meaning or import : inconsequential
  3. not worth considering : unimportant
  4. lacking weight, position, or influence : contemptible
  5. small in size, quantity, or number

in·sin·cere [,in-sin-'sir, -sən-] -adj, adv, n

  1. not sincere : hypocritical

in·sin·u·ate [in-'sin-yə-,wāt, -yü-,āt] -vb, adj, n

  1. to introduce (as an idea) gradually or in a subtle, indirect, or covert way
    • insinuate doubts into a trusting mind
  2. to impart or suggest in an artful or indirect way : imply
    • I resent what you're insinuating
  3. to introduce (as oneself) by stealthy, smooth, or artful means
  4. to enter gently, slowly, or imperceptibly : creep
  5. to ingratiate oneself

insinuating -adj, adv

  1. winning favor and confidence by imperceptible degrees : ingratiating
  2. tending gradually to cause doubt, distrust, or change of outlook often in a slyly subtle manner
    • insinuating remarks

in·sin·u·a·tion [(,)in-,sin-yə-'wā-shən, -yü-'ā-] -n

  1. the act or process of insinuating
  2. something that is insinuated
  3. a sly, subtle, and usu. derogatory utterance

in·sip·id [in-'si-pəd] -adj, n, adv

  1. lacking taste or savor : tasteless
    • insipid food
  2. lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge : dull, flat
    • insipid prose

in·sist [in-'sist] -vb

  1. to be emphatic, firm, or resolute about something intended, demanded, or required
    • they insist on going
  2. persist
  3. to maintain in a persistent or positive manner
    • insist ed that the story was true

in·sis·tence [in-'sis-tən(t)s] -n

  1. the act or an instance of insisting
  2. the quality or state of being insistent : urgency

in·sis·ten·cy [-tən(t)-sē] -n

  1. insistence

in·sis·tent [in-'sis-tənt] -adj, adv

  1. disposed to insist : persistent
  2. compelling attention
    • the insistent pounding of the waves

in si·tu [(,)in-'sī-(,)tü, -'si-, -(,)tyü also -'sē-, -(,)chü] -adv or adj

  1. in the natural or original position or place
    • an in situ cancer confined to the breast duct

in·so·bri·ety [,in-sə-'brī-ə-tē, -sō-] -n

  1. lack of sobriety or moderation
  2. intemperance in drinking

in·so·cia·ble [(,)in-'sō-shə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not sociable

in·so·far [,in-sə-'fär] -adv

  1. to such extent or degree

insofar as -conj

  1. to the extent or degree that
    • we agree only insofar as the budget is concerned

insol -abbr

  1. insoluble

in·so·la·tion [,in-(,)sō-'lā-shən] -n

  1. exposure to the sun's rays
  2. sunstroke
  3. solar radiation that has been received
  4. the rate of delivery of direct solar radiation per unit of horizontal surface
  5. that relating to total solar radiation

in·sole ['in-,sōl] -n

  1. an inside sole of a shoe
  2. a loose thin strip placed inside a shoe for warmth or comfort

in·so·lence ['in(t)-s(ə-)lən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being insolent
  2. an instance of insolent conduct or treatment

in·so·lent [-s(ə-)lənt] -adj, n, adv

  1. insultingly contemptuous in speech or conduct : overbearing
  2. exhibiting boldness or effrontery : impudent

in·sol·u·bi·lize [(,)in-'säl-yə-bə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to make insoluble

in·sol·u·ble [(,)in-'säl-yə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : not soluble: as
  2. indissoluble
  3. having or admitting of no solution or explanation
    • an insoluble problem
  4. incapable of being dissolved in a liquid and esp. water
  5. soluble only with difficulty or to a slight degree

in·solv·able [(,)in-'säl-və-bəl, -'sȯl-] -adj, adv

  1. admitting no solution
    • an apparently insolvable problem

in·sol·ven·cy [(,)in-'säl-vən(t)-sē, -'sȯl-] -n

  1. the fact or state of being insolvent : inability to pay debts

in·sol·vent [(,)in-'säl-vənt, -'sȯl-] -adj, n

  1. unable to pay debts as they fall due in the usual course of business
  2. having liabilities in excess of a reasonable market value of assets held
  3. insufficient to pay all debts
    • an insolvent estate
  4. not up to a normal standard or complement : impoverished
  5. relating to or for the relief of insolvents

in·som·nia [in-'säm-nē-ə] -n, adj or n

  1. prolonged and usu. abnormal inability to obtain adequate sleep

in·so·much as [,in(t)-sō-'məch-] -conj

  1. inasmuch as

insomuch that -conj

  1. so

in·sou·ci·ance [in-'sü-sē-ən(t)s, aⁿ-süs-'yäⁿs] -n, adj, adv

  1. lighthearted unconcern : nonchalance

insp -abbr

  1. inspector

in·span [in-'span, 'in-,] -vb

  1. yoke, harness

in·spect [in-'spekt] -vb, adj

  1. to view closely in critical appraisal : look over
  2. to examine officially
    • inspect s the barracks every Friday
  3. to make an inspection

in·spec·tion [in-'spek-shən] -n

  1. the act of inspecting
  2. recognition of a familiar pattern leading to immediate solution of a mathematical problem
    • solve an equation by inspection
  3. a checking or testing of an individual against established standards

inspection arms -n

  1. a position in the manual of arms in which the rifle is held at port arms with the chamber open for inspection
  2. a command to assume this position

in·spec·tor [in-'spek-tər] -n

  1. a person employed to inspect something
  2. a police officer who is in charge of usu. several precincts and ranks below a superintendent or deputy superintendent
  3. a person appointed to oversee a polling place

in·spec·tor·ate [in-'spek-t(ə-)rət] -n

  1. the office, position, work, or district of an inspector
  2. a body of inspectors

inspector general -n

  1. a person who heads an inspectorate or a system of inspection (as of an army)

in·spi·ra·tion [,in(t)-spə-'rā-shən, -(,)spi-] -n, adj, adv

  1. a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation
  2. the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions
  3. the act of influencing or suggesting opinions
  4. the act of drawing in
  5. the drawing of air into the lungs
  6. the quality or state of being inspired
  7. something that is inspired
    • a scheme that was pure inspiration
  8. an inspiring agent or influence

in·spi·ra·tor ['in(t)-spə-,rā-tər, -(,)spi-] -n

  1. one that inspires
    • teachers who are inspirator s of the young

in·spi·ra·to·ry [in-'spī-rə-,tȯr-ē, 'in(t)-sp(ə-)rə-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, used for, or associated with inspiration

in·spire [in-'spī(-ə)r] -vb, n

  1. to influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural inspiration
  2. to exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence on
    • was particularly inspired by the Romanticists
  3. to spur on : impel, motivate
    • threats don't necessarily inspire people to work
  4. affect
    • seeing the old room again inspired him with nostalgia
  5. to breathe or blow into or upon
  6. to infuse (as life) by breathing
  7. to communicate to an agent supernaturally
  8. to draw forth or bring out
    • thoughts inspired by a visit to the cathedral
  9. inhale
  10. bring about, occasion
    • the book was inspired by his travels in the Far East
  11. incite
  12. to spread (rumor) by indirect means or through the agency of another
  13. inhale

inspired -adj

  1. outstanding or brilliant in a way or to a degree suggestive of divine inspiration
    • gave an inspired performance

inspiring -adj

  1. having an animating or exalting effect

in·spir·it [in-'spir-ət] -vt, adv

  1. to fill with spirit

in·spis·sate [in-'spi-,sāt, 'in(t)-spə-,sāt] -vt, n

  1. to make thick or thicker

in·spis·sat·ed [in-'spi-,sā-təd, 'in(t)-spə-,sā-] -adj

  1. thickened in consistency
  2. made or having become thick, heavy, or intense

inst -abbr

  1. instant
  2. institute; institution; institutional

in·sta·bil·i·ty [,in(t)-stə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being unstable
  2. lack of emotional or mental stability

in·sta·ble [(,)in-'stā-bəl] -adj

  1. unstable

in·stal [in-'stȯl] -vt, n

(variant of install)

  1. to place in an office or dignity by seating in a stall or official seat
  2. to induct into an office, rank, or order
    • install ed the new president
  3. to establish in an indicated place, condition, or status
    • install ing herself in front of the fireplace
  4. to set up for use or service
    • had an exhaust fan install ed in the kitchen
    • install software

in·stall [in-'stȯl] -vt, n

  1. to place in an office or dignity by seating in a stall or official seat
  2. to induct into an office, rank, or order
    • install ed the new president
  3. to establish in an indicated place, condition, or status
    • install ing herself in front of the fireplace
  4. to set up for use or service
    • had an exhaust fan install ed in the kitchen
    • install software

in·stal·la·tion [,in(t)-stə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. the act of installing : the state of being installed
  2. something that is installed for use
  3. a military camp, fort, or base
  4. a work of art that usu. consists of multiple components often in mixed media and that is exhibited in a usu. large space in an arrangement specified by the artist

in·stall·ment [in-'stȯl-mənt] -n

  1. installation

installment -n, adj

  1. one of the parts into which a debt is divided when payment is made at intervals
  2. one of several parts (as of a publication) presented at intervals
  3. one part of a serial story

installment plan -n

  1. a system of paying for goods by installments

in·stance ['in(t)-stən(t)s] -n

  1. urgent or earnest solicitation
  2. instigation, request
    • am writing to you at the instance of my client
  3. an impelling cause or motive
  4. exception
  5. an individual illustrative of a category or brought forward in support or disproof of a generalization
  6. token, sign
  7. the institution and prosecution of a lawsuit : suit
  8. a step, stage, or situation viewed as part of a process or series of events
    • prefers, in this instance, to remain anonymous -- Times Lit. Supp.

instance -vt

  1. to illustrate or demonstrate by an instance
  2. to mention as a case or example : cite

in·stan·cy ['in(t)-stən(t)-sē] -n

  1. urgency, insistence
  2. nearness of approach : imminence
  3. immediacy of occurrence or action : instantaneousness

in·stant ['in(t)-stənt] -n

  1. an infinitesimal space of time
  2. a point in time separating two states
    • at the instant of death
  3. the present or current month

instant -adj, n

  1. importunate, urgent
  2. present, current
    • previous felonies not related to the instant crime
  3. of or occurring in the present month abbr. inst
  4. immediate, direct
    • the play was an instant success
  5. premixed or precooked for easy final preparation
    • instant pudding
  6. appearing in or as if in ready-to-use form
    • instant poetry
  7. immediately soluble in water
    • instant coffee
  8. produced or occurring with or as if with extreme rapidity and ease

in·stan·ta·neous [,in(t)-stən-'tā-nē-əs, -nyəs] -adj, n, adv

  1. done, occurring, or acting without any perceptible duration of time
    • death was instantaneous
  2. done without any delay being purposely introduced
    • took instantaneous corrective action
  3. occurring or present at a particular instant
    • instantaneous velocity

in·stan·ter [in-'stan-tər] -adv

  1. at once

in·stan·ti·ate [in-'stan(t)-shē-,āt] -vt, n

  1. to represent (an abstraction) by a concrete instance
    • heroes instantiate ideals -- W. J. Bennett

in·stant·ly ['in(t)-stənt-lē] -adv

  1. with importunity : urgently
  2. without the least delay : immediately

instantly -conj

  1. as soon as
    • he ran across the grass instantly he perceived his mother -- W. M. Thackeray

instant messaging -n, n or vb

  1. a means or system for transmitting electronic messages instantly

instant replay -n

  1. a video recording of an action (as a play in football) that can be played back (as in slow motion) immediately after the action has been completed
  2. the playing of such a recording

in·star ['in-,stär] -n

  1. a stage in the life of an arthropod (as an insect) between two successive molts
  2. an individual in a specified instar

in·state [in-'stāt] -vt

  1. invest, endow
  2. bestow, confer
  3. to set or establish in a rank or office : install

in sta·tu quo [in-,stā-(,)tü-'kwō, -,sta-; -,sta-(,)chü-] -adv

  1. in the former or same state

in·stau·ra·tion [,in-,stȯ-'rā-shən, ,in(t)-stə-] -n

  1. restoration after decay, lapse, or dilapidation
  2. an act of instituting or establishing something

in·stead [in-'sted] -adv

  1. as a substitute or equivalent
    • was going to write but called instead
  2. as an alternative to something expressed or implied : rather
    • longed instead for a quiet country life

in·stead of [in-'ste-də(v), -'sti-] -prep

  1. in place of : as a substitute for or alternative to
    • chose tea instead of coffee

in·step ['in-,step] -n

  1. the arched middle portion of the human foot in front of the ankle joint
  2. its upper surface
  3. the part of a shoe or stocking that fits over the instep

in·sti·gate ['in(t)-stə-,gāt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to goad or urge forward : provoke

in·stil [in-'stil] -vt, n

(variant of instill)

  1. to cause to enter drop by drop
    • instill medication into the infected eye
  2. to impart gradually
    • instill ing a love of learning in children

in·still [in-'stil] -vt, n

  1. to cause to enter drop by drop
    • instill medication into the infected eye
  2. to impart gradually
    • instill ing a love of learning in children

in·stinct ['in-,stiŋ(k)t] -n, adj, adv

  1. a natural or inherent aptitude, impulse, or capacity
    • had an instinct for the right word
  2. a largely inheritable and unalterable tendency of an organism to make a complex and specific response to environmental stimuli without involving reason
  3. behavior that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level
  4. impelled by an inner or animating or exciting agency
  5. profoundly imbued : infused
    • my mood, instinct with romance -- S. J. Perelman

in·stinc·tive [in-'stiŋ(k)-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or being instinct
  2. prompted by natural instinct or propensity : arising spontaneously
    • an instinctive fear of innovation -- V. L. Parrington

in·sti·tute ['in(t)-stə-,tüt, -,tyüt] -vt, n

  1. to establish in a position or office
  2. to originate and get established : organize
  3. to set going : inaugurate
    • instituting an investigation

institute -n

  1. : something that is instituted: as
  2. an elementary principle recognized as authoritative
  3. a collection of such principles and precepts
  4. a legal compendium
  5. an organization for the promotion of a cause : association
    • a research institute
    • an institute for the blind
  6. an educational institution and esp. one devoted to technical fields
  7. a usu. brief intensive course of instruction on selected topics relating to a particular field
    • an urban studies institute

in·sti·tu·tion [,in(t)-stə-'tü-shən, -'tyü-] -n

  1. an act of instituting : establishment
  2. a significant practice, relationship, or organization in a society or culture
    • the institution of marriage
  3. something or someone firmly associated with a place or thing
    • she has become an institution in the theater
  4. an established organization or corporation (as a bank or university) esp. of a public character
  5. asylum

in·sti·tu·tion·al [,in(t)-stə-'t(y)ü-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to an institution
    • institutional knowledge
  2. characteristic of or appropriate to institutions
    • bland institutional cooking
    • institutional green walls

in·sti·tu·tion·al·ise [-shnə-,līz, -shə-nə-,līz] -vt, n

(variant of institutionalize)

