# dict

Words: horse chestnut
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a large tree which produces shiny brown nuts and has white or pink flowers:\n  2 a nut from this tree:   conker//


Words: Horse Guards Parade
Meaning:
a wide square in central London used for public ceremonies by the  Blues and Royals and other British army  regiments//


Words: horse racing
Meaning:
n [U]   a sport in which horses with riders race against each other//    flat racing, steeplechase, jockey//


Words: horse trailer
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a large vehicle for carrying horses, pulled by another vehicle//  British Equivalent:  horsebox//


Words: horse-trading
Meaning:
n [U]   when the people, especially business people or politicians, who are involved in a discussion try hard to gain an advantage for their own side - used to show disapproval//  --There will be no horse-trading and no electoral pacts.//


Words: horsebox
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a large vehicle for carrying horses, often pulled by another vehicle//  American Equivalent:  horse trailer//


Words: horsepower
Meaning:
n   plural  horsepower  [U and C]  written abbreviation hp //  a unit for measuring the power of an engine, or the power of an engine measured like this//  --a two-hundred horsepower engine//  --the superior horsepower of Volkswagen//


Words: horseshoe
Meaning:
n [C]   1 a U-shaped piece of iron that is fixed onto the bottom of a horse’s foot//\n  2 an object in the shape of a horseshoe that is a sign of good luck:


Words: horsey
Meaning:
horsy/h[hA350][hA359]si $ h[hA350][hA359]rsi/ adj \n  1  informal very interested in horses and riding:\n  2  horsey face/smell etc:  a face etc that is like a horse’s//


Words: horticulture
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: hortus  ’garden’ +  English culture]//  the practice or science of growing flowers, fruit and vegetables//    gardening, agriculture//  -- horticultural/h[hA350][hA359]t[hA369]k[hA356]lt[hA35D][hA353]r[hA353]l[hA36B] $ h[hA350][hA359]r-/ adj //  -- horticulturalist n  [C] //


Words: hose
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: hosa  ’leg-covering’]//\n  1 [C]  BrE a long rubber or plastic tube which can be moved and bent to put water onto fires, gardens etc:  British Equivalent:  hosepipe//\n  2 [U]  tights, stockings, or socks - used especially in shops:   hosiery//\nhose 2 v [T] \n  1 to wash or pour water over something or someone, using a hose:  hose sth/sb down//  --Would you hose down the car for me?//\n  2  AmE  informal to cheat or deceive someone:


Words: hosiery
Meaning:
n  also hose  [U]   a general word for tights, stockings, or socks, used in shops and in the clothing industry//


Words: hospice
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Latin hospitium, from  hospes;   HOST1]//  a special hospital for people who are dying//


Words: hospitable
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: hospiter  ’to receive a guest’, from  Latin hospes;   HOST1]//\n  1 friendly, welcoming, and generous to visitors:  → inhospitable//  --The local people were very kind and hospitable.//\n  2 used for describing an environment in which things can grow:  → inhospitable//  --The Sahara is one of the world’s least hospitable regions.//  -- hospitably adv //


Words: hospital
Meaning:
W1S2   n [U and C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Medieval Latin hospitale  ’place to stay at’, from  Latin hospitalis  ’of a guest’, from  hospes;   HOST1]//  a large building where sick or injured people receive medical treatment//  --He’s  in hospital  recovering from an operation. //  -- By the time she  went to the hospital , the pain was really bad. //  --Your mother should  be out of hospital  within three days. //  -- She was treated by paramedics at the scene before being  rushed to hospital . //  --A man has been admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds.//  -- He is likely to be  discharged from the hospital  later today. //  -- a top-security  psychiatric hospital  //  -- More than 20 officers needed  hospital treatment . //  -- surgical techniques which avoid the need for a  hospital stay  //  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  in hospital  British English //  in the hospital American English //  go to hospital  BrE //  go to the hospital AmE //  come/be out of hospital  BrE //  come/be out of the hospital AmE //  leave hospital  BrE //  leave the hospital AmE //  be taken to hospital  BrE //  be taken to the hospital AmE //  be rushed to hospital  BrE //  be rushed to the hospital AmE //  be airlifted/flown to hospital  BrE //  be airlifted/flown to the hospital AmE (=be taken to hospital in a plane) //  be admitted to hospital  BrE //  be admitted to the hospital AmE (=be brought into a hospital for treatment) //  be discharged/released from hospital  BrE //  be discharged/released from the hospital AmE (=be allowed to leave a hospital because you are better) //  psychiatric hospital  (=a hospital for people with mental illness) //  maternity hospital  (=a hospital where women have their babies) //  hospital treatment/care //  hospital stay  (=the period that someone spends in hospital) //  WORD FOCUS: hospital //  types of hospital: medical center (AmE) (=a big hospital) //  maternity hospital (=for women who are having a baby) //  mental hospital/psychiatric hospital (=for people who are mentally ill) //  clinic (=for people receiving a particular kind of treatment) //  hospice (=for people who are dying) //  nursing home (=for old people) //  parts of a hospital: A&E also casualty (BrE),  emergency room (AmE),  operating theatre (BrE) operating room (AmE),  ward,  unit //  people in a hospital: doctor,  nurse,  surgeon,  patient,  orderly //  ----------//