  1. to make into an institution : give character of an institution to
    • institutionalized housing
  2. to incorporate into a structured and often highly formalized system
    • institutionalized values
  3. to put in the care of an institution
    • institutionalize alcoholics

in·sti·tu·tion·al·ism [-shnə-,li-zəm, -shə-nə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. emphasis on organization (as in religion) at the expense of other factors
  2. public institutional care of disabled, delinquent, or dependent persons
  3. an economic school of thought that emphasizes the role of social institutions in influencing economic behavior

in·sti·tu·tion·al·ize [-shnə-,līz, -shə-nə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to make into an institution : give character of an institution to
    • institutionalized housing
  2. to incorporate into a structured and often highly formalized system
    • institutionalized values
  3. to put in the care of an institution
    • institutionalize alcoholics

instore ['in-'stȯr] -adj

  1. relating to or being an operation or activity located or taking place inside a store
    • instore consumer survey

instr -abbr

  1. instructor
  2. instrument; instrumental

in·struct [in-'strəkt] -vt

  1. to give knowledge to : teach, train
  2. to provide with authoritative information or advice
    • the judge instruct ed the jury
  3. to give an order or command to : direct

in·struc·tion [in-'strək-shən] -n, adj

  1. precept
    • prevailing cultural instruction s
  2. a direction calling for compliance : order usu. used in pl.
    • had instruction s not to admit strangers
  3. an outline or manual of technical procedure : directions
  4. a code that tells a computer to perform a particular operation
  5. the action, practice, or profession of teaching

in·struc·tive [in-'strək-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. carrying a lesson : enlightening

in·struc·tor [in-'strək-tər] -n

  1. one that instructs : teacher
  2. a college teacher below professorial rank

in·struc·tress [-'strək-trəs] -n

  1. a woman who is an instructor

in·stru·ment ['in(t)-strə-mənt] -n

  1. a device used to produce music
  2. a singing voice
  3. a means whereby something is achieved, performed, or furthered
  4. one used by another as a means or aid : dupe, tool
  5. implement
  6. one designed for precision work
  7. a formal legal document (as a deed, bond, or agreement)
  8. a measuring device for determining the present value of a quantity under observation
  9. an electrical or mechanical device used in navigating an airplane
  10. such a device used as the sole means of navigating
  11. to address a legal instrument to
  12. to score for musical performance : orchestrate
  13. to equip with instruments esp. for measuring and recording data

in·stru·men·tal [,in(t)-strə-'men-tᵊl] -adj, n, adv

  1. serving as a crucial means, agent, or tool
    • was instrumental in organizing the strike
  2. of, relating to, or done with an instrument or tool
  3. relating to, composed for, or performed on a musical instrument
  4. of, relating to, or being a grammatical case or form expressing means or agency
  5. of or relating to instrumentalism
  6. operant
    • instrumental learning
    • instrumental conditioning

in·stru·men·tal·ism [-,i-zəm] -n

  1. a doctrine that ideas are instruments of action and that their usefulness determines their truth

in·stru·men·tal·ist [-ist] -n, adj

  1. a player on a musical instrument
  2. an exponent of instrumentalism

in·stru·men·tal·i·ty [,in(t)-strə-mən-'ta-lə-tē, -,men-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being instrumental
  2. means, agency

in·stru·men·ta·tion [,in(t)-strə-mən-'tā-shən, -,men-] -n

  1. the arrangement or composition of music for instruments esp. for a band or orchestra
  2. the use or application of instruments (as for observation, measurement, or control)
  3. instruments for a particular purpose
  4. a selection or arrangement of instruments

instrument flying -n

  1. navigation of an airplane by instruments only

instrument landing -n

  1. a landing made with limited visibility by means of instruments and by ground radio direction

instrument panel -n

  1. a panel on which instruments are mounted
  2. dashboard

in·sub·or·di·nate [,in(t)-sə-'bȯr-də-nət, -'bȯrd-nət] -adj, n, adv

  1. disobedient to authority

in·sub·stan·tial [,in(t)-səb-'stan(t)-shəl] -adj, n

  1. : not substantial: as
  2. lacking substance or material nature
  3. lacking firmness or solidity : flimsy

in·suf·fer·able [(,)in-'sə-f(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not to be endured : intolerable
    • an insufferable bore

in·suf·fi·cien·cy [,in(t)-sə-'fi-shən(t)-sē] -n

  1. : the quality or state of being insufficient: as
  2. lack of mental or moral fitness : incompetence
    • the insufficiency of this person for public office
  3. lack of adequate supply
    • insufficiency of provisions
  4. lack of physical power or capacity
  5. inability of an organ or body part to function normally
    • renal insufficiency
  6. something that is insufficient or falls short of expectations

in·suf·fi·cient [,in(t)-sə-'fi-shənt] -adj, adv

  1. not sufficient : inadequate
    • insufficient funds
  2. lacking adequate power, capacity, or competence
    • insufficient bandwidth

in·suf·fla·tion [,in(t)-sə-'flā-shən, in-,sə-'flā-] -n, vt

  1. : an act or the action of blowing on, into, or in: as
  2. a Christian ceremonial rite of exorcism performed by breathing on a person
  3. the act of blowing something (as a gas, powder, or vapor) into a body cavity

in·su·lant ['in(t)-sə-lənt] -n

  1. insulation

in·su·lar ['in(t)-su̇-lər, -syu̇-, 'in-shə-lər] -adj, n, adv

  1. of, relating to, or constituting an island
  2. dwelling or situated on an island
    • insular residents
  3. characteristic of an isolated people
  4. being, having, or reflecting a narrow provincial viewpoint
  5. of or relating to an island of cells or tissue

in·su·late ['in(t)-sə-,lāt] -vt

  1. to place in a detached situation : isolate
  2. to separate from conducting bodies by means of nonconductors so as to prevent transfer of electricity, heat, or sound

in·su·la·tion [,in(t)-sə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. the action of insulating
  2. the state of being insulated
  3. material used in insulating

in·su·la·tor ['in(t)-sə-,lā-tər] -n

  1. : one that insulates: as
  2. a material that is a poor conductor (as of electricity or heat)
  3. a device made of an electrical insulating material and used for separating or supporting conductors

in·su·lin ['in(t)-s(ə-)lən] -n

  1. a protein pancreatic hormone secreted by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans that is essential esp. for the metabolism of carbohydrates and the regulation of glucose levels in the blood and that when insufficiently produced results in diabetes mellitus

insulindependent diabetes -n

  1. type 1 diabetes

insulindependent diabetes mellitus -n

  1. type 1 diabetes abbr. IDDM

insulinlike growth factor -n

  1. either of two polypeptides structurally similar to insulin that are secreted either during fetal development or during childhood and that mediate growth hormone activity

insulin resistance -n

  1. reduced sensitivity to insulin by the body's insulin-dependent processes (as glucose uptake and lipolysis) that is typical of type 2 diabetes but often occurs in the absence of diabetes

insulin resistance syndrome -n

  1. metabolic syndrome

insulin shock -n

  1. severe hypoglycemia that is associated with the presence of excessive insulin in the system and that if left untreated may result in convulsions and progressive development of coma

in·sult [in-'səlt] -vb, n, adv

  1. to behave with pride or arrogance : vaunt
  2. to treat with insolence, indignity, or contempt : affront
  3. to affect offensively or damagingly
    • doggerel that insult s the reader's intelligence
  4. a gross indignity
  5. injury to the body or one of its parts
  6. something that causes or has a potential for causing such insult
    • pollution and other environmental insult s

in·su·per·a·ble [(,)in-'sü-p(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. incapable of being surmounted, overcome, passed over, or solved
    • insuperable difficulties

in·sup·port·able [,in(t)-sə-'pȯr-tə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. : not supportable:
  2. more than can be endured
    • insupportable pain
  3. impossible to justify
    • insupportable charges

in·sup·press·ible [,in(t)-sə-'pre-sə-bəl] -adj

  1. irrepressible

insur -abbr

  1. insurance

in·sur·able [in-'shu̇r-ə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. that may be insured

in·sur·ance [in-'shu̇r-ən(t)s also 'in-,] -n

  1. the business of insuring persons or property
  2. coverage by contract whereby one party undertakes to indemnify or guarantee another against loss by a specified contingency or peril
  3. the sum for which something is insured
  4. a means of guaranteeing protection or safety
    • the contract is your insurance against price changes

insurance -adj

  1. being a score that adds to a team's lead and makes it impossible for the opposing team to tie the game with its next score
    • an insurance run

in·sure [in-'shu̇r] -vb

  1. to provide or obtain insurance on or for
  2. to make certain esp. by taking necessary measures and precautions
  3. to contract to give or take insurance

insured -n

  1. a person whose life or property is insured

in·sur·er [in-'shu̇r-ər] -n

  1. one that insures
  2. an insurance underwriter

in·sur·gence [in-'sər-jən(t)s] -n

  1. an act or the action of being insurgent : insurrection

in·sur·gen·cy [-jən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being insurgent
  2. a condition of revolt against a government that is less than an organized revolution and that is not recognized as belligerency
  3. insurgence

in·sur·gent [-jənt] -n

  1. a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government
  2. a rebel not recognized as a belligerent
  3. one who acts contrary to the policies and decisions of one's own political party

insurgent -adj, adv

  1. rising in opposition to civil authority or established leadership : rebellious

in·sur·mount·able [,in(t)-sər-'mau̇n-tə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. incapable of being surmounted : insuperable
    • insurmountable problems

in·sur·rec·tion [,in(t)-sə-'rek-shən] -n, adj, adj or n

  1. an act or instance of revolting against civil authority or an established government

in·sus·cep·ti·ble [,in(t)-sə-'sep-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not susceptible
    • insusceptible to flattery

int -abbr

  1. intelligence
  2. intercept
  3. interest
  4. interim
  5. interior
  6. interjection
  7. intermediate
  8. internal
  9. international
  10. interpreter
  11. intersection
  12. interval
  13. interview
  14. intransitive

in·tact [in-'takt] -adj, n

  1. untouched esp. by anything that harms or diminishes : entire, uninjured
  2. : having no relevant component removed or destroyed:
  3. physically virginal
  4. not castrated

in·ta·glio [in-'tal-(,)yō, -'täl-; -'ta-glē-,ō, -'tä-] -n

  1. an engraving or incised figure in stone or other hard material depressed below the surface so that an impression from the design yields an image in relief
  2. the art or process of executing intaglios
  3. printing (as in die stamping and gravure) done from a plate in which the image is sunk below the surface
  4. something (as a gem) carved in intaglio

in·take ['in-,tāk] -n

  1. an opening through which fluid enters an enclosure
  2. a taking in
  3. the amount taken in
  4. something (as energy) taken in : input

in·tan·gi·ble [(,)in-'tan-jə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not tangible : impalpable
    • education's intangible benefits

intangible -n

  1. : something intangible: as
  2. an asset (as goodwill) that is not corporeal
  3. an abstract quality or attribute (as loyalty or creativity)

in·tar·sia [in-'tär-sē-ə] -n

  1. a mosaic usu. of wood fitted into a support
  2. the art or process of making such a mosaic
  3. a colored design knitted on both sides of a fabric

in·te·ger ['in-ti-jər] -n

  1. any of the natural numbers, the negatives of these numbers, or zero
  2. a complete entity

in·te·gra·ble ['in-ti-grə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. capable of being integrated
    • integrable functions

in·te·gral ['in-ti-grəl (usu so in mathematics); in-'te-grəl also -'tē- also ÷'in-trə-gəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. essential to completeness : constituent
    • an integral part of the curriculum
  2. being, containing, or relating to one or more mathematical integers
  3. relating to or concerned with mathematical integrals or integration
  4. formed as a unit with another part
    • a seat with integral headrest
  5. composed of integral parts
  6. lacking nothing essential : entire

integral -n

  1. the result of a mathematical integration

integral calculus -n

  1. a branch of mathematics concerned with the theory and applications (as in the determination of lengths, areas, and volumes and in the solution of differential equations) of integrals and integration

integral domain -n

  1. a mathematical ring in which multiplication is commutative, which has a multiplicative identity element, and which contains no pair of nonzero elements whose product is zero
    • the integers under the operations of addition and multiplication form an integral domain

in·te·grand ['in-tə-,grand] -n

  1. a mathematical expression to be integrated

in·te·grate ['in-tə-,grāt] -vb

  1. to form, coordinate, or blend into a functioning or unified whole : unite
  2. to find the integral of (as a function or equation)
  3. to unite with something else
  4. to incorporate into a larger unit
  5. to end the segregation of and bring into equal membership in society or an organization
  6. desegregate
    • integrate school districts
  7. to become integrated

integrated -adj

  1. marked by the unified control of all aspects of industrial production from raw materials through distribution of finished products
    • integrated companies
    • integrated production
  2. characterized by integration and esp. racial integration
    • an integrated society
    • integrated schools

integrated circuit -n

  1. a tiny complex of electronic components and their connections that is produced in or on a small slice of material (as silicon)

integrated pest management -n

  1. management of agricultural and horticultural pests that minimizes the use of chemicals and emphasizes natural and low-toxicity methods (as the use of crop rotation and beneficial predatory insects)

in·te·gra·tion [,in-tə-'grā-shən] -n

  1. : the act or process or an instance of integrating: as
  2. incorporation as equals into society or an organization of individuals of different groups (as races)
  3. coordination of mental processes into a normal effective personality or with the individual's environment
  4. the operation of finding a function whose differential is known
  5. the operation of solving a differential equation

in·te·gra·tion·ist [-sh(ə-)nist] -n, adj

  1. a person who believes in, advocates, or practices social integration

in·te·gra·tive ['in-tə-,grā-tiv] -adj

  1. serving to integrate or favoring integration : directed toward integration
    • the integrative powers of the human imagination -- J. A. McPherson

in·te·gra·tor [-,grā-tər] -n

  1. one that integrates
  2. a device or computer unit that totalizes variable quantities in a manner comparable to mathematical integration

in·teg·ri·ty [in-'te-grə-tē] -n

  1. firm adherence to a code of esp. moral or artistic values : incorruptibility
  2. an unimpaired condition : soundness
  3. the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness

in·teg·u·ment [in-'te-gyə-mənt] -n, adj

  1. something that covers or encloses
  2. an enveloping layer (as a skin, membrane, or cuticle) of an organism or one of its parts

intel -abbr

  1. intelligence

in·tel·lect ['in-tə-,lekt] -n

  1. the power of knowing as distinguished from the power to feel and to will : the capacity for knowledge
  2. the capacity for rational or intelligent thought esp. when highly developed
  3. a person with great intellectual powers

in·tel·lec·tion [,in-tə-'lek-shən] -n

  1. an act of the intellect : thought
  2. exercise of the intellect : reasoning

in·tel·lec·tive [-'lek-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. having, relating to, or belonging to the intellect : rational

in·tel·lec·tu·al [,in-tə-'lek-chə-wəl, -chəl, -shwəl, -chü(-ə)l] -adj, n, adv

  1. of or relating to the intellect or its use
  2. developed or chiefly guided by the intellect rather than by emotion or experience : rational
  3. requiring use of the intellect
    • intellectual games
  4. given to study, reflection, and speculation
  5. engaged in activity requiring the creative use of the intellect
    • intellectual playwrights

intellectual -n

  1. intellectual powers
  2. an intellectual person

in·tel·lec·tu·al·ism [,in-tə-'lek-chə-wə-,li-zəm, -chə-,li-, -shwə-,li-, -chü(-ə)-,li-] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. devotion to the exercise of intellect or to intellectual pursuits

in·tel·lec·tu·al·ize [,in-tə-'lek-chə-wə-,līz, -chə-,līz, -shwə-,līz, -chü(-ə)-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to give rational form or content to

intellectual property -n

  1. property (as an idea, invention, or process) that derives from the work of the mind or intellect
  2. an application, right, or registration relating to this

in·tel·li·gence [in-'te-lə-jən(t)s] -n

  1. the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations : reason
  2. the skilled use of reason
  3. the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as tests)
  4. the basic eternal quality of divine Mind
  5. mental acuteness : shrewdness
  6. an intelligent entity
  7. angel
  8. intelligent minds or mind
    • cosmic intelligence
  9. the act of understanding : comprehension
  10. information, news
  11. information concerning an enemy or possible enemy or an area
  12. an agency engaged in obtaining such information
  13. the ability to perform computer functions

intelligence quotient -n

  1. IQ

in·tel·li·genc·er [in-'te-lə-jən(t)-sər; -'te-lə-,jen(t)-, -,te-lə-'] -n

  1. a secret agent : spy
  2. a bringer of news : reporter

intelligence test -n

  1. a test designed to determine the relative mental capacity of a person

in·tel·li·gent [in-'te-lə-jənt] -adj, adv

  1. having or indicating a high or satisfactory degree of intelligence and mental capacity
  2. revealing or reflecting good judgment or sound thought : skillful
  3. possessing intelligence
  4. guided or directed by intellect : rational
  5. guided or controlled by a computer
  6. using a built-in microprocessor for automatic operation, for processing of data, or for achieving greater versatility
  7. able to produce printed material from digital signals
    • an intelligent copier

intelligent design -n

  1. the theory that matter, the various forms of life, and the world were created by a designing intelligence

in·tel·li·gent·sia [in-,te-lə-'jen(t)-sē-ə, -'gen(t)-] -n

  1. intellectuals who form an artistic, social, or political vanguard or elite

in·tel·li·gi·ble [in-'te-lə-jə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. apprehensible by the intellect only
  2. capable of being understood or comprehended
    • jargon intelligible only to the initiated

in·tem·per·ance [(,)in-'tem-p(ə-)rən(t)s] -n

  1. lack of moderation
  2. habitual or excessive drinking of intoxicants

in·tem·per·ate [-p(ə-)rət] -adj, adv, n

  1. not temperate
    • intemperate criticism
  2. given to excessive use of intoxicating liquors

in·tend [in-'tend] -vb, n

  1. to direct the mind on
  2. to proceed on (a course)
  3. signify, mean
  4. to refer to
  5. to have in mind as a purpose or goal : plan
  6. to design for a specified use or future
  7. set out, start

in·ten·dance [in-'ten-dən(t)s] -n

  1. management, superintendence
  2. an administrative department

in·ten·dant [-dənt] -n

  1. an administrative official (as a governor) esp. under the French, Spanish, or Portuguese monarchies

intended -adj, adv

  1. expected to be such in the future
    • an intended career
    • his intended bride
  2. intentional
  3. the person to whom another is engaged

intending -adj

  1. prospective, aspiring
    • an intending teacher

in·tend·ment [in-'ten(d)-mənt] -n

  1. the true meaning or intention esp. of a law

in·ten·er·ate [in-'te-nə-,rāt] -vt, n

  1. to make tender : soften

in·tense [in-'ten(t)s] -adj, adv, n

  1. existing in an extreme degree
    • the excitement was intense
    • intense pain
  2. having or showing a characteristic in extreme degree
    • intense colors
  3. marked by or expressive of great zeal, energy, determination, or concentration
    • intense effort
  4. exhibiting strong feeling or earnestness of purpose
    • an intense student
  5. deeply felt

in·ten·si·fi·er [in-'ten(t)-sə-,fī(-ə)r] -n

  1. one that intensifies
  2. intensive

in·ten·si·fy [in-'ten(t)-sə-,fī] -vb, n

  1. to make intense or more intensive : strengthen
  2. to increase the density and contrast of (a photographic image) by chemical treatment
  3. to make more acute : sharpen
  4. to become intense or more intensive : grow stronger or more acute

in·ten·sion [in-'ten(t)-shən] -n, adj, adv

  1. intensity
  2. connotation

in·ten·si·ty [in-'ten(t)-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being intense
  2. extreme degree of strength, force, energy, or feeling
  3. the magnitude of a quantity (as force or energy) per unit (as of area, charge, mass, or time)
  4. saturation

in·ten·sive [in-'ten(t)-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. : of, relating to, or marked by intensity or intensification: as
  2. highly concentrated
    • intensive study
  3. tending to strengthen or increase
  4. tending to give force or emphasis
    • intensive adverb
  5. constituting or relating to a method designed to increase productivity by the expenditure of more capital and labor rather than by increase in scope
    • intensive farming

intensive -n

  1. an intensive linguistic element

intensive care -n

  1. continuous monitoring and treatment of seriously ill patients using special medical equipment and services
  2. a unit in a hospital providing intensive care
    • heart patients in intensive care

in·tent [in-'tent] -n

  1. the act or fact of intending : purpose
  2. the design or purpose to commit a wrongful or criminal act
    • admitted wounding him with intent
  3. the state of mind with which an act is done : volition
  4. a usu. clearly formulated or planned intention : aim
    • the director's intent
  5. meaning, significance
  6. connotation

intent -adj, adv, n

  1. directed with strained or eager attention : concentrated
  2. having the mind, attention, or will concentrated on something or some end or purpose
    • intent on their work

in·ten·tion [in-'ten(t)-shən] -n

  1. a determination to act in a certain way : resolve
  2. import, significance
  3. what one intends to do or bring about
  4. the object for which a prayer, mass, or pious act is offered
  5. a process or manner of healing of incised wounds
  6. concept
  7. a concept considered as the product of attention directed to an object of knowledge
  8. purpose with respect to marriage

in·ten·tion·al [in-'tench-nəl, -'ten(t)-shə-nᵊl] -adj, n, adv

  1. done by intention or design : intended
    • intentional damage
  2. of or relating to epistemological intention
  3. having external reference

in·ter [in-'tər] -vt

  1. to deposit (a dead body) in the earth or in a tomb

inter- -prefix

  1. between : among : in the midst
    • inter crop
    • inter penetrate
    • inter stellar
  2. reciprocal
    • inter relation
    : reciprocally
    • inter marry
  3. located between
    • inter station
  4. carried on between
    • inter national
  5. occurring between
    • inter borough
    : intervening
    • inter glacial
  6. shared by, involving, or derived from two or more
    • inter faith
  7. between the limits of : within
    • inter tropical
  8. existing between
    • inter communal
    • inter company

in·ter·act [,in-tər-'akt] -vi

  1. to act upon one another

in·ter·ac·tant [-'ak-tənt] -n

  1. one that interacts

in·ter·ac·tion [,in-tər-'ak-shən] -n, adj

  1. mutual or reciprocal action or influence

in·ter·ac·tive [-'ak-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. mutually or reciprocally active
  2. involving the actions or input of a user
  3. of, relating to, or being a two-way electronic communication system (as a telephone, cable television, or a computer) that involves a user's orders (as for information or merchandise) or responses (as to a poll)

in·ter alia [,in-tər-'ā-lē-ə, -'ä-] -adv

  1. among other things

in·ter ali·os [-lē-,ōs] -adv

  1. among other persons

in·ter·al·lied [,in-tər-'a-,līd, -ə-'līd] -adj

  1. relating to, composed of, or involving allies

in·ter·breed [,in-tər-'brēd] -vb

  1. : to breed together: as
  2. crossbreed
  3. to breed within a closed population
  4. to cause to breed together

in·ter·ca·la·ry [in-'tər-kə-,ler-ē, ,in-tər-'ka-lə-rē] -adj

  1. inserted in a calendar
    • an intercalary day
  2. containing an intercalary period (as a day or month)
  3. inserted between other things or parts : interpolated

in·ter·ca·late [in-'tər-kə-,lāt] -vt, n

  1. to insert (as a day) in a calendar
  2. to insert between or among existing elements or layers

in·ter·cede [,in-tər-'sēd] -vi, n

  1. to intervene between parties with a view to reconciling differences : mediate

in·ter·cen·sal [,in-tər-'sen(t)-səl] -adj

  1. occurring between censuses
    • intercensal estimates
    • intercensal period

in·ter·cept [,in-tər-'sept] -vt

  1. prevent, hinder
  2. to stop, seize, or interrupt in progress or course or before arrival
  3. to receive (a communication or signal directed elsewhere) usu. secretly
  4. to interrupt communication or connection with
  5. to include (part of a curve, surface, or solid) between two points, curves, or surfaces
    • the part of a circumference intercept ed between two radii
  6. to gain possession of (an opponent's pass)
  7. to intercept a pass thrown by (an opponent)
  8. the distance from the origin to a point where a graph crosses a coordinate axis
  9. interception
  10. the interception of a missile by an interceptor or of a target by a missile
  11. a message, code, or signal that is intercepted (as by monitoring radio communications)

in·ter·cep·tion [,in-tər-'sep-shən] -n

  1. the action of intercepting
  2. the state of being intercepted
  3. something that is intercepted
  4. an intercepted forward pass

in·ter·cep·tor [,in-tər-'sep-tər] -n

  1. one that intercepts
  2. a light high-speed fast-climbing fighter plane or missile designed for defense against raiding bombers or missiles

in·ter·ces·sion [,in-tər-'se-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act of interceding
  2. prayer, petition, or entreaty in favor of another

in·ter·change [,in-tər-'chānj] -vb, n

  1. to put each of (two things) in the place of the other
  2. exchange
  3. to change places mutually
  4. the act, process, or an instance of interchanging : exchange
  5. a junction of two or more highways by a system of separate levels that permit traffic to pass from one to another without the crossing of traffic streams

in·ter·change·able [,in-tər-'chān-jə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. capable of being interchanged
  2. permitting mutual substitution
    • interchangeable parts

in·ter·col·le·giate [,in-tər-kə-'lē-jət, -jē-ət] -adj

  1. existing, carried on, or participating in activities between colleges
    • intercollegiate athletics

in·ter·co·lum·ni·a·tion [,in-tər-kə-,ləm-nē-'ā-shən] -n

  1. the clear space between the columns of a series
  2. the system of spacing of the columns of a colonnade

in·ter·com ['in-tər-,käm] -n

  1. a two-way communication system with a microphone and loudspeaker at each station for localized use

in·ter·com·mu·ni·cate [,in-tər-kə-'myü-nə-,kāt] -vi, n

  1. to exchange communication with one another
  2. to afford passage from one to another

intercommunication system -n

  1. intercom

in·ter·com·mu·nion [,in-tər-kə-'myü-nyən] -n

  1. interdenominational participation in communion

in·ter·con·nect [,in-tər-kə-'nekt] -vt, n

  1. to connect with one another
  2. to be or become mutually connected

interconnected -adj, n

  1. mutually joined or related
    • interconnected highways
    • interconnected political issues
  2. having internal connections between the parts or elements

in·ter·con·ti·nen·tal [,in-tər-,kän-tə-'nen-tᵊl] -adj

  1. extending among continents or carried on between continents
  2. capable of traveling between continents
    • intercontinental ballistic missile

in·ter·con·ver·sion [,in-tər-kən-'vər-zhən, -shən] -n, vt, adj

  1. mutual conversion
    • interconversion of chemical compounds

in·ter·cool·er [,in-tər-'kü-lər] -n

  1. a device for cooling a fluid (as air) between successive heat-generating processes

in·ter·cos·tal [,in-tər-'käs-tᵊl] -adj, n

  1. situated or extending between the ribs
    • intercostal spaces
    • intercostal muscles

in·ter·course ['in-tər-,kȯrs] -n

  1. connection or dealings between persons or groups
  2. exchange esp. of thoughts or feelings : communion
  3. physical sexual contact between individuals that involves the genitalia of at least one person
    • anal intercourse
    • oral intercourse
  4. sexual intercourse
    • heterosexual intercourse

in·ter·crop [,in-tər-'kräp, 'in-tər-,] -vt, n

  1. to grow a crop in between (another)
  2. to grow two or more crops simultaneously (as in alternate rows) on the same plot

in·ter·cross [,in-tər-'krȯs] -vt

  1. cross
  2. interbreed, hybridize
  3. an instance or a product of crossbreeding

in·ter·cur·rent [,in-tər-'kər-ənt, -'kə-rənt] -adj

  1. occurring during and modifying the course of another disease
    • an intercurrent infection

in·ter·cut [,in-tər-'kət] -vt

  1. to insert (a contrasting camera shot) into a take by cutting
  2. to insert a contrasting camera shot into (a take) by cutting
  3. to alternate contrasting camera shots by cutting

in·ter·den·tal [,in-tər-'den-tᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. situated or intended for use between the teeth
  2. formed with the tip of the tongue between the upper and lower front teeth

in·ter·dict ['in-tər-,dikt] -n

  1. a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical censure withdrawing most sacraments and Christian burial from a person or district
  2. a prohibitory decree
  3. to lay under or prohibit by an interdict
  4. to forbid in a usu. formal or authoritative manner
  5. to destroy, damage, or cut off (as an enemy line of supply) by firepower to stop or hamper an enemy
  6. intercept
    • interdict drug shipments

in·ter·dif·fu·sion [-di-'fyü-zhən] -n, vi

  1. the process of diffusing and mixing freely so as to approach a homogeneous mixture

in·ter·dig·i·tate [-'di-jə-,tāt] -vi, n

  1. to become interlocked like the fingers of folded hands

in·ter·dis·ci·plin·ary [-'di-sə-plə-,ner-ē] -adj, n

  1. involving two or more academic, scientific, or artistic disciplines

in·ter·est ['in-t(ə-)rəst; 'in-tə-,rest, -,trest; 'in-tərst] -n

  1. right, title, or legal share in something
  2. participation in advantage and responsibility
  3. business, company
  4. a charge for borrowed money generally a percentage of the amount borrowed
  5. the profit in goods or money that is made on invested capital
  6. an excess above what is due or expected
    • returned the insults with interest
  7. advantage, benefit
  8. self-interest
  9. special interest
  10. a feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to an object or class of objects : concern
  11. something that arouses such attention
  12. a quality in a thing arousing interest