Words: hospitality
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 friendly behaviour towards visitors:  --Thanks for your hospitality over the past few weeks.//\n  2 services such as food and drink that an organization provides for guests at a special event:  --the use of a yacht for corporate hospitality //  --There was a reception in the hospitality suite before the game.//    corporate hospitality at corporate(1)//


Words: hospitalize
Meaning:
also  hospitalise BrE   v [T usually passive]   if someone is hospitalized, they are taken into a hospital for treatment//  -- hospitalization/h[hA361]sp[hA366]tl-a[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ h[hA35A][hA359]sp[hA366]tl-[hA353]ze[hA366]-/ n  [U] //


Words: host
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 at a party:\n   2 on television/radio:\n   3 country/city:\n   4 a (whole) host of people/things:\n   5 in church:\n   6 animal/plant:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-3, 6; Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: hoste  ’host, guest’, from  Latin hospes, probably from  hostis;   HOSTILE]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin hostis;   HOSTILE]//  [Sense: 5; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: hoiste, from  Latin hostia  ’sacrifice’]//\n  1 AT A PARTY:  someone at a party, meal etc who has invited the guests and who provides the food, drink etc//    hostess//  --Our host greeted us at the door.//\n  2 ON TELEVISION/RADIO:  someone who introduces and talks to the guests on a television or radio programme//  British Equivalent:  comp[hA169]re//  --a game show host//\n  3 COUNTRY/CITY:  a country, city, or organization that provides the necessary space, equipment etc for a special event//  host country/government/city etc //  --the host city for the next Olympic Games//  play host (to sth) (=provide the place, food etc for a special meeting or event) //  --The gallery is playing host to an exhibition of sculpture.//\n  4  a (whole) host of people/things:  a large number of people or things//  --A host of showbusiness celebrities have pledged their support.//\n  5 IN CHURCH:   the Host//   technical the bread that is used in the Christian ceremony of Communion//\n  6 ANIMAL/PLANT:   technical an animal or plant on which a smaller animal or plant is living as a parasite//\nhost 2 v [T] \n  1 to provide the place and everything that is needed for an organized event:  --Which country is going to host the next World Cup?//\n  2 to introduce a radio or television programme:  --Next week’s show will be hosted by Sarah Cox.//


Words: hostage
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: hoste;   HOST1]//\n  1 someone who is kept as a prisoner by an enemy so that the other side will do what the enemy demands:    kidnap//  --The group are holding two western tourists hostage  (=keeping them as hostages) .//  --a family taken hostage at gunpoint yesterday//\n  2  be (a) hostage to sth:  to be influenced and controlled by something, so that you are not free to do what you want//  --Our country must not be held hostage to our past.//\n  3  a hostage to fortune:  something that you have promised to do which may cause you problems in the future//


Words: hostel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Late Latin hospitale;   HOSPITAL]//\n  1 a place where people can stay and eat fairly cheaply:\n  2 a youth hostel:\n  3 a place where people who have no homes can stay:


Words: hostess
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a woman at a party, meal etc who has invited all the guests and provides them with food, drink etc:    host//\n  2 a woman who introduces and talks to the guests on a television or radio show:    host//\n  3 a woman who shows people to seats in a restaurant in the US:\n  4 a woman whose job is to entertain men at a nightclub:


Words: hostile
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Latin hostilis, from  hostis  ’stranger, enemy’]//\n  1 angry and deliberately unfriendly towards someone and ready to argue with them:  --Southampton fans gave their former coach a  hostile reception .//  --Carr wouldn’t meet Feng’s stare, which was  openly hostile .//  --his  hostile attitude //  hostile to/towards//  --The boy feels hostile towards his father.//\n  2 opposing a plan or idea very strongly:  hostile to/towards//  --Senator Lydon was hostile to our proposals.//\n  3 belonging to an enemy:  --hostile territory//\n  4 used to describe conditions that are difficult to live in, or that make it difficult to achieve something:  hostile environment/climate/terrain etc //  --a guide to surviving in even the most hostile terrain//  --Sales increased last year despite the hostile economic environment.//\n  5  hostile takeover/bid:  a situation in which a company tries to buy another company which does not want to be bought//


Words: hostility
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] when someone is unfriendly and full of anger towards another person:  hostility towards/between//  --hostility towards foreigners//  hostility toward//   AmE //  --hostility toward Jews//  open/outright hostility (=hostility that is clearly shown) //  --They eyed each other with open hostility.//\n  2 [U] strong or angry opposition to something:  --The reform program was greeted with hostility by conservatives.//  hostility to/towards//  --There is a lot of public hostility to the tax.//  --Pictures of refugees aroused popular hostility  (=felt by a lot of people) towards the war.//  hostility toward//   AmE //  --Republican hostility toward slavery//\n  3  hostilities [plural]  formal fighting in a war:  --a cessation of hostilities//