interest -vt

  1. to induce or persuade to participate or engage
  2. to engage the attention or arouse the interest of

in·ter·est·ed ['in-t(ə-)rəs-təd; 'in-tə-,res-, 'in-,tres-; 'in-tərs-] -adj, adv

  1. having the attention engaged
    • interested listeners
  2. being affected or involved
    • interested parties

interest group -n

  1. a group of persons having a common identifying interest that often provides a basis for action

in·ter·est·ing ['in-t(ə-)rəs-tiŋ; 'in-tə-,res-, 'in-,tres-; 'in-tərs-] -adj, n

  1. holding the attention : arousing interest

in·ter·est·ing·ly [-lē] -adv

  1. in an interesting manner
  2. as a matter of interest

in·ter·face ['in-tər-,fās] -n, adj

  1. a surface forming a common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases
    • an oil-water interface
  2. the place at which independent and often unrelated systems meet and act on or communicate with each other
    • the man-machine interface
  3. the means by which interaction or communication is achieved at an interface

interface -vt

  1. to connect by means of an interface
    • interface a machine with a computer
  2. to serve as an interface for
  3. to become interfaced
  4. to interact or coordinate harmoniously

in·ter·fac·ing [-,fā-siŋ] -n

  1. fabric sewn between the facing and the outside of a garment (as in a collar or cuff) for stiffening and shape retention

in·ter·faith [,in-tər-'fāth] -adj

  1. involving persons of different religious faiths

in·ter·fere [,in-tə(r)-'fir] -vi, n

  1. to interpose in a way that hinders or impedes : come into collision or be in opposition
  2. to strike one foot against the opposite foot or ankle in walking or running used esp. of horses
  3. to enter into or take a part in the concerns of others
  4. to act reciprocally so as to augment, diminish, or otherwise affect one another used of waves

in·ter·fer·ence [-'fir-ən(t)s] -n, adj

  1. the act or process of interfering
  2. something that interferes : obstruction
  3. the mutual effect on meeting of two wave trains (as of light or sound) that constitutes alternating areas of increased and decreased amplitude (as light and dark lines or louder and softer sound)
  4. the legal blocking of an opponent in football to make way for the ballcarrier
  5. the illegal hindering of an opponent in sports
  6. partial or complete inhibition or sometimes facilitation of other genetic crossovers in the vicinity of a chromosomal locus where a preceding crossover has occurred
  7. confusion of a received radio signal due to the presence of noise (as atmospherics) or signals from two or more transmitters on a single frequency
  8. something that produces such confusion
  9. the disturbing effect of new learning on the performance of previously learned behavior with which it is inconsistent

in·ter·fer·o·gram [,in-tə(r)-'fir-ə-,gram] -n

  1. a photographic record made by an apparatus for recording optical interference phenomena

in·ter·fer·om·e·ter [,in-tə(r)-fə-'rä-mə-tər, -,fi-'rä-] -n, adj, adv

  1. an apparatus that utilizes the interference of waves (as of light) for precise determinations (as of distance or wavelength)

in·ter·fer·on [,in-tə(r)-'fir-,än] -n

  1. any of a group of heat-stable soluble basic antiviral glycoprotein cytokines of low molecular weight that are produced by cells exposed usu. to the action of a virus, sometimes to the action of another intracellular parasite (as a bacterium), or experimentally to the action of some chemicals

interferon alpha -n

  1. alpha interferon

interferon beta -n

  1. beta interferon

interferon gamma -n

  1. gamma interferon

in·ter·fer·tile [,in-tər-'fər-tᵊl] -adj, n

  1. capable of interbreeding

in·ter·file [,in-tər-'fī(-ə)l] -vt

  1. to arrange in or add to a file : file

in·ter·fluve ['in-tər-,flüv] -n

  1. the area between adjacent streams flowing in the same direction

in·ter·fuse [,in-tər-'fyüz] -vb, n

  1. to combine by fusing : blend
  2. to add as if by fusing : infuse
  3. blend, fuse

in·ter·ga·lac·tic [,in-tər-gə-'lak-tik] -adj

  1. situated in or relating to the spaces between galaxies
  2. of, relating to, or occurring in outer space
    • intergalactic battles

in·ter·gla·cial [-'glā-shəl] -n, adj

  1. a warm period between glacial epochs

in·ter·gov·ern·men·tal [-,gə-vər(n)-'men-tᵊl] -adj

  1. existing or occurring between two or more governments or levels of government

in·ter·gra·da·tion [-grā-'dā-shən, -grə-] -n, adj

  1. the condition of an individual or population that intergrades

in·ter·grade [,in-tər-'grād] -vi

  1. to merge gradually one with another through a continuous series of intermediate forms
  2. an intermediate form

in·ter·growth ['in-tər-,grōth] -n

  1. a growing between or together
  2. the product of such growth

in·ter·im ['in-tə-rəm] -n

  1. an intervening time : interval

interim -adj

  1. done, made, appointed, or occurring for an interim

in·te·ri·or [in-'tir-ē-ər] -adj, adv

  1. lying, occurring, or functioning within the limiting boundaries : inner
    • an interior point of a triangle
  2. belonging to mental or spiritual life
    • a simple interior piety
  3. belonging to the inner constitution or concealed nature of something
    • interior meaning of a poem
  4. lying away or remote from the border or shore

interior -n

  1. the inner or spiritual nature : character
  2. the interior part (as of a country or island)
  3. the internal or inner part of a thing : inside
  4. the internal affairs of a state or nation
  5. a representation (as in a play or movie) of the interior of a building

interior angle -n

  1. the inner of the two angles formed where two sides of a polygon come together
  2. any of the four angles formed in the area between a pair of parallel lines when a third line cuts them

interior decoration -n

  1. interior design

interior decorator -n

  1. interior designer, decorator

interior design -n

  1. the art or practice of planning and supervising the design and execution of architectural interiors and their furnishings

interior designer -n

  1. one who specializes in interior design

in·te·ri·or·ise [in-'tir-ē-ə-,rīz] -vt, n

(variant of interiorize)

  1. to make interior
  2. to make a part of one's own inner being or mental structure

in·te·ri·or·i·ty [(,)in-,tir-ē-'ȯr-ə-tē, -'är-] -n

  1. interior quality or character
  2. inner life or substance : psychological existence

in·te·ri·or·ize [in-'tir-ē-ə-,rīz] -vt, n

  1. to make interior
  2. to make a part of one's own inner being or mental structure

interior monologue -n

  1. a usu. extended representation in monologue of a fictional character's thought and feeling

interj -abbr

  1. interjection

in·ter·ject [,in-tər-'jekt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to throw in between or among other things : interpolate
    • interject a remark

in·ter·jec·tion [,int-ər-'jek-shən] -n

  1. the act of uttering exclamations : ejaculation
  2. the act of putting in between : interposition
  3. : an ejaculatory utterance usu. lacking grammatical connection: as
  4. a word or phrase used in exclamation (as Heavens Dear me)
  5. a cry or inarticulate utterance (as Alas ouch phooey ugh) expressing an emotion
  6. something that is interjected or that interrupts

in·ter·jec·tion·al [-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or constituting an interjection : ejaculatory
  2. thrown in between other words : parenthetical

in·ter·lace [,in-tər-'lās] -vb, n

  1. to unite by or as if by lacing together : interweave
  2. to vary by alternation or intermixture : intersperse
    • narrative interlaced with anecdotes
  3. to cross one another as if woven together : intertwine

in·ter·laced ['in-tər-,lāst] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or using a method of video scanning (as for television or a computer monitor) in which the odd and even horizontal lines of each frame are drawn on alternating passes

in·ter·lard [,in-tər-'lärd] -vt

  1. to vary by intermixture : intersperse, interlace

in·ter·leave [,in-tər-'lēv] -vt

  1. to arrange in or as if in alternate layers

in·ter·leu·kin [,in-tər-'lü-kən] -n

  1. any of various cytokines of low molecular weight that are produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and monocytes and that function esp. in regulation of the immune system and esp. cell-mediated immunity

in·ter·leu·kin1 [-'wən] -n

  1. an interleukin produced esp. by monocytes and macrophages that regulates immune responses by activating lymphocytes and mediates other biological processes (as the onset of fever) usu. associated with infection and inflammation

in·ter·leu·kin2 [-'tü] -n

  1. an interleukin produced by antigen-stimulated helper T cells in the presence of interleukin-1 that induces proliferation of immune cells (as T cells and B cells) and is used experimentally esp. in treating certain cancers

in·ter·line [,in-tər-'līn] -vt, n

  1. to insert between lines already written or printed

interline -vt

  1. to provide (a garment) with an interlining
  2. relating to, involving, or carried by two or more transportation lines

in·ter·lin·ear [,in-tər-'li-nē-ər] -adj, adv

  1. inserted between lines already written or printed
  2. written or printed in different languages or texts in alternate lines

interlinear -n

  1. a book having interlinear matter
  2. a book in a foreign language with interlinear translation

in·ter·lin·gual [,in-tər-'liŋ-gwəl also -gyə-wəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or existing between two or more languages
    • interlingual dictionaries

in·ter·lin·ing ['in-tər-,lī-niŋ] -n

  1. a lining (as of a coat) sewn between the ordinary lining and the outside fabric

in·ter·link [,in-tər-'liŋk] -vt, n

  1. to link together

in·ter·lock [,in-tər-'läk] -vi

  1. to become locked together or interconnected
  2. to lock together : unite
  3. to connect so that the motion or operation of any part is constrained by another
  4. the quality, state, sense, or an instance of being interlocked
  5. an arrangement in which the operation of one part or mechanism automatically brings about or prevents the operation of another
    • a safety interlock
  6. a stretchable fabric made on a circular knitting machine and consisting of two ribbed fabrics joined by interlocking
  7. a garment made of interlock

in·ter·loc·u·tor [,in-tər-'lä-kyə-tər] -n

  1. one who takes part in dialogue or conversation
  2. a man in the middle of the line in a minstrel show who questions the end men and acts as leader

in·ter·loc·u·to·ry [-kyə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. made during the progress of a legal action and not final or definitive
    • an interlocutory appeal
    • an interlocutory decree

in·ter·lope [,in-tər-'lōp, 'in-tər-,] -vi

  1. to encroach on the rights (as in trade) of others
  2. intrude, interfere

in·ter·lop·er [,in-tər-'lō-pər, 'in-tər-,] -n

  1. : one that interlopes: as
  2. an illegal or unlicensed trader
  3. one that intrudes in a place or sphere of activity

in·ter·lude ['in-tər-,lüd] -n

  1. a usu. short simple play or dramatic entertainment
  2. an intervening or interruptive period, space, or event : interval
  3. a musical composition inserted between the parts of a longer composition, a drama, or a religious service

in·ter·lu·nar [,in-tər-'lü-nər] -adj

  1. relating to the interval between old and new moon when the moon is invisible

in·ter·mar·riage [,in-tər-'mer-ij, -'ma-rij] -n

  1. endogamy
  2. marriage between members of different groups

in·ter·mar·ry [-'mer-ē, -'ma-rē] -vi

  1. to marry each other
  2. to marry within a group
  3. to become connected by intermarriage

in·ter·med·dle [,in-tər-'me-dᵊl] -vi, n

  1. to meddle impertinently and officiously and usu. so as to interfere

in·ter·me·di·a·cy [,in-tər-'mē-dē-ə-sē] -n

  1. the act or action of intermediating
  2. the quality or state of being intermediate

in·ter·me·di·ary [,in-tər-'mē-dē-,er-ē] -adj

  1. intermediate
  2. acting as a mediator
    • an intermediary agent
    • an intermediary particle

intermediary -n

  1. mediator, go-between
  2. medium, means
  3. an intermediate form, product, or stage

in·ter·me·di·ate [,in-tər-'mē-dē-ət] -adj, adv, n

  1. being or occurring at the middle place, stage, or degree or between extremes
  2. of or relating to an intermediate school
    • an intermediate curriculum

intermediate -n

  1. one that is intermediate
  2. mediator, go-between
  3. a chemical compound synthesized from simpler compounds and usu. intended to be used in later syntheses of more complex products
  4. a usu. short-lived chemical species formed in a reaction as an intermediate step between the starting material and the final product
  5. an automobile larger than a compact but smaller than a full-sized automobile

in·ter·me·di·ate [-dē-,āt] -vi

  1. intervene, interpose
  2. to act as an intermediate

intermediate host -n

  1. a host which is normally used by a parasite in the course of its life cycle and in which it may multiply asexually but not sexually
  2. reservoir
  3. vector

intermediate school -n

  1. junior high school
  2. a school usu. comprising grades four to six

intermediate vector boson -n

  1. any of three particles that mediate the weak force called also intermediate boson

in·ter·me·di·a·tion [,in-tər-,mē-dē-'ā-shən] -n

  1. the act of coming between : intervention, mediation

in·ter·me·din [,in-tər-'mē-dᵊn] -n

  1. melanocyte-stimulating hormone

in·ter·ment [in-'tər-mənt] -n

  1. the act or ceremony of interring

in·ter·mesh [,in-tər-'mesh] -vi

  1. interlock
  2. to mesh together : interlock

in·ter·me·tal·lic [,in-tər-mə-'ta-lik] -adj, n

  1. composed of two or more metals or of a metal and a nonmetal
  2. being an alloy having a characteristic crystal structure and usu. a definite composition
    • intermetallic compound

in·ter·mez·zo [,in-tər-'met-(,)sō, -'med-(,)zō] -n

  1. a short light entr'acte
  2. a movement coming between the major sections of an extended musical work (as an opera)
  3. a short independent instrumental composition
  4. a usu. brief interlude or diversion

in·ter·mi·na·ble [(,)in-'tərm-nə-bəl, -'tər-mə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. having or seeming to have no end
  2. wearisomely protracted
    • an interminable sermon

in·ter·min·gle [,in-tər-'miŋ-gəl] -vb

  1. intermix

in·ter·mis·sion [,in-tər-'mi-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act of intermitting : the state of being intermitted
  2. an interval between the parts of an entertainment (as the acts of a play)

in·ter·mit [-'mit] -vb, n

  1. to cause to cease for a time or at intervals : discontinue
  2. to be intermittent

in·ter·mit·tence [-'mi-tən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being intermittent

in·ter·mit·ten·cy [-'mi-tən(t)-sē] -n

  1. intermittence

in·ter·mit·tent [-'mi-tᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. coming and going at intervals : not continuous
    • intermittent rain
  2. occasional
    • intermittent trips abroad

in·ter·mix [,in-tər-'miks] -vb, n

  1. to mix together
  2. to become mixed together

in·ter·mod·al [-'mō-dəl] -adj

  1. being or involving transportation by more than one form of carrier during a single journey
  2. used for intermodal transport

in·ter·mod·u·la·tion [-,mä-jə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. the production in an electrical device of currents having frequencies equal to the sums and differences of frequencies supplied to the device or of their harmonics

in·ter·mon·tane [,in-tər-'män-,tān] -adj

  1. situated between mountains
    • an intermontane basin

in·tern [in-'tərn, 'in-,] -adj

  1. internal
  2. to confine or impound esp. during a war
    • intern enemy aliens
  3. an advanced student or graduate usu. in a professional field (as medicine or teaching) gaining supervised practical experience (as in a hospital or classroom)
  4. to work as an intern

in·ter·nal [in-'tər-nᵊl, 'in-,] -adj, n, adv

  1. : existing or situated within the limits or surface of something: as
  2. situated near the inside of the body
  3. situated on the side toward the median plane of the body
  4. of, relating to, or occurring on the inside of an organized structure (as a club, company, or state)
    • internal affairs
  5. relating or belonging to or existing within the mind
  6. intrinsic, inherent
    • internal evidence of forgery in a document
  7. present or arising within an organism or one of its parts
    • internal stimulus
  8. applied or intended for application through the stomach by being swallowed
    • an internal remedy

internal combustion engine -n

  1. a heat engine in which the combustion that generates the heat takes place inside the engine proper instead of in a furnace

in·ter·nal·ise [in-'tər-nə-,līz] -vt, n

(variant of internalize)