Words: hot
Meaning:
adj   comparative  hotter superlative  hottest //  ----------//\n   1 high temperature:\n   2 spicy:\n   3 very popular/fashionable:\n   4 good:\n   5 sexy:\n   6 difficult/dangerous:\n   7 a hot issue/topic etc:\n   8 in the hot seat:\n   9 in hot water:\n  10 angry:\n  11 hot and bothered:\n  12 have/hold something in your hot little hand:\n  13 recent/exciting news:\n  14 be hot off the press:\n  15 chasing somebody/something closely:\n  16 come/follow hot on the heels of something:\n  17 hot on the trail of something:\n  18 blow/go hot and cold:\n  19 go hot and cold:\n  20 I don’t feel too hot/so hot/very hot:\n  21 be hot on something:\n  22 be hot for something:\n  23 be hot to trot:\n  24 hot competition:\n  25 hot favourite:\n  26 hot tip:\n  27 stolen goods:\n  28 music:\n  29 more something than you’ve had hot dinners:\n  30 hot money:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: hat]//\n  1 HIGH TEMPERATURE:  a) something that is hot has a high temperature - used about weather, places, food, drink, or objects//  → cold//  --a hot day in July//  -- It’s so hot in here. Can I open the window?//  --Be careful, the water’s very hot.//  --The bar serves hot and cold food .//  --people who live in hot countries  (=where the weather is usually hot) //  boiling/broiling  AmE  //  scorching/baking/roasting hot (=used about weather that is very hot) //  --a scorching hot week in August//  stifling/sweltering/unbearably hot (=used about weather that is very hot and uncomfortable) //  --The office gets unbearably hot in summer.//  boiling/scalding/steaming hot (=used about liquid that is extremely hot) //  --The coffee was scalding hot.//  piping hot (=used about food that is nice and hot) //  --Serve the soup piping hot.//  red hot (=used to describe an object or surface that is very hot) //  --The handle was red hot.//  white hot (=used to describe metal that is extremely hot) //  --He held the metal in the flame until it became white hot.//  b) if you feel hot, your body feels hot in a way that is uncomfortable//  --I was hot and tired after the journey.//  --The wine made her feel hot.//  c) if clothes are hot, they make you feel too hot in a way that is uncomfortable//  --This sweater’s too hot to wear inside.//\n  2 SPICY:  food that tastes hot has a burning taste because it contains strong spices//  → mild//  --a hot curry//\n  3 VERY POPULAR/FASHIONABLE:   informal something or someone that is hot is very popular or fashionable, and everyone wants to use them, see them, buy them etc//  --one of the hottest young directors in Hollywood//  --Michael Owen is already one of soccer’s hottest properties  (=actors or sports players who are very popular) .//  --The movie is going to be this summer’s hot ticket  (=an event that is very popular or fashionable, and that everyone wants to go and see) .//  be the hottest thing since (sliced bread) (=used about someone or something that is very good and popular, so that everyone wants them) //  --Her new book is supposed to be the hottest thing since Harry Potter.//\n  4 GOOD:   informal very good, especially in a way that is exciting//  --a hot young guitar player//  --a hot piece of software//  --His new film is hot stuff  (=very good) .//  be hot at doing sth//  --She’s pretty hot at swimming too.//  not so hot/not very hot  informal  (=not very good) //  --Some of the tracks on the record are great, but others are not so hot.//  be hot shit  AmE  informal  not polite  (=used about someone or something that people think is very good) //\n  5 SEXY:  a)  informal someone who is hot is very attractive sexually//  --The girls all think he’s hot stuff .//  b)  informal a film, book, photograph etc that is hot is sexually exciting//  --his hot and steamy first novel//  c)  a hot date//   informal a meeting with someone who you feel very attracted to sexually//  --She has a hot date with Michel.//  d)  be hot on/for sb//   informal to be sexually attracted to someone//\n  6 DIFFICULT/DANGEROUS:   [not before noun]  informal difficult or dangerous to deal with//  --If things get too hot  (=a situation becomes too difficult or dangerous to deal with) , I can always leave.//  --Wilkinson found his opponent a little too hot to handle  (=too difficult to deal with or beat) .//  --The climate was too hot politically to make such radical changes.//\n  7  a hot issue/topic etc:  a subject that a lot of people are discussing, especially one that causes a lot of disagreement//  --The affair was a hot topic of conversation.//  --one of the hottest issues facing medical science//\n  8  in the hot seat:  in an important position and responsible for making difficult decisions//\n  9  in hot water:  if someone is in hot water, they are in trouble because they have done something wrong//  --The finance minister found himself in hot water over his business interests.//  land/get yourself in hot water //  --She got herself in hot water with the authorities.//\n  10 ANGRY:  a)  get hot under the collar//   spoken to become angry - used especially when people get angry in an unreasonable way about something that is not important//  --I don’t understand why people are getting so hot under the collar about it.//  b)  have a hot temper//  someone who has a hot temper becomes angry very easily//    hot-tempered//\n  11  hot and bothered:   informal upset and confused because you have too much to think about or because you are in a hurry//  --People were struggling with bags and cases, looking hot and bothered.//\n  12  have/hold sth in your hot little hand:   informal used to emphasize that you have something//  --You’ll have the report in your hot little hands by Monday.//\n  13 RECENT/EXCITING NEWS:  hot news is about very recent events and therefore interesting or exciting//  --Do you want to hear about all the latest hot gossip ?//\n  14  be hot off the press:  if news or a newspaper is hot off the press, it has just recently been printed//\n  15 CHASING SOMEBODY/SOMETHING CLOSELY:  a)  in hot pursuit//  following someone quickly and closely because you want to catch them//  --The car sped away with the police in hot pursuit.//  b)  hot on sb’s trail/tail//  close to and likely to catch someone you have been chasing//  --The other car was hot on his tail.//  c)  hot on sb’s heels//  following very close behind someone//  --Mrs Bass’s dog was already hot on his heels.//\n  16  come/follow hot on the heels of sth:  to happen or be done very soon after something else//  --The news came hot on the heels of another plane crash.//\n  17  hot on the trail of sth:  very close to finding something//  --journalists hot on the trail of a news story//\n  18  blow/go hot and cold:  to keep changing your mind about whether you like or want to do something//  --She keeps blowing hot and cold about the wedding.//\n  19  go hot and cold:  to experience a strange feeling in which your body temperature suddenly changes, because you are very frightened, worried, or shocked//\n  20  I don’t feel too hot/so hot/very hot:   spoken  informal I feel slightly ill//  --I’m not feeling too hot today.//\n  21  be hot on sth:   informal //  a) to know a lot about something//  --He’s pretty hot on aircraft.//  b)  BrE to be very strict about something//   tight//  --The company is very hot on security.//\n  22  be hot for sth:   informal to be ready for something and want it very much//  --Europe is hot for a product like this.//  --He was hot for revenge.//\n  23  be hot to trot:   informal //  a) to be ready to do something or be involved with something//  b) to feel sexually excited and want to have sex with someone//\n  24  hot competition:  if the competition between people or companies is hot, they are all trying very hard to win or succeed//  --Competition for the best jobs is getting hotter all the time.//\n  25  hot favourite:  the person, team, horse etc that people think is most likely to win//  --United are hot favourites to win the championship.//\n  26  hot tip:  a good piece of advice about the likely result of a race, business deal etc//  --a hot tip on the stockmarket//\n  27 STOLEN GOODS:   informal goods that are hot have been stolen//\n  28 MUSIC:   informal music that is hot has a strong exciting rhythm//\n  29  more sth than you’ve had hot dinners:   BrE  spoken  humorous used to say that someone has had a lot of experience of something and has done it many times//  --She’s delivered more babies than you’ve had hot dinners.//\n  30  hot money:  money that is frequently moved from one country to another in order to make a profit//    hotly,  hots//\nhot 2 v   past tense and past participle  hotted present participle  hotting //  hot up phr v//\n  1 if something hots up, there is more activity or excitement:  --Things generally hot up a few days before the race.//\n  2  the pace hots up:  used to say that the speed of something increases//