  1. to give a subjective character to
  2. to incorporate (as values or patterns of culture) within the self as conscious or subconscious guiding principles through learning or socialization

in·ter·nal·ize [in-'tər-nə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to give a subjective character to
  2. to incorporate (as values or patterns of culture) within the self as conscious or subconscious guiding principles through learning or socialization

internal medicine -n

  1. a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases not requiring surgery

internal respiration -n

  1. an exchange of gases between the cells of the body and the blood by way of the fluid bathing the cells

internal rhyme -n

  1. rhyme between a word within a line and another either at the end of the same line or within another line

internal secretion -n

  1. hormone

in·ter·na·tion·al [,in-tər-'nash-nəl, -'na-shə-nᵊl] -adj, n, adv

  1. of, relating to, or affecting two or more nations
    • international trade
  2. of, relating to, or constituting a group or association having members in two or more nations
    • international movement
  3. active, known, or reaching beyond national boundaries
    • an international reputation

international -n

  1. one that is international
  2. an organization of international scope

international date line -n

  1. an arbitrary line approximately along the 180th meridian designated as the place where each calendar day begins

in·ter·na·tion·al·ise [,in-tər-'nash-nə-,līz, -'na-shə-nə-,līz] -vt, n

(variant of internationalize)

  1. to make international
  2. to place under international control
    • a proposal to internationalize the city

in·ter·na·tion·al·ism [-'nash-nə-,li-zəm, -'na-shə-nə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. international character, principles, interests, or outlook
  2. a policy of cooperation among nations
  3. an attitude or belief favoring such a policy

in·ter·na·tion·al·ize [,in-tər-'nash-nə-,līz, -'na-shə-nə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to make international
  2. to place under international control
    • a proposal to internationalize the city

international law -n

  1. a body of rules that control or affect the rights of nations in their relations with each other

International Phonetic Alphabet -n

  1. ipa

international pitch -n

  1. a tuning standard of 440 vibrations per second for A above middle C

international relations -n pl but sing in constr

  1. a branch of political science concerned with relations between nations and primarily with foreign policies

International Scientific Vocabulary -n

  1. a part of the vocabulary of the sciences and other specialized studies that consists of words or other linguistic forms current in two or more languages and differing from New Latin in being adapted to the structure of the individual languages in which they appear abbr. ISV

International Style -n

  1. a style in European art of the 14th and early 15th centuries marked by sinuous line, rich color, and decorative surface detail
  2. a style in architecture developed in the 1920s that uses modern materials (as steel, glass, and reinforced concrete), expresses structure directly, and eliminates nonstructural ornament

International System of Units -n

  1. a system of units based on the metric system and developed and refined by international convention esp. for scientific work abbr. SI

international unit -n

  1. a quantity of a biologically active substance (as a vitamin) that produces a particular biological effect agreed upon as an international standard

in·ter·ne·cine [,in-tər-'ne-,sēn, -'nē-sᵊn, -'nē-,sīn, -nə-'sēn; in-'tər-nə-,sēn] -adj

  1. marked by slaughter : deadly
  2. mutually destructive
  3. of, relating to, or involving conflict within a group
    • bitter internecine feuds

In·ter·net ['in-tər-,net] -n

  1. an electronic communications network that connects computer networks and organizational computer facilities around the world

in·ter·neu·ron [,in-tər-'nu̇r-,än, -'nyu̇r-] -n, adj

  1. a neuron that conveys impulses from one neuron to another

in·ter·nist ['in-,tər-nist] -n

  1. a specialist in internal medicine

in·ter·node ['in-tər-,nōd] -n, adj

  1. an interval or part between two nodes (as of a stem)

in·ter·nun·ci·al [,in-tər-'nən(t)-sē-əl, -'nu̇n(t)-] -adj

  1. of or relating to an internuncio
  2. of, relating to, or being interneurons

in·ter·nun·cio [,in-tər-'nən(t)-sē-,ō, -'nu̇n(t)-] -n

  1. a messenger between two parties : go-between
  2. a papal legate of lower rank than a nuncio

in·ter·o·cep·tive [,in-tə-rō-'sep-tiv] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being stimuli arising within the body and esp. in the viscera

in·ter·o·cep·tor [-tər] -n

  1. a sensory receptor excited by interoceptive stimuli

in·ter·op·er·a·bil·i·ty [,in-tər-,ä-p(ə-)rə-'bi-lə-tē] -n, adj

  1. ability of a system (as a weapons system) to work with or use the parts or equipment of another system

in·ter·pel·late [,in-tər-'pe-,lāt, in-'tər-pə-,lāt] -vt, n

  1. to question (as a foreign minister) formally concerning an official action or policy or personal conduct

in·ter·pen·e·trate [,in-tər-'pe-nə-,trāt] -vi, n

  1. to penetrate mutually
  2. to penetrate between, within, or throughout : permeate

in·ter·per·son·al [-'pərs-nəl, -'pər-sə-nəl] -adj, adv

  1. being, relating to, or involving relations between persons

in·ter·phase ['in-tər-,fāz] -n

  1. the interval between the end of one mitotic or meiotic division and the beginning of another

in·ter·plant [,in-tər-'plant] -vt

  1. to plant a crop between (plants of another kind)
  2. to set out young trees among (existing growth)

in·ter·play ['in-tər-,plā] -n, vi

  1. interaction
    • the interplay of opposing forces

in·ter·plead [,in-tər-'plēd] -vi

  1. to go to trial with each other in order to determine a right on which the action of a third party depends

in·ter·plead·er [-'plē-dər] -n

  1. a proceeding to enable a person to compel parties making the same claim against him to litigate the matter between themselves

interpleader -n

  1. one that interpleads

Interpol -abbr

  1. International Criminal Police Organization

in·ter·po·late [in-'tər-pə-,lāt] -vb, n, adj

  1. to alter or corrupt (as a text) by inserting new or foreign matter
  2. to insert (words) into a text or into a conversation
  3. to insert between other things or parts : intercalate
  4. to estimate values of (data or a function) between two known values
  5. to make insertions (as of estimated values)

in·ter·pose [,in-tər-'pōz] -vb, n

  1. to place in an intervening position
  2. to put (oneself) between : intrude
  3. to put forth by way of interference or intervention
  4. to introduce or throw in between the parts of a conversation or argument
  5. to be or come between
  6. to step in between parties at variance : intervene
  7. interrupt

in·ter·po·si·tion [-pə-'zi-shən] -n

  1. the act of interposing
  2. the action of a state whereby its sovereignty is placed between its citizens and the federal government
  3. something interposed

in·ter·pret [in-'tər-prət, -pət] -vb, n, adj

  1. to explain or tell the meaning of : present in understandable terms
    • interpret dreams
    • needed help interpret ing the results
  2. to conceive in the light of individual belief, judgment, or circumstance : construe
    • interpret a contract
  3. to represent by means of art : bring to realization by performance or direction
    • interpret s a role
  4. to act as an interpreter between speakers of different languages

in·ter·pre·ta·tion [in-,tər-prə-'tā-shən, -pə-] -n, adj, adv

  1. the act or the result of interpreting : explanation
  2. a particular adaptation or version of a work, method, or style
  3. a teaching technique that combines factual with stimulating explanatory information
    • natural history interpretation program

in·ter·pret·er [in-'tər-prə-tər, -pə-] -n

  1. : one that interprets: as
  2. one who translates orally for parties conversing in different languages
  3. one who explains or expounds
  4. a machine that prints on punch cards the symbols recorded in them by perforations
  5. a computer program that executes each of a set of high-level instructions before going to the next instruction

in·ter·prox·i·mal [,in-tər-'präk-sə-məl] -adj

  1. situated or used in the areas between adjoining teeth
    • interproximal space

in·ter·pu·pil·lary [,in-tər-'pyü-pə-,ler-ē] -adj

  1. extending between the pupils of the eyes
  2. extending between the centers of a pair of spectacle lenses
    • interpupillary distance

in·ter·ra·cial [-'rā-shəl] -adj, adv

  1. of, involving, or designed for members of different races

interred [in-'tər] -vt

(variant of inter)

  1. to deposit (a dead body) in the earth or in a tomb

in·ter·reg·num [,in-tə-'reg-nəm] -n

  1. the time during which a throne is vacant between two successive reigns or regimes
  2. a period during which the normal functions of government or control are suspended
  3. a lapse or pause in a continuous series

in·ter·re·late [,in-tə(r)-ri-'lāt] -vt, n

  1. to bring into mutual relation
  2. to have mutual relationship

in·ter·re·lat·ed [-'lā-təd] -adj, adv, n

  1. having a mutual or reciprocal relation

interring [in-'tər] -vt

(variant of inter)

  1. to deposit (a dead body) in the earth or in a tomb

in·ter·ro·bang [in-'ter-ə-,baŋ] -n

  1. a punctuation mark designed for use esp. at the end of an exclamatory rhetorical question

in·ter·ro·gate [in-'ter-ə-,gāt, -'te-rə-] -vt, n, adj

  1. to question formally and systematically
  2. to give or send out a signal to (as a transponder) for triggering an appropriate response

interrogation point -n

  1. question mark

in·ter·rog·a·tive [,in-tə-'rä-gə-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. used in a question
  2. having the form or force of a question
  3. inquisitive, questioning

interrogative -n

  1. a word (as who, what, which) or a particle (as Latin -ne) used in asking questions
  2. question

in·ter·ro·ga·tor [in-'ter-ə-,gā-tər, -'te-rə-] -n

  1. one that interrogates
  2. a radio transmitter and receiver for sending out a signal that triggers a transponder and for receiving and displaying the reply

in·ter·rog·a·to·ry [,in-tə-'rä-gə-,tȯr-ē] -n

  1. a formal question or inquiry
  2. a written question required to be answered under direction of a court

interrogatory -adj

  1. interrogative

in·ter·ro·gee [in-,ter-ə-'gē] -n

  1. one who is interrogated

in·ter·rupt [,in-tə-'rəpt] -vb, adj, n, adv

  1. to stop or hinder by breaking in
    • interrupt ed the speaker with frequent questions
  2. to break the uniformity or continuity of
    • a hot spell occasionally interrupt ed by a period of cool weather
  3. to break in upon an action
  4. to break in with questions or remarks while another is speaking
  5. a feature of a computer that permits the temporary interruption of one activity (as the execution of a program) in order to perform another
  6. the interruption itself

in·ter·rupt·er [,in-tə-'rəp-tər] -n

  1. one that interrupts
  2. a device for interrupting an electric current usu. automatically

in·ter·scho·las·tic [,in-tər-skə-'las-tik] -adj

  1. existing or carried on between schools
    • interscholastic athletics

in·ter se [,in-tər-'sā, -'sē] -adv or adj

  1. among or between themselves

in·ter·sect [,in-tər-'sekt] -vb

  1. to pierce or divide by passing through or across : cross
    • a comet intersect ing earth's orbit
    • one line intersect s another
  2. to meet and cross at a point
    • lines intersect ing at right angles
  3. to share a common area : overlap
    • where morality and self-interest intersect

in·ter·sec·tion [,in-tər-'sek-shən, esp in sense 2 'in-tər-,] -n

  1. the act or process of intersecting
  2. a place or area where two or more things (as streets) intersect
  3. the set of elements common to two or more sets
  4. the set of points common to two geometric configurations
  5. the operation of finding the intersection of two or more sets

in·ter·ser·vice [,in-tər-'sər-vəs] -adj

  1. existing between or relating to two or more of the armed services
    • interservice rivalry

in·ter·ses·sion ['in-tər-,se-shən] -n

  1. a period between two academic sessions or terms sometimes utilized for brief concentrated courses

in·ter·sex ['in-tər-,seks] -n

  1. an intersexual individual

in·ter·sex·u·al [,in-tər-'sek-shə-wəl, -shwəl, -shəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. existing between sexes
    • intersexual hostility
  2. intermediate in sexual characters between a typical male and a typical female

in·ter·space ['in-tər-,spās] -n

  1. an intervening space : interval
  2. to occupy or fill the space between

in·ter·spe·cif·ic [,in-tər-spi-'si-fik] -adj

  1. existing, occurring, or arising between species
    • interspecific hybrid

in·ter·sperse [,in-tər-'spərs] -vt, n

  1. to place something at intervals in or among
    • intersperse a book with pictures
  2. to insert at intervals among other things
    • interspersing drawings throughout the text

in·ter·sta·di·al [,in-tər-'stā-dē-əl] -n

  1. a subdivision within a glacial stage marking a temporary retreat of the ice

in·ter·state [,in-tər-'stāt] -adj

  1. of, connecting, or existing between two or more states esp. of the U.S.
    • interstate commerce
  2. any of a system of expressways connecting most major U.S. cities called also interstate highway

in·ter·stel·lar [-'ste-lər] -adj

  1. located, taking place, or traveling among the stars esp. of the Milky Way galaxy

in·ter·stice [in-'tər-stəs] -n

  1. a space that intervenes between things
  2. one between closely spaced things
    • interstice s of a wall
  3. a gap or break in something generally continuous
    • the interstice s of society
    • passages of genuine literary merit in the interstice s of the ludicrous...plots -- Joyce Carol Oates
  4. a short space of time between events

in·ter·sti·tial [,in-tər-'sti-shəl] -adj, adv

  1. relating to or situated in the interstices
  2. situated within but not restricted to or characteristic of a particular organ or tissue used esp. of fibrous tissue
  3. affecting the interstitial tissues of an organ or part
  4. being or relating to a crystalline compound in which usu. small atoms or ions of a nonmetal occupy holes between the larger metal atoms or ions in the crystal lattice