Words: hot air
Meaning:
n [U]   things that someone says which are intended to sound impressive, but do not really mean anything or are not true//  --The theory was dismissed as a lot of hot air.//


Words: hot cake
Meaning:
BrE  hotcake AmE   n [C] \n  1  be selling/going like hot cakes:  if things are selling like hot cakes, they are very popular and people are buying a lot of them very quickly//  --Copies of the book are selling like hot cakes.//\n  2  AmE a pancake:


Words: hot desk
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a desk which is used by different workers on different days, instead of by the same worker every day//  -- hot-desking n  [U] //


Words: hot flush
Meaning:
BrE hot flash  AmE   n [C]   a sudden hot feeling, especially one which women have during their menopause//


Words: hot key
Meaning:
n [C]   one or more keys that you can press on a computer keyboard to make the computer quickly do a particular set of actions//


Words: hot link
Meaning:
n [C]   a hyperlink which allows you to move from one place in a computer document to another, or to a particular place in a different document, especially on the Internet//


Words: hot potato
Meaning:
n [C]   a subject or problem that no one wants to deal with, because it is difficult and any decision might make people angry//  --The issue has become a political hot potato .//


Words: hot rod
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE  informal an old car that has been fitted with a powerful engine to make it go faster//


Words: hot spot
Meaning:
hotspot/h[hA361]tsp[hA361]t $ h[hA35A][hA359]tsp[hA35A][hA359]t/ n [C] \n  1 a place where there is a lot of heat or radiation:  --Many microwaves heat unevenly, leading to hot spots in the milk.//  --Hot spots of radioactivity were found near the power station.//\n  2 a place that is popular for entertainment or a particular activity:  --They played regularly at legendary hot spots such as the UFO Club.//\n  3 a place where there is likely to be fighting or a particular problem:  --The report identified eight pollution hot spots.//\n  4 a part of a computer image on the screen that you can click on to make other pictures, words etc appear:\n  5  especially AmE a place where a fire can spread from:


Words: hot-blooded
Meaning:
adj   having very strong emotions such as anger or love, that are difficult to control//   passionate//


Words: hot-cross bun
Meaning:
n [C]   a round sweet bread roll with a mark in the shape of a cross on top, that is traditionally eaten just before Easter//


Words: hot-tempered
Meaning:
adj   having a tendency to become angry easily//  --a hot-tempered young man//    hot temper at hot1 (1b)//


Words: hot-wire
Meaning:
v [T]    informal to start the engine of a vehicle using the wires of the ignition system, instead of a key//


Words: hotbed
Meaning:
n   be a hotbed of sth//  a place where a lot of a particular type of activity, especially bad or violent activity, happens//  --the university was a hotbed of radical protest//


Words: hotchpotch
Meaning:
n  BrE hodgepodge  AmE [singular]  informal   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: hotchpotch  ’mixture’ (14-21 centuries), from  Old French hochepot, from  hochier  ’to shake’ +  pot  ’pot’]//  a number of things mixed up without sensible order or arrangement//