in·ter·sub·jec·tive [,in-tər-səb-'jek-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. involving or occurring between separate conscious minds
    • intersubjective communication
  2. accessible to or capable of being established for two or more subjects : objective
    • intersubjective reality of the physical world

in·ter·tes·ta·men·tal [-,tes-tə-'men-tᵊl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or forming the period of two centuries between the composition of the last book of the Old Testament and the first book of the New Testament

in·ter·tex·tu·al·i·ty [-,teks-chə-'wa-lə-tē] -n, adj, adv

  1. the complex interrelationship between a text and other texts taken as basic to the creation or interpretation of the text

in·ter·tid·al [-'tī-dᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or being the part of the littoral zone above low-tide mark

in·ter·tie ['in-tər-,tī] -n

  1. an interconnection permitting passage of current between two or more electric utility systems

in·ter·till [,in-tər-'til] -vt, n

  1. to cultivate between the rows of (a crop)

in·ter·trop·i·cal [-'trä-pi-kəl] -adj

  1. situated between or within the tropics
  2. relating to regions within the tropics : tropical

in·ter·twine [-'twīn] -vt, n

  1. to unite by twining one with another
  2. to twine about one another
  3. to become mutually involved

in·ter·twist [-'twist] -vb, n

  1. intertwine

in·ter·val ['in-tər-vəl] -n, adj

  1. a space of time between events or states
  2. intermission
  3. a space between objects, units, points, or states
  4. difference in pitch between tones
  5. a set of real numbers between two numbers either including or excluding one or both of them
  6. one of a series of fast-paced exercises interspersed with slower ones or brief rests for training (as of an athlete)

in·ter·vale ['in-tər-vəl, -,vāl] -n

  1. bottomland

in·ter·val·om·e·ter [,in-tər-və-'lä-mə-tər] -n

  1. a device that operates a control (as for a camera shutter) at regular intervals

in·ter·vene [,in-tər-'vēn] -vi, n, adj

  1. to occur, fall, or come between points of time or events
    • only six months intervened between their marriage and divorce
  2. to enter or appear as an irrelevant or extraneous feature or circumstance
    • it's business as usual until a crisis intervene s
  3. to come in or between by way of hindrance or modification
    • intervene to stop a fight
  4. to interfere with the outcome or course esp. of a condition or process (as to prevent harm or improve functioning)
  5. to occur or lie between two things
  6. to become a third party to a legal proceeding begun by others for the protection of an alleged interest
  7. to interfere usu. by force or threat of force in another nation's internal affairs esp. to compel or prevent an action

in·ter·ve·nor [-'vē-nər, -,nȯr] -n

  1. one who intervenes
  2. one who intervenes as a third party in a legal proceeding

in·ter·ven·tion·ism [-'ven(t)-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. the theory or practice of intervening
  2. governmental interference in economic affairs at home or in political affairs of another country

in·ter·ver·te·bral disk [,in-tər-'vər-tə-brəl-, -(,)vər-'tē-] -n

  1. any of the tough elastic disks that are interposed between the centra of adjoining vertebrae and that consist of an outer fibrous ring enclosing an inner pulpy nucleus

in·ter·view ['in-tər-,vyü] -n, vb

  1. a formal consultation usu. to evaluate qualifications (as of a prospective student or employee)
  2. a meeting at which information is obtained (as by a reporter, television commentator, or pollster) from a person
  3. a report or reproduction of information so obtained
  4. interviewee

in·ter·view·ee [,in-tər-(,)vyü-'ē] -n

  1. one who is interviewed

in·ter vi·vos ['in-tər-'vē-,vōs, -'vī-] -adv or adj

  1. between living persons
    • transaction inter vivos
  2. from one living person to another
    • inter vivos gifts
    • property transferred inter vivos

inter vivos trust -n

  1. living trust

in·ter·vo·cal·ic [,in-tər-vō-'ka-lik] -adj, adv

  1. immediately preceded and immediately followed by a vowel

in·ter·weave [,in-tər-'wēv] -vb, n, adj

  1. to weave together
  2. to mix or blend together
    • interweaving his own insights...with letters and memoirs -- Phoebe Adams
  3. intertwine, intermingle

in·tes·ta·cy [in-'tes-tə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being or dying intestate

in·tes·tate [in-'tes-,tāt, -tət] -adj

  1. having made no valid will
    • died intestate
  2. not disposed of by will
    • an intestate estate

intestate -n

  1. one who dies intestate

in·tes·ti·nal [in-'tes-tə-nᵊl, -'tes(t)-nəl, -'te-sᵊn-əl, Brit often ,in-(,)tes-'tī-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. affecting, occurring, or living in the intestine
  2. of, relating to, or being the intestine

intestinal fortitude -n

  1. courage, stamina

in·tes·tine [in-'tes-tən] -adj

  1. internal
  2. of or relating to the internal affairs of a state or country
    • intestine war

intestine -n

  1. the tubular part of the alimentary canal that extends from the stomach to the anus

in·ti ['in-tē] -n

  1. the basic monetary unit of Peru from 1985 to 1990

in·ti·fa·da [,in-tə-'fä-də] -n

  1. uprising, rebellion
  2. an armed uprising of Palestinians against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip

in·ti·ma ['in-tə-mə] -n, adj

  1. the innermost coat of an organ (as a blood vessel) consisting usu. of an endothelial layer backed by connective tissue and elastic tissue

in·ti·ma·cy ['in-tə-mə-sē] -n

  1. the state of being intimate : familiarity
  2. something of a personal or private nature

in·ti·mate ['in-tə-,māt] -vt, n

  1. to make known esp. publicly or formally : announce
  2. to communicate delicately and indirectly : hint
  3. intrinsic, essential
  4. belonging to or characterizing one's deepest nature
  5. marked by very close association, contact, or familiarity
    • intimate knowledge of the law
  6. marked by a warm friendship developing through long association
    • intimate friends
  7. suggesting informal warmth or privacy
    • intimate clubs
  8. of a very personal or private nature
    • intimate secrets
  9. an intimate friend or confidant

in·tim·i·date [in-'ti-mə-,dāt] -vt, adv, n

  1. to make timid or fearful : frighten
  2. to compel or deter by or as if by threats
    • tried to intimidate a witness

in·tim·i·da·to·ry [-'ti-mə-də-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. tending or intended to intimidate
    • intimidatory propaganda

in·tinc·tion [in-'tiŋ(k)-shən] -n

  1. the administration of the sacrament of Communion by dipping bread in wine and giving both together to the communicant

in·tine ['in-,tēn] -n

  1. the inner mostly cellulose wall of some spores and esp. pollen grains

in·tit·ule [in-'ti-(,)chül] -vt

  1. to furnish (as a legislative act) with a title or designation

intl -abbr

  1. international

in·to ['in-(,)tü, -tə] -prep

  1. used as a function word to indicate entry, introduction, insertion, superposition, or inclusion
    • came into the house
    • enter into an alliance
  2. to the state, condition, or form of
    • got into trouble
  3. to the occupation, action, or possession of
    • go into farming
  4. involved with or interested in
    • into hard drugs
    • into Latin epigrammatists
  5. used as a function word to indicate a period of time or an extent of space part of which is passed or occupied
    • far into the night
  6. in the direction of
    • looking into the sun
  7. to a position of contact with : against
    • ran into a wall
  8. used as a function word to indicate the dividend in division
    • dividing 3 into 6 gives 2

in·tol·er·a·ble [(,)in-'täl-rə-bəl, -'tä-lə-rə-, -'tä-lər-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not tolerable : unbearable
    • intolerable pain
  2. excessive

in·tol·er·ance [(,)in-'täl-rən(t)s, -'tä-lə-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being intolerant
  2. exceptional sensitivity (as to a drug)
  3. inability to properly metabolize or absorb a substance

in·tol·er·ant [-rənt] -adj, adv, n

  1. unable or unwilling to endure
  2. unwilling to grant equal freedom of expression esp. in religious matters
  3. unwilling to grant or share social, political, or professional rights : bigoted
  4. exhibiting physiological intolerance
    • lactose intolerant

in·to·nate ['in-tə-,nāt, -(,)tō-] -vt

  1. intone, utter

in·to·na·tion [,in-tə-'nā-shən, -(,)tō-] -n, adj

  1. something that is intoned
  2. the opening tones of a Gregorian chant
  3. the act of intoning and esp. of chanting
  4. the ability to play or sing notes in tune
  5. manner of utterance
  6. the rise and fall in pitch of the voice in speech

in·tone [in-'tōn] -vb, n

  1. to utter in musical or prolonged tones : recite in singing tones or in a monotone
  2. to utter something in singing tones or in monotone

in to·to [in-'tō-(,)tō] -adv

  1. totally, entirely

in·tox·i·cant [in-'täk-si-kənt] -n, adj

  1. something that intoxicates
  2. an alcoholic drink

in·tox·i·cate [-si-kət] -adj

  1. intoxicated
  2. poison
  3. to excite or stupefy by alcohol or a drug esp. to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished
  4. to excite or elate to the point of enthusiasm or frenzy

in·tox·i·cat·ed [-sə-,kā-təd] -adj, adv

  1. affected by or as if by alcohol : drunk

in·tox·i·ca·tion [in-,täk-sə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. an abnormal state that is essentially a poisoning
    • carbon monoxide intoxication
  2. the condition of being drunk : inebriation
  3. a strong excitement or elation

in·tra- ['in-trə, -(,)trä] -prefix

  1. within
    • intra galactic
  2. during
    • intra day
  3. between layers of
    • intra dermal
  4. intro-
    • an intra muscular injection

in·traar·te·ri·al [-är-'tir-ē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. situated or occurring within, administered into, or involving entry by way of an artery
    • intraarterial chemotherapy

in·traar·tic·u·lar [-är-'ti-kyə-lər] -adj

  1. situated within, occurring within, or administered by entry into a joint
    • intraarticular injection

in·tra·car·di·ac [-'kär-dē-,ak] -adj, adv

  1. situated or occurring within or introduced or involving entry into the heart
    • an intracardiac shunt

in·tra·cel·lu·lar [-'sel-yə-lər] -adj, adv

  1. existing, occurring, or functioning within a cell
    • intracellular parasites

in·tra·ce·re·bral [-sə-'rē-brəl, -'ser-ə-] -adj, adv

  1. situated or occurring within or introduced or administered into the cerebrum
    • intracerebral injections
    • intracerebral bleeding

in·tra·com·pa·ny [-'kəmp-nē, -'kəm-pə-] -adj

  1. occurring within or taking place between branches or employees of a company
    • intracompany transactions

in·tra·cra·ni·al [-'krā-nē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. existing or occurring within the cranium
  2. affecting or involving intracranial structures

in·trac·ta·ble [(,)in-'trak-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not easily governed, managed, or directed
    • intractable problems
  2. not easily manipulated or wrought
    • intractable metal
  3. not easily relieved or cured
    • intractable pain

in·tra·cu·ta·ne·ous [,in-trə-kyü-'tā-nē-əs, -(,)trä-] -adj, adv

  1. intradermal

in·tra·day ['in-trə-,dā, -(,)trä-] -adj

  1. occurring in the course of a single day
    • the market showed wide intraday fluctuations

in·tra·der·mal [,in-trə-'dər-məl, -(,)trä-] -adj, adv

  1. situated, occurring, or done within or between the layers of the skin
  2. administered by entering the skin
    • intradermal injections

intradermal test -n

  1. a test for immunity or hypersensitivity made by injecting a minute amount of diluted antigen into the skin

in·tra·dos ['in-trə-,däs, -,dō; in-'trā-,däs] -n

  1. the interior curve of an arch

in·tra·fal·lo·pi·an [,in-trə-fə-'lō-pē-ən] -adj

  1. occurring within a fallopian tube

in·tra·ga·lac·tic [,in-trə-gə-'lak-tik, -(,)trä-] -adj

  1. situated or occurring within the confines of a single galaxy

in·tra·gen·ic [-'je-nik] -adj

  1. being or occurring within a gene
    • intragenic recombination
    • intragenic mutation

in·tra·mo·lec·u·lar [-mə-'le-kyə-lər] -adj, adv

  1. existing or acting within the molecule
  2. formed by reaction between different parts of the same molecule

in·tra·mu·ral [-'myu̇r-əl] -adj, adv

  1. being or occurring within the limits usu. of a community, organization, or institution
    • intramural squabbles
  2. competed only within the student body
    • intramural sports
  3. situated or occurring within the substance of the walls of an organ

in·tra·mus·cu·lar [-'məs-kyə-lər] -adj, adv

  1. situated in, occurring in, or administered by entering a muscle
    • an intramuscular injection

in·tra·na·sal [-'nā-zəl] -adj, adv

  1. lying within or administered by way of the nasal structures

in·tra·net ['in-trə-,net] -n

  1. a network operating like the World Wide Web but having access restricted to a limited group of authorized users (as employees of a company)

intrans -abbr

  1. intransitive

in·tran·si·geance [in-'tran(t)-sə-jən(t)s, -'tran-zə-] -n, adj or n, adv

  1. intransigence

in·tran·si·gence [-jən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being intransigent

in·tran·si·gent [-jənt] -adj, n, adv

  1. characterized by refusal to compromise or to abandon an extreme position or attitude : uncompromising
    • intransigent in their opposition
    • an intransigent attitude

in·tran·si·tive [(,)in-'tran(t)-sə-tiv, -'tran-zə-; -'tran(t)s-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. not transitive
  2. characterized by not having or containing a direct object
    • an intransitive verb

in·tra·oc·u·lar [,in-trə-'ä-kyə-lər, -(,)trä-] -adj, adv

  1. implanted in, occurring in, or administered by entering the eyeball
    • intraocular pressure

in·tra·per·i·to·ne·al [,in-trə-,per-ə-tə-'nē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. existing within or administered by entry into the peritoneum
    • intraperitoneal chemotherapy

in·tra·per·son·al [-'pərs-nəl, -'pər-sə-nəl] -adj

  1. occurring within the individual mind or self
    • intrapersonal concerns of the aged

in·tra·plate ['in-trə-,plāt, -(,)trä-] -adj

  1. relating to or occurring within the interior of a tectonic plate
    • an intraplate earthquake

in·tra·pop·u·la·tion ['in-trə-,pä-pyə-'lā-shən, -(,)trä-] -adj

  1. occurring within or taking place between members of a population

in·tra·pre·neur [,in-trə-prə-'nər, -'nu̇r, -'nyu̇r] -n, adj

  1. a corporate executive who develops new enterprises within the corporation

in·tra·psy·chic [,in-trə-'sī-kik, -(,)trä-] -adj, adv

  1. being or occurring within the psyche, mind, or personality

in·tra·spe·cies [-'spē-(,)shēz, -(,)sēz] -adj

  1. intraspecific

in·tra·spe·cif·ic [-spi-'si-fik] -adj

  1. occurring within a species or involving members of one species
    • intraspecific competition

in·tra·state [-'stāt] -adj

  1. existing or occurring within a state

in·tra·the·cal [-'thē-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. introduced into or occurring in the space under the arachnoid membrane of the brain or spinal cord
    • intrathecal drugs

in·tra·tho·rac·ic [-thə-'ra-sik] -adj, adv

  1. situated or occurring within the thorax
    • intrathoracic pressure

in·tra·uter·ine [-'yü-tə-rən, -,rīn] -adj

  1. situated, used, or occurring within the uterus
    • intrauterine insemination
  2. involving the part of development that takes place in the uterus
    • intrauterine mortality

intrauterine device -n

  1. a device inserted into and left in the uterus to prevent effective conception called also intrauterine contraceptive device IUD

in·tra·vas·cu·lar [,in-trə-'vas-kyə-lər, -(,)trä-] -adj, adv

  1. situated in, occurring in, or administered by entry into a blood vessel
    • intravascular thrombosis
    • an intravascular injection

in·tra·ve·nous [,in-trə-'vē-nəs] -adj, adv

  1. situated, performed, or occurring within or entering by way of a vein
  2. used in or using intravenous procedures

in·tra·ven·tric·u·lar [,in-trə-ven-'tri-kyə-lər, -(,)trä-] -adj, adv

  1. situated within, occurring within, or administered into a ventricle
    • intraventricular hemorrhage

in·tra·vi·tal [-'vī-tᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. performed upon or found in a living subject
  2. having or utilizing the property of staining cells within a living body

in·tra·vi·tam [-'vī-,tam, -'wē-,täm] -adj

  1. intravital

in·tra·zon·al [,in-trə-'zō-nᵊl, -(,)trä-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a soil or a major soil group marked by relatively well-developed characteristics that are determined primarily by essentially local factors (as the parent material) rather than climate and vegetation

intreat [in-'trēt, en-] -vb, adv, n

(variant of entreat)