Words: hotel
Meaning:
W1S2   n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: h[hA175]tel, from  Old French hostel;   HOSTEL]//  a building where people pay to stay and eat meals//  stay at/in a hotel //  --We’ll be staying at the Hotel Ibis.//  --She watched TV in her  hotel room  and waited for him to call.//  hotel bar/restaurant/lobby/foyer etc //  --The hotel bar was closed.//  check into a hotel  also //  book into a hotel  BrE //  --They checked into a cheap hotel.//  check out of a hotel //  --You must check out of the hotel by 10 a.m. //  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: hotel //  types of hotel: motel,  inn,  B&B (BrE),  guesthouse (BrE) //  types of room: double room (==has a bed for two people) //  twin room (==has two single beds) //  single room (==for one person) //  suite (==has two or more rooms) //  people who work at a hotel: desk clerk (==gives you your key) //  bellboy (BrE) bellhop American English (==takes your bags up to your room) //  maid also chambermaid (==cleans your room) //  manager //  someone who is staying at a hotel: guest //  the place where you check in, check out, and pay your bill: front desk,  reception (BrE) //  an arrangement to stay at a hotel: reservation also booking (BrE) //  hotel services: room service,  wake-up call //  ----------//


Words: hotfoot
Meaning:
v   hotfoot it//   informal to walk or run quickly//  --I hotfooted it out of there as soon as possible.//  -- hot-foot adv //  --Karl arrived hot-foot from the airport.//


Words: hothead
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who does things too quickly without thinking//  -- hotheaded/h[hA361]thed[hA369]d[hA36B] $ h[hA35A][hA359]t-/ adj //


Words: hothouse
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a heated building, usually made of glass, where delicate plants can grow:    greenhouse//\n  2  hothouse atmosphere/environment etc:  a situation or place where there is a lot of activity and ideas//


Words: hotline
Meaning:
hot line/h[hA361]tla[hA366]n $ h[hA35A][hA359]t-/ n [C]   a special telephone line for people to find out about or talk about something//  --Call our crime hotline today.//


Words: hotly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 in an excited or angry way:  hotly debated/disputed/denied etc //  --The rumor has been hotly denied.//\n  2 done with a lot of energy and effort:  --one of the most hotly contested congressional elections//  --The man ran out of the store, hotly pursued  (=chased closely) by security guards.//


Words: hotplate
Meaning:
n [C]   burner, oven, hotplate, timer//  a metal surface, usually on a cooker, that can be heated so that you can cook a pan of food on it//


Words: hotpot
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1  BrE a mixture of meat, potatoes, and onions, cooked slowly together:    stew//\n  2  AmE a piece of electrical equipment with a small container, used to boil water:


Words: Houdini
Meaning:
Harry   (1874-1926) a US  magician (=an entertainer who performs magic tricks) , who became famous for his great skill at escaping from chains,  handcuffs, and locked containers, even when he was under water//


Words: hound
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: hund]//\n  1 a dog which is fast and has a good sense of smell, used for hunting:\n  2  informal a dog:\nhound 2 v [T] \n  1 to keep following someone and asking them questions in an annoying or threatening way:    harass//  --After the court case Lee was hounded relentlessly by the press.//\n  2  hound sb out (of/from sth):  to make things so unpleasant for someone that they are forced to leave a place, job etc//   drive out//  --The family were hounded out of their home by 18 months of abuse.//


Words: Hound of the Baskervilles
Meaning:
The   (1902) a novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in which the  detective Sherlock  Holmes tries to find out who is responsible for killing two people who seem to have been attacked by a large hunting dog, but who have really been murdered//


Words: hour
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 60 minutes:\n   2 business/work etc:\n   3 (work) long/regular etc hours:\n   4 time of day:\n   5 long time:\n   6 o’clock:\n   7 1300/1530/1805 etc hours:\n   8 by the hour/from hour to hour:\n   9 lunch/dinner hour:\n  10 important time:\n  11 of the hour:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: heure, from  Latin hora, from  Greek]//\n  1 60 MINUTES:   written abbreviation hr //  a unit for measuring time. There are 60 minutes in one hour, and 24 hours in one day.//  --The interview will last about two hours. //  -- I study  for an hour  every night. //  --  I’ll be back  in three hours . //  -- Three hours later he was back.//  --Her bag was stolen  within hours of  her arrival.//  -- You weren’t interested in my story  a half hour  ago. //  --It takes about a  quarter of an hour  to walk into town. //  hour of//  --After four hours of talks, an agreement was reached.//  --The hotel is only  an hour’s drive  from the airport.//  --  a top speed of 120  miles an hour //  --This was freelance work,  paid by the hour . //  --a five- hour delay//\n  2 BUSINESS/WORK ETC:   hours [plural] a fixed period of time in the day when a particular activity, business etc happens//  --hours of business 9.00-5.00//  office/opening hours //  --Please call during office hours.//  working hours/hours of work //  --the advantages of flexible working hours//  visiting hours (=the time when you can visit someone in hospital) //  after hours (=after the time when a business, especially a bar, is supposed to close) //\n  3  (work) long/regular etc hours:  if you work long, regular etc hours, the period that you work is longer than usual, always the same etc//  --the long hours worked by hospital doctors//  --Many hospital staff have to work unsocial hours  (=work in the evenings so that you cannot spend time with family or friends) .//  work all the hours God sends (=work all the time that you can) //\n  4 TIME OF DAY:  a particular period or point of time during the day or night//  in the early/small hours (of the morning) (=between around midnight and two or three o’clock in the morning) //  --There was a knock on the door in the early hours of the morning.//  --Who can be calling at this late hour ? (=used when you are surprised or annoyed by how late at night or early in the morning something is) //  daylight/daytime hours //  --The park is open during daylight hours.//  the hours of darkness/daylight  literary //  --Few people dared to venture out during the hours of darkness.//  unearthly/ungodly hour (=used when you are complaining about how early or late something is) //  --We had to get up at some ungodly hour to catch a plane.//  at all hours/at any hour (of the day or night) (=at any time) //  --If you have a problem, you know you can call at any hour of the day or night.//  --She’s up studying till all hours  (=until unreasonably late at night) .//    waking hours/life/day etc at waking//\n  5 LONG TIME:   [usually plural]  informal a long time or a time that seems long//  --We had to spend hours filling in forms.//  for hours (on end) //  --It’ll keep the children amused for hours on end.//  --a really boring lecture that went on for hours and hours //  --She lay awake for hour after hour  (=for many hours, continuously) .//\n  6 O’CLOCK:  the time of the day when a new hour starts, for example one o’clock, two o’clock etc//  strike/chime the hour (=if a clock strikes the hour, it rings, to show that it is one o’clock, seven o’clock etc) //  (every hour) on the hour (=every hour at six o’clock, seven o’clock etc) //  --There are flights to Boston every hour on the hour.//  10/20 etc minutes before/after the hour  AmE  (=used on national radio or television in order to give the time without saying which hour it is, because the broadcast may be coming from a different time zone) //  --It’s twelve minutes before the hour, and you’re listening to the Morning Edition on NPR.//\n  7  1300/1530/1805 etc hours:  used to give the time in official or military reports and orders//  --The helicopters lifted off at 0600 hours.//\n  8  by the hour/from hour to hour:  if a situation is changing by the hour or from hour to hour, it is changing very quickly and very often//  --This financial crisis is growing more serious by the hour.//\n  9  lunch/dinner hour:  the period in the middle of the day when people stop work for a meal//  --I usually do the crossword in my lunch hour.//\n  10 IMPORTANT TIME:   [usually singular] an important moment or period in history or in your life//  sb’s finest/greatest/darkest hour //  --This was our country’s finest hour.//  sb’s hour of need/glory etc (=a time when someone needs help, is very successful etc) //  --Don’t desert me in my hour of need.//\n  11  of the hour:  important at a particular time, especially the present time//  --one of the burning questions of the hour//  the hero/man of the hour (=someone who does something very brave, is very successful etc at a particular time) //    the eleventh hour at eleventh1 (2),  hourly,  happy hour,  rush hour,  zero hour//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  for an hour/two hours/three hours etc //  in an hour/in an hour’s time  (=when an hour has passed) //  an hour/two hours etc later //  an hour/two hours etc ago/earlier //  within hours (of something) (=only a few hours after something) //  half an hour also  a half hour  American English //  (a) quarter of an hour //  three quarters of an hour //  an hour’s work  (=work that it took you an hour to do) //  an hour’s walk/drive //  miles/kilometres per hour  (=used in speeds) //  [hA124]10/$5.50 etc an hour  (=used to say how much someone is paid or how much you pay to use something) //  pay/charge by the hour  (=pay or charge someone according to the number of hours it takes to do something) //  ----------//


Words: hourglass
Meaning:
n [C]   hourglass, sand//\n  1 a glass container for measuring time in which sand moves slowly from the top half to the bottom in exactly one hour:    egg-timer//\n  2  hourglass figure:  a woman who has an hourglass figure has a narrow waist in comparison with her chest and hips//


Words: hourly
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1 happening or done every hour:  --hourly news broadcasts//  --Buses run at hourly intervals.//\n  2  hourly pay/earnings/fees etc:  the amount you earn or charge for every hour you work//  --They are paid an hourly rate.//  -- hourly adv //  --The database is updated hourly.//