  1. negotiate
  2. intercede
  3. to make an earnest request : plead
  4. to plead with esp. in order to persuade : ask urgently
    • entreat ed his boss for another chance
  5. to deal with : treat

intrench [in-'trench, en-] -vt, n

(variant of entrench)

  1. to place within or surround with a trench esp. for defense
  2. to place (oneself) in a strong defensive position
  3. to establish solidly
    • entrench ed themselves in the business
  4. to cut into : furrow
  5. to erode downward so as to form a trench
  6. to dig or occupy a trench for defensive purposes
  7. to enter upon or take over something unfairly, improperly, or unlawfully : encroach used with on or upon

in·trep·id [in-'tre-pəd] -adj, n, adv

  1. characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance
    • an intrepid explorer

in·tri·ca·cy ['in-tri-kə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being intricate
  2. something intricate
    • the intricacies of a plot

in·tri·cate ['in-tri-kət] -adj, adv, n

  1. having many complexly interrelating parts or elements : complicated
    • intricate machinery
    • an intricate plot
  2. difficult to resolve or analyze

in·tri·gant [,in-trē-'gänt, ,an-, -'gäⁿ] -n

  1. one that intrigues

in·trigue ['in-,trēg, in-'] -n

  1. a secret scheme : machination
  2. the practice of engaging in intrigues
  3. a clandestine love affair
  4. cheat, trick
  5. to accomplish by intrigue
    • intrigued myself into the club
  6. entangle
  7. to arouse the interest, desire, or curiosity of
    • intrigued by the tale
  8. to carry on an intrigue
  9. plot, scheme

intriguing -adj

  1. engaging the interest to a marked degree : fascinating
    • an intriguing story

in·trigu·ing·ly [-giŋ-lē] -adv

  1. in an intriguing manner
  2. as a matter of marked interest

in·trin·sic [in-'trin-zik, -'trin(t)-sik] -adj, adv

  1. belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing
    • the intrinsic worth of a gem
    • the intrinsic brightness of a star
  2. being or relating to a semiconductor in which the concentration of charge carriers is characteristic of the material itself instead of the content of any impurities it contains
  3. originating or due to causes within a body, organ, or part
    • an intrinsic metabolic disease
  4. originating and included wholly within an organ or part
    • intrinsic muscles

in·trin·si·cal [-zi-kəl, -si-] -adj

  1. intrinsic

intrinsic factor -n

  1. a substance produced by normal gastrointestinal mucosa that facilitates absorption of vitamin B 12

in·tro ['in-(,)trō] -n

  1. introduction

intro- -prefix

  1. in : into
    • intro jection
  2. inward : within
    • intro vert

introd -abbr

  1. introduction

in·tro·duce [,in-trə-'düs, -'dyüs] -vt, n

  1. to lead or bring in esp. for the first time
    • introduce a nonnative species
  2. to bring into play
  3. to bring into practice or use : institute
  4. : to lead to or make known by a formal act, announcement, or recommendation: as
  5. to cause to be acquainted
  6. to present formally at court or into society
  7. to present or announce formally or officially or by an official reading
    • introduce legislation
  8. to make preliminary explanatory or laudatory remarks about
  9. to bring (as an actor or singer) before the public for the first time
  10. place, insert
    • introduce foreign genes into crops
  11. to bring to a knowledge of something
    • introduced them to new ideas

in·tro·duc·tion [,in-trə-'dək-shən] -n

  1. : something that introduces: as
  2. a part of a book or treatise preliminary to the main portion
  3. a preliminary treatise or course of study
  4. a short introductory musical passage
  5. the act or process of introducing : the state of being introduced
  6. a putting in : insertion
  7. something introduced
  8. a new or exotic plant or animal

in·tro·duc·to·ry [,in-trə-'dək-t(ə-)rē] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or being a first step that sets something going or in proper perspective
    • an introductory course in calculus

in·tro·gres·sion [,in-trə-'gre-shən] -n, adj or n, adj

  1. the entry or introduction of a gene from one gene complex into another (as by hybridization)

in·troit ['in-,trȯit, -,trō-ət, in-'] -n

  1. the first part of the traditional proper of the Mass consisting of an antiphon, verse from a psalm, and the Gloria Patri
  2. a piece of music sung or played at the beginning of a worship service

in·tro·ject [,in-trə-'jekt] -vt, n

  1. to incorporate (attitudes or ideas) into one's personality unconsciously

in·tro·mis·sion [,in-trə-'mi-shən] -n

  1. the act or process of intromitting
  2. the insertion or period of insertion of the penis in the vagina in copulation

in·tro·mit [-'mit] -vt, adj, n

  1. to send or put in : insert

in·tron ['in-,trän] -n

  1. a polynucleotide sequence in a nucleic acid that does not code information for protein synthesis and is removed before translation of messenger RNA

in·trorse ['in-,trȯrs] -adj

  1. facing inward or toward the axis of growth
    • an introrse anther

in·tro·spec·tion [,in-trə-'spek-shən] -n, vb, adj, adv

  1. a reflective looking inward : an examination of one's own thoughts and feelings

in·tro·spec·tion·ism [-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj

  1. a doctrine that psychology must be based essentially on data derived from introspection

in·tro·ver·sion [,in-trə-'vər-zhən, -shən] -n, adj, adv

  1. the act of introverting : the state of being introverted
  2. the state of or tendency toward being wholly or predominantly concerned with and interested in one's own mental life

in·tro·vert ['in-trə-,vərt] -vt

  1. : to turn inward or in upon itself: as
  2. to concentrate or direct upon oneself
  3. to produce psychological introversion in

introvert -n

  1. something (as the retractile proboscis of some worms) that is or can be drawn in esp. by invagination
  2. one whose personality is characterized by introversion
  3. a reserved or shy person

in·trude [in-'trüd] -vb, n

  1. to thrust oneself in without invitation, permission, or welcome
  2. to enter as a geological intrusion
  3. to thrust or force in or upon someone or something esp. without permission, welcome, or fitness
    • intruded himself into their lives
  4. to cause to enter as if by force

in·tru·sion [in-'trü-zhən] -n

  1. the act of intruding or the state of being intruded
  2. the act of wrongfully entering upon, seizing, or taking possession of the property of another
  3. the forcible entry of molten rock or magma into or between other rock formations
  4. the intruded magma

in·tru·sive [in-'trü-siv, -ziv] -adj, n, adv

  1. characterized by intrusion
  2. intruding where one is not welcome or invited
  3. projecting inward
    • an intrusive arm of the sea
  4. having been forced while in a plastic state into cavities or between layers
  5. plutonic
  6. having nothing that corresponds to a sound or letter in orthography or etymon
    • intrusive t in mints for mince

intrust [in-'trəst, en-] -vt, n

(variant of entrust)

  1. to confer a trust on
  2. to deliver something in trust to
  3. to commit to another with confidence

in·tu·ba·tion [,in-(,)tü-'bā-shən, -(,)tyü-, -tə-] -n, vt

  1. the introduction of a tube into a hollow organ (as the trachea)

in·tu·it [in-'tü-ət, -'tyü-] -vt, adj

  1. to know, sense, or understand by intuition

in·tu·i·tion [,in-tü-'i-shən, -tyü-] -n, adj

  1. quick and ready insight
  2. immediate apprehension or cognition
  3. knowledge or conviction gained by intuition
  4. the power or faculty of attaining to direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference

in·tu·i·tion·ism [,in-tü-'i-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj or n

  1. a doctrine that objects of perception are intuitively known to be real
  2. a doctrine that there are basic truths intuitively known
  3. a doctrine that right or wrong or fundamental principles about what is right and wrong can be intuited
  4. a philosophical thesis that human beings have a direct intuitive understanding of mathematics and that rejects the principle that every mathematical statement must be true or false

in·tu·i·tive [in-'tü-ə-tiv, -'tyü-] -adj, adv, n

  1. known or perceived by intuition : directly apprehended
    • had an intuitive awareness of his sister's feelings
  2. knowable by intuition
    • intuitive truths
  3. based on or agreeing with intuition
    • intuitive responses
    • makes intuitive sense
  4. readily learned or understood
    • software with an intuitive interface
  5. knowing or perceiving by intuition
  6. possessing or given to intuition or insight
    • an intuitive mind

in·tu·mes·cence [,in-tü-'me-sᵊn(t)s, -tyu̇-] -n

  1. a swollen or enlarged part of a plant or animal
  2. the process of swelling up or enlarging

in·tu·mes·cent [-sᵊnt] -adj

  1. swelling and charring when exposed to flame

in·tus·sus·cept [,in-tə-sə-'sept] -vb

  1. to take in by or cause to undergo intussusception
  2. invaginate
  3. to undergo intussusception

in·tus·sus·cep·tion [-'sep-shən] -n, adj

  1. : a drawing in of something from without: as
  2. invagination
  3. the slipping of a length of intestine into an adjacent portion usu. producing obstruction
  4. the assimilation of new material and its dispersal among preexistent matter

In·u·it ['i-nü-wət, -nyü-] -n

  1. the Eskimo people of No. America and Greenland
  2. the Eskimo people of Canada
  3. a member of such people
  4. eskimo
  5. the group of Eskimo dialects spoken from northwestern Canada to Greenland

Inuk [i-'nük] -n

  1. a member of the Inuit people

Inuk·ti·tut [i-'nük-tə-,tüt] -n

  1. the group of Eskimo dialects spoken by the Inuit of central and eastern arctic Canada

in·u·lin ['in-yə-lən] -n

  1. a white plant polysaccharide used esp. to improve the flavor and texture of low-fat and low-sugar processed foods

in·unc·tion [i-'nəŋ(k)-shən] -n

  1. an act of applying oil or ointment : anointing

in·un·date ['i-(,)nən-,dāt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to cover with a flood : overflow
  2. overwhelm
    • was inundated with phone calls

Inu·pi·at [i-'nü-pē-,ät, -'nyü-] -n

  1. a member of the Eskimo people of northern Alaska
  2. the language of the Inupiat people

in·ure [i-'nu̇r, -'nyu̇r] -vb, n

  1. to accustom to accept something undesirable
    • children inured to violence
  2. to become of advantage
    • policies that inure to the benefit of employees

in·urn [i-'nərn] -vt, n

  1. entomb
  2. to place (as cremated remains) in an urn

in utero [in-'yü-tə-,rō] -adv or adj

  1. in the uterus : before birth
    • a disease acquired in utero
    • an in utero diagnosis

in·utile [(,)in-'yü-tᵊl, -,tī(-ə)l] -adj, n

  1. useless, unusable

inv -abbr

  1. inventor
  2. invoice

in vac·uo [in-'va-kyə-,wō] -adv

  1. in a vacuum

in·vade [in-'vād] -vt, n

  1. to enter for conquest or plunder
  2. to encroach upon : infringe
  3. to spread over or into as if invading : permeate
    • doubts invade his mind
  4. to affect injuriously and progressively
    • gangrene invade s healthy tissue

in·vag·i·nate [in-'va-jə-,nāt] -vb

  1. enclose, sheathe
  2. to fold in so that an outer becomes an inner surface
  3. to undergo invagination

in·vag·i·na·tion [-,va-jə-'nā-shən] -n

  1. an act or process of invaginating
  2. the formation of a gastrula by an infolding of part of the wall of the blastula
  3. an invaginated part

in·val·id [(,)in-'va-ləd] -adj, adv

  1. : not valid:
  2. being without foundation or force in fact, truth, or law
    • an invalid assumption
    • declared the will invalid
  3. logically inconsequent

in·va·lid ['in-və-ləd, Brit usu -,lēd] -adj

  1. suffering from disease or disability : sickly
  2. of, relating to, or suited to one that is sick
    • an invalid chair

invalid [same as ²] -n

  1. one who is sickly or disabled

in·va·lid ['in-və-ləd, -,lid, Brit usu -,lēd or ,in-və-'lēd] -vt

  1. to remove from active duty by reason of sickness or disability
  2. to make sickly or disabled

in·val·i·date [(,)in-'va-lə-,dāt] -vt, n

  1. to make invalid
  2. to weaken or destroy the cogency of

in·va·lid·ism ['in-və-lə-,di-zəm] -n

  1. a chronic condition of being an invalid

in·val·id·i·ty [,in-və-'li-də-tē, -va-] -n

  1. lack of validity or cogency
  2. incapacitating bodily disability
  3. invalidism

in·valu·able [(,)in-'val-yə-bəl, -yə-wə-bəl, -yü(-ə)-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. valuable beyond estimation : priceless
    • providing invaluable assistance