Words: house
Meaning:
n   plural  houses /ha[hA35E]z[hA369]z///  ----------//\n   1 where someone lives:\n   2 building:\n   3 government:\n   4 company:\n   5 theatre:\n   6 in house:\n   7 put/set/get your (own) house in order:\n   8 bring the house down:\n   9 be on the house:\n  10 house wine:\n  11 get on/along like a house on fire:\n  12 set up house:\n  13 keep house:\n  14 school:\n  15 royal family:\n  16 music:\n  17 house of God/worship:\n  18 this house:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: hus]//\n  1 WHERE SOMEONE LIVES:   [C] //  a) a building that someone lives in, especially one that has more than one level and is intended to be used by one family//  --a four bedroom house//  in a house//  --every room in the house//  at sb’s house//  --We met at Alison’s house.//  --Why don’t you all come over to our house for coffee?//  move house  BrE  (=leave your house and go to live in another one) //  b)  the house//  all the people who live in a house//   household//  --He gets up at six and disturbs the whole house.//\n  2 BUILDING:  a)  opera/court/movie etc house//  a large public building used for a particular purpose//  b)  House//   BrE used in the names of large buildings, especially offices//  --the BBC television studios at Broadcasting House//  c)  hen house/coach house/storehouse etc//  a building used for a particular purpose//\n  3 GOVERNMENT:   [C] a group of people who make the laws of a country//  --The President will address both houses of Congress.//  the House of Commons/Lords/Representatives/Assembly //  --the speaker of the house//    Lower House,  Upper House//\n  4 COMPANY:   [C] a company, especially one involved in a particular area of business//  --America’s oldest publishing house //  --a small independent software house //  --an auction house //  --a famous Italian  fashion house //\n  5 THEATRE:   [C] //  a) the part of a theatre, cinema etc where people sit//  → backstage//  --The show has been playing to  full houses .//  --The house was half empty.//  --The house lights went down and the music started.//  b) the people who have come to watch a performance//   audience//  full/packed/empty house (=a large or small audience) //  --The show has been playing to packed houses since it opened.//  --A cheer went round the house (=everyone cheered) .//\n  6  in house:  if you work in house, you work at the offices of a company or organization, not at home//    in-house//\n  7  put/set/get your (own) house in order:  used to say that someone should improve the way they behave before criticizing other people//\n  8  bring the house down:  to make a lot of people laugh, especially when you are acting in a theatre//\n  9  be on the house:  if drinks or meals are on the house, you do not have to pay for them because they are provided free by the owner of the bar, restaurant etc//\n  10  house wine:   also house red/white //  ordinary wine that is provided by a restaurant to be drunk with meals//  --A glass of house red, please.//\n  11  get on/along like a house on fire:   BrE  informal to quickly have a very friendly relationship//\n  12  set up house:  to start to live in a house, especially with another person//  --The two of them set up house in Brighton.//\n  13  keep house:  to regularly do all the cleaning, cooking etc in a house//  --His daughter keeps house for him.//\n  14 SCHOOL:   [C]  BrE in some schools, one of the groups that children of different ages are divided into to compete against each other, for example in sports competitions//\n  15 ROYAL FAMILY:   [C] an important family, especially a royal family//  --the House of Windsor//\n  16 MUSIC:   [U]  house music//\n  17  house of God/worship:   literary a church//\n  18  this house:   formal used to mean the people who are voting in a formal debate when you are stating the proposal that is being discussed//    doll’s house,  eat sb out of house and home at eat(10),  open house,  public house//    (as) safe as houses at safe1 (5)//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: house //  types of house: terraced house (BrE) row house (AmE) one of several houses that are joined together //  detached house (BrE) a house that is not joined to another house //  semi-detached house (BrE) a house that is attached to another house on one side //  cottage a small house in the country //  bungalow (BrE) a small house with one floor //  duplex (AmE) a house that is divided into two separate homes //  apartment also flat (BrE) a set of rooms where someone lives, which is part of a larger building //  condominium/condo (BrE) an apartment in a large building, which is owned by the people who live there //  studio apartment/studio also bedsit (BrE) an apartment with one main room and no separate bedroom //  a very large house: mansion,  palace,  country house (BrE),  stately home (BrE) //  someone who sells houses and land: estate agent (BrE),  real estate agent (AmE),  realtor (AmE) //  someone who rents a house from another person: tenant //  someone who owns a house and rents it to people: landlord,  landlady //  See also:  residence, property, dwelling, abode, lease, lessee//  ----------//\nhouse 2   v [T] \n  1 to provide someone with a place to live:  house in//  --The refugees are being housed in temporary accommodation.//\n  2 if a building, place, or container houses something, it is kept there:  house in//  --The collection is currently housed in the British Museum.//  --the plastic case which houses the batteries//


Words: house arrest
Meaning:
n   be under house arrest//  to be kept as a prisoner by a government, staying inside your house rather than in a prison//


Words: house call
Meaning:
n [C]   a visit that someone, especially a doctor, makes to a person in that person’s home as part of their job//


Words: House of Commons
Meaning:
n   the House of Commons//  the part of the British or Canadian parliament whose members are elected by the people//


Words: House of Lords
Meaning:
n   the House of Lords//  the part of the British parliament whose members are not elected but have positions because of their rank or title//


Words: House of Representatives
Meaning:
n   the House of Representatives//  the larger of the two parts of the US Congress or of the parliament of Australia or New Zealand//    Senate//


Words: House that Jack Built
Meaning:
The   the title of a well-known  nursery rhyme (=an old song or poem for children)  which begins "This is the house that Jack built"//


Words: house-sit past tense and past participle
Meaning:
house-sat present participle  house-sitting  v [I]   to look after someone’s house while they are away//  -- housesitter n  [C] //


Words: house-to-house
Meaning:
adj   house-to-house inquiries/search/collection etc//  inquiries etc that are made by visiting each house in a particular area//    door-to-door//  --The abduction sparked a house-to-house search in the Willenhall area.//


Words: house-trained
Meaning:
adj  BrE   a pet animal that is house-trained has been trained not to make the house dirty with its urine and faeces//  American Equivalent:  housebroken//  -- housetrain v  [T] //


Words: house-warming
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   a party that you give to celebrate moving into a new house//  --Are you coming to Jo’s house-warming on Friday?//  --a house-warming party //


Words: housebreaker
Meaning:
n [C]   a thief who enters someone else’s house by breaking locks, windows etc//   burglar//  -- housebreaking n  [U] //