In·var ['in-,vär] -trademark

  1. used for an alloy of iron and nickel that does not expand much when heated

in·vari·able [(,)in-'ver-ē-ə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. not changing or capable of change : constant
    • an invariable routine

in·vari·ably [-blē] -adv

  1. on every occasion : always
    • invariably late

in·vari·ance [(,)in-'ver-ē-ən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being invariant

in·vari·ant [-ənt] -adj, n

  1. constant, unchanging
  2. unchanged by specified mathematical or physical operations or transformations
    • invariant factor

in·va·sion [in-'vā-zhən] -n

  1. an act of invading
  2. incursion of an army for conquest or plunder
  3. the incoming or spread of something usu. hurtful

in·va·sive [-siv, -ziv] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by military aggression
  2. tending to spread
  3. tending to invade healthy tissue
    • invasive cancer cells
  4. tending to infringe
  5. involving entry into the living body (as by incision or by insertion of an instrument)
    • invasive diagnostic techniques

in·vec·tive [in-'vek-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by insult or abuse

invective -n

  1. an abusive expression or speech
  2. insulting or abusive language : vituperation

in·veigh [in-'vā] -vi, n

  1. to protest or complain bitterly or vehemently : rail

in·vei·gle [in-'vā-gəl sometimes -'vē-] -vt, n

  1. to win over by wiles : entice
  2. to acquire by ingenuity or flattery : wangle
    • inveigled her way into a promotion

in·vent [in-'vent] -vt, n

  1. find, discover
  2. to devise by thinking : fabricate
  3. to produce (as something useful) for the first time through the use of the imagination or of ingenious thinking and experiment

in·ven·tion [in-'ven(t)-shən] -n

  1. discovery, finding
  2. productive imagination : inventiveness
  3. : something invented: as
  4. a product of the imagination
  5. a false conception
  6. a device, contrivance, or process originated after study and experiment
  7. a short keyboard composition featuring two- or three-part counterpoint
  8. the act or process of inventing

in·ven·tive [in-'ven-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. adept or prolific at producing inventions : creative
    • an inventive mind
  2. characterized by invention
    • an inventive method

in·ven·to·ry ['in-vən-,tȯr-ē] -n, adj, adv

  1. : an itemized list of current assets: as
  2. a catalog of the property of an individual or estate
  3. a list of goods on hand
  4. a survey of natural resources
  5. a list of traits, preferences, attitudes, interests, or abilities used to evaluate personal characteristics or skills
  6. survey, summary
  7. the quantity of goods or materials on hand : stock
  8. the act or process of taking an inventory

inventory -vt

  1. to make an inventory of : catalog

in·ver·ness [,in-vər-'nes] -n

  1. a loose belted coat having a cape with a close-fitting round collar

in·verse [(,)in-'vərs, 'in-,] -adj

  1. opposite in order, nature, or effect
  2. being an inverse function
    • inverse sine

inverse -n

  1. something of a contrary nature or quality : opposite, reverse
  2. a proposition or theorem formed by contradicting both the subject and predicate or both the hypothesis and conclusion of a given proposition or theorem
    • the inverse of if A then B is if not-A then not-B
  3. inverse function
  4. an operation (as subtraction) that undoes the effect of another operation
  5. a set element that is related to another element in such a way that the result of applying a given binary operation to them is an identity element of the set

inverse function -n

  1. a function that is derived from a given function by interchanging the two variables
    • y = x is the inverse function of y = x

in·verse·ly ['in-,vərs-lē, (,)in-'] -adv

  1. in an inverse order or manner
  2. in the manner of inverse variation
    • varies inversely

inversely proportional -adj

  1. related by inverse variation

inverse square law -n

  1. a statement in physics: a given physical quantity (as illumination) varies with the distance from the source inversely as the square of the distance

inverse variation -n

  1. mathematical relationship between two variables which can be expressed by an equation in which the product of two variables is equal to a constant
  2. an equation or function expressing inverse variation

in·ver·sion [in-'vər-zhən, -shən] -n

  1. : a reversal of position, order, form, or relationship: as
  2. a change in normal word order
  3. the placement of a verb before its subject
  4. the process or result of changing or reversing the relative positions of the notes of a musical interval, chord, or phrase
  5. the condition of being turned inward or inside out
  6. a breaking off of a chromosome section and its subsequent reattachment in inverted position
  7. a chromosomal section that has undergone this process
  8. the act or process of inverting
  9. a change in the order of the terms of a mathematical proportion effected by inverting each ratio
  10. the operation of forming the inverse of a magnitude, a function, an operation, or an element
  11. the conversion of dextrorotatory sucrose into a levorotatory mixture of glucose and fructose
  12. a change from one stereochemical figuration at a chiral center in a usu. organic molecule to the opposite configuration that is brought about by a reaction in which a substitution of one group is made for a different group
  13. homosexuality
  14. an increase of temperature with height through a layer of air

in·ver·sive [-'vər-siv, -ziv] -adj

  1. marked by inversion

in·vert [in-'vərt] -vt

  1. to reverse in position, order, or relationship
  2. to subject to inversion
  3. to turn inside out or upside down
  4. to turn inward
  5. to find the mathematical reciprocal of
    • to divide using fractions, invert the divisor and multiply
  6. one characterized by inversion
  7. homosexual

in·ver·tase [in-'vər-,tās, -,tāz; 'in-vər-,] -n

  1. an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose

in·ver·te·brate [(,)in-'vər-tə-brət, -,brāt] -adj, n

  1. lacking a spinal column
  2. of, relating to, or concerned with invertebrate animals
  3. lacking in strength or vitality : weak

inverted comma -n

  1. quotation mark

in·vert·er [in-'vər-tər] -n

  1. one that inverts
  2. a device for converting direct current into alternating current

in·vert·ible [in-'vər-tə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being inverted or subjected to inversion
    • an invertible matrix

invert sugar -n

  1. a mixture of dextrose and levulose found in fruits or produced artificially by the inversion of sucrose

in·vest [in-'vest] -vt

  1. to array in the symbols of office or honor
  2. to furnish with power or authority
  3. to grant someone control or authority over : vest
  4. to cover completely : envelop
  5. clothe, adorn
  6. to surround with troops or ships so as to prevent escape or entry
  7. to endow with a quality : infuse

invest [-'ves-tə-bəl] -vb, adj, n

  1. to commit (money) in order to earn a financial return
  2. to make use of for future benefits or advantages
    • invest ed her time wisely
  3. to involve or engage esp. emotionally
    • were deeply invest ed in their children's lives
  4. to make an investment

in·ves·ti·gate [in-'ves-tə-,gāt] -vb, n, adj

  1. to observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry
  2. to make a systematic examination
  3. to conduct an official inquiry

in·ves·ti·ga·tion·al [in-,ves-tə-'gā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. of or relating to investigation
    • investigational activities
  2. relating to or being a drug or medical procedure that is not approved for general use but is under investigation in clinical trials regarding its safety and efficacy
    • an investigational new drug

in·ves·ti·ture [in-'ves-tə-,chu̇r, -chər, -,tyu̇r, -,tu̇r] -n

  1. the act of establishing in office or ratifying
  2. something that covers or adorns

in·vest·ment [in-'ves(t)-mənt] -n

  1. vestment
  2. an outer layer : envelope
  3. investiture
  4. blockade, siege

investment -n

  1. the outlay of money usu. for income or profit : capital outlay
  2. the sum invested or the property purchased

investment company -n

  1. a company whose primary business is holding securities of other companies purely for investment purposes

in·vet·er·a·cy [in-'ve-t(ə-)rə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being obstinate or persistent : tenacity

in·vet·er·ate [in-'ve-t(ə-)rət] -adj, adv

  1. firmly established by long persistence
    • the inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious
  2. confirmed in a habit : habitual
    • an inveterate liar

in·vi·a·ble [(,)in-'vī-ə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. incapable of surviving esp. because of a deleterious genetic constitution

in·vid·i·ous [in-'vi-dē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. tending to cause discontent, animosity, or envy
    • the invidious task of arbitration
  2. envious
  3. of an unpleasant or objectionable nature : obnoxious
    • invidious remarks
  4. of a kind to cause harm or resentment
    • an invidious comparison

in·vig·i·late [in-'vi-jə-,lāt] -vb, n

  1. to keep watch
  2. to supervise students at an examination
  3. supervise, monitor

in·vig·o·rate [in-'vi-gə-,rāt] -vt, adv, n

  1. to give life and energy to : animate
  2. stimulate

in·vin·ci·ble [(,)in-'vin(t)-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being conquered, overcome, or subdued
    • a seemingly invincible army

in·vi·o·la·ble [(,)in-'vī-ə-lə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. secure from violation or profanation
    • an inviolable law
  2. secure from assault or trespass : unassailable
    • inviolable borders

in·vi·o·la·cy [(,)in-'vī-ə-lə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being inviolate

in·vi·o·late [-'vī-ə-lət] -adj, adv, n

  1. not violated or profaned
  2. pure

in·vis·cid [(,)in-'vi-səd] -adj

  1. having zero viscosity
  2. of or relating to an inviscid fluid
    • inviscid flow

in·vis·i·ble [(,)in-'vi-zə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable by nature of being seen
  2. inaccessible to view : hidden
  3. imperceptible, inconspicuous
  4. not appearing in published financial statements
  5. not reflected in statistics

invisible hand -n

  1. a hypothetical economic force that in a freely competitive market works for the benefit of all

in·vi·ta·tion [,in-və-'tā-shən] -n

  1. the act of inviting
  2. an often formal request to be present or participate
  3. incentive, inducement

in·vi·ta·tion·al [-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj, n

  1. limited to invited participants
    • an invitational tournament
  2. prepared or entered in response to a request
    • an invitational article

in·vi·ta·to·ry [in-'vī-tə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. containing an invitation

invitatory -n

  1. an invitatory psalm or antiphon

in·vite [in-'vīt] -vt, n

  1. to offer an incentive or inducement to : entice
  2. to increase the likelihood of
    • invite trouble
  3. to request the presence or participation of
    • invited us to dinner
  4. to request formally
  5. to urge politely : welcome
    • invite comments
  6. invitation

in·vi·tee [,in-və-'tē, -,vī-] -n

  1. an invited person

inviting -adj, adv

  1. attractive, tempting

in vi·tro [in-'vē-(,)trō, -'vi-, -'wē-] -adv or adj

  1. outside the living body and in an artificial environment

in vitro fertilization -n

  1. fertilization of an egg in a laboratory dish or test tube
  2. fertilization by mixing sperm with eggs surgically removed from an ovary followed by uterine implantation of one or more of the resulting fertilized eggs abbr. IVF

in vi·vo [in-'vē-(,)vō, -'wē-(,)wō] -adv or adj

  1. in the living body of a plant or animal

in·vo·cate ['in-və-,kāt] -vt

  1. invoke

in·vo·ca·tion [,in-və-'kā-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act or process of petitioning for help or support
  2. a prayer of entreaty (as at the beginning of a service of worship)
  3. a calling upon for authority or justification
  4. a formula for conjuring : incantation
  5. an act of legal or moral implementation : enforcement

in·voice ['in-,vȯis] -n

  1. an itemized list of goods shipped usu. specifying the price and the terms of sale : bill
  2. a consignment of merchandise

invoice -vt

  1. to send an invoice for or to

in·voke [in-'vōk] -vt, n

  1. to petition for help or support
  2. to appeal to or cite as authority
  3. to call forth by incantation : conjure
  4. to make an earnest request for : solicit
  5. to put into effect or operation : implement
  6. bring about, cause

in·vo·lu·cre ['in-və-,lü-kər] -n, adj

  1. one or more whorls of bracts situated below and close to a flower, flower cluster, or fruit

in·vo·lu·crum [,in-və-'lü-krəm] -n

  1. a surrounding envelope or sheath

in·vol·un·tary [(,)in-'vä-lən-,ter-ē, -,te-rē] -adj, adv, n

  1. done contrary to or without choice
  2. compulsory
  3. not subject to control of the will : reflex

involuntary manslaughter -n

  1. manslaughter resulting from the failure to perform a legal duty expressly required to safeguard human life, from the commission of an unlawful act not constituting a felony, or from the commission of a lawful act in a negligent or improper manner

involuntary muscle -n

  1. muscle governing reflex functions and not under direct voluntary control
  2. smooth muscle

in·vo·lute ['in-və-,lüt] -adj

  1. curled spirally
  2. curled or curved inward
  3. having the edges rolled over the upper surface toward the midrib
    • an involute leaf
  4. having the form of an involute
    • a gear with involute teeth
  5. involved, intricate

involute -n

  1. a curve traced by a point on a thread kept taut as it is unwound from another curve
    • involute of a circle

in·vo·lute [,in-və-'lüt] -vi

  1. to become involute
  2. to return to a former condition
  3. to become cleared up : disappear

in·vo·lu·tion [,in-və-'lü-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act or an instance of enfolding or entangling : involvement
  2. an involved grammatical construction usu. characterized by the insertion of clauses between the subject and predicate
  3. complexity, intricacy
  4. exponentiation
  5. an inward curvature or penetration
  6. the formation of a gastrula by ingrowth of cells formed at the dorsal lip
  7. a shrinking or return to a former size
  8. the regressive alterations of a body or its parts characteristic of the aging process
    • skeletal involution due to loss of estrogens at menopause

in·volve [in-'välv, -'vȯlv also -'väv or -'vȯv] -vt, n

  1. to enfold or envelop so as to encumber
  2. to engage as a participant
    • workers involved in building a house
  3. to oblige to take part
    • right of Congress to involve the nation in war
  4. to occupy (as oneself) absorbingly
  5. to commit (as oneself) emotionally
    • was involved with a married man
  6. to surround as if with a wrapping : envelop
  7. to wind, coil, or wreathe about
  8. to relate closely : connect
  9. to have within or as part of itself : include
  10. to require as a necessary accompaniment : entail
  11. affect
    • the cancer involved the lymph nodes

involved [-'väl-vəd-lē, -'vȯl- also -'vä-vəd- or -'vȯ-] -adj, adv

  1. involute, twisted
  2. marked by extreme and often needless or excessive complexity
  3. difficult to deal with because of complexity or disorder
  4. being affected or implicated

in·vul·ner·a·ble [(,)in-'vəl-n(ə-)rə-bəl, -nər-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. incapable of being wounded, injured, or harmed
  2. immune to or proof against attack : impregnable

in·ward ['in-wərd] -adj

  1. situated on the inside : inner
  2. of or relating to the mind or spirit
    • inward peace
  3. absorbed in one's own mental or spiritual life : introspective
  4. marked by close acquaintance : familiar
  5. directed toward the interior

inward [-wərdz] -adv

  1. toward the inside, center, or interior
  2. toward the inner being
  3. something that is inward
  4. innards

Inward Light -n

  1. inner light

in·ward·ly ['in-wərd-lē] -adv

  1. in the innermost being : mentally, spiritually
  2. beneath the surface : internally
    • bled inwardly
  3. to oneself : privately
    • cursed inwardly

in·ward·ness -n

  1. internal quality or substance
  2. close acquaintance : familiarity
  3. fundamental nature : essence
  4. absorption in one's own mental or spiritual life

in·weave [(,)in-'wēv] -vt

  1. interweave, interlace

inwrought [(,)in-'rȯt, 'in-,] -adj

  1. having decoration worked in : ornamented
  2. decorated with embroidery
  3. worked in esp. as decoration

inyourface -adj

  1. characterized by or expressive of bold and often defiant aggressiveness
    • inyourface basketball
  2. aggressively intrusive
    • inyourface advertising