Words: housebroken
Meaning:
adj  AmE   a pet animal that is housebroken has been trained not to make the house dirty with its urine and faeces//  British Equivalent:  house-trained//


Words: houseful
Meaning:
n   a houseful of sth//  a large number of people or things in your house//  --He grew up in the houseful of women.//


Words: household
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: house +  hold  ’keeping, maintaining’]//  all the people who live together in one house//   house//  --A growing number of households have at least one computer.//  --Families are classified by the occupation of the head of the household  (=the person who earns the most money and is most respected in a house) .//\nhousehold 2 adj [only before noun] \n  1 relating to looking after a house and the people in it:   domestic//  household goods/products/items etc //  --washing powder and other household products//  --household chores//\n  2  be a household name/word:  to be very well known//  --Coca Cola is a household name around the world.//


Words: Household Cavalry
Meaning:
the   a group of British soldiers on horses who are responsible for guarding the Queen or King and the royal  palace. The Household Cavalry consists of two  regiments, the  Life Guards and the  Blues and Royals.//


Words: housekeeper
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who is employed to manage the cleaning, cooking etc in a house or hotel//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not confuse housekeeper and housewife. A housekeeper is someone who is paid by the owners of a house to do cooking and cleaning. A housewife is a woman who looks after her house rather than going out to work. //  ----------//


Words: housekeeping
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the work and organization of things that need to be done in a house, hotel etc, for example cooking and buying food:  --the company in charge of the catering and housekeeping at the college//\n  2  BrE  also housekeeping money :  an amount of money that is kept and used to pay for food and other things needed in the home//\n  3 jobs that need to be done to keep a system working properly:


Words: houseman
Meaning:
n   plural  housemen /-m[hA353]n/ [C]  BrE //  someone who has nearly finished training as a doctor and is working in a hospital//  American Equivalent:  intern//


Words: housemaster
Meaning:
n [C]    especially  BrE a male teacher who is in charge of one of the houses (=groups of children of different ages) in a school//    housemistress//


Words: housemate
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a person who you share a house with but who is not a member of your family//    flatmate//  American Equivalent:  roommate//


Words: housemistress
Meaning:
n [C]    especially  BrE a female teacher who is in charge of one of the houses (=groups of children of different ages) in a school//    housemaster//


Words: houseroom
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE \n  1 space in a house for a person or thing:\n  2  not give sth houseroom:   informal used to emphasize that you do not like something and do not want it//


Words: Houses of Parliament
Meaning:
n   the Houses of Parliament//  the buildings where the British parliament meets, or the parliament itself//    House of Commons, House of Lords//


Words: housewares
Meaning:
n [plural]    AmE small things used in the home, for example plates, lamps etc, or the department of a large shop that sells these things//


Words: housewife
Meaning:
n   plural  housewives /-wa[hA366]vz/ [C] //  a married woman who works at home doing the cooking, cleaning etc, but does not have a job outside the house//   homemaker//    house husband//


Words: housework
Meaning:
n [U]   work that you do to take care of a house, for example washing, cleaning etc//    chore//  do (the) housework //  --I spent all morning doing the housework.//  --I don’t like doing housework.//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’houseworks’. Housework is an uncountable noun. //  ----------//


Words: housing
Meaning:
W2   n \n  1 [U] the houses or conditions that people live in:  --health problems caused by bad housing//  --a scheme to provide affordable housing for local people//\n  2 [U] the work of providing houses for people to live in:  --government housing policy//  --public services such as education, housing and transport//\n  3 [C] a protective cover for a machine:  --the engine housing//


Words: housing association
Meaning:
n [C]   an organization in Britain, formed by a group of people working together to build or buy homes for themselves//


Words: housing estate
Meaning:
BrE housing development  AmE n [C]   a large number of houses that have been built together in a planned way//    council house//


Words: housing project
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a group of houses or apartments, usually built with government money, for poor families//


Words: Houston
Meaning:
1 a city and port in the US state of Texas, where the US government space centre,  NASA, is based:\n  2  Houston, we have a problem:  the words that one of the  astronauts on the unsuccessful Apollo 13 space  mission, in order to say that he thought something was going wrong with the mission. People often use these words in a humorous way in other situations.//\n Sam   (1793-1863) a US soldier and politician who fought to make Texas independent from Mexico. He was president of the Republic of Texas from 1836 until it became a state of the US in 1845. The city of Houston in Texas was named after him.//


Words: HOV lane
Meaning:
n [C]   high-occupancy vehicle lane a lane on main roads that can only be used by vehicles carrying three or more passengers when there is a lot of traffic//


Words: hovel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  Low German]//  a small dirty place where someone lives, especially a very poor person//


Words: hover
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: hove  ’to float in the air or on water’ (13-17 centuries)]//\n  1 if a bird, insect, or helicopter hovers, it stays in one place in the air:  hover over/above//  --flies hovering above the surface of the water//\n  2 to stay nervously in the same place, especially because you are waiting for something or are not certain what to do:  --Her younger brother hovered in the background watching us.//  hover around/about//  --I noticed several reporters hovering around outside the courtroom.//\n  3 [always + adverb/preposition] if a level, price etc hovers around a certain amount, it stays close to that amount, only changing slightly up or down:  hover around/between etc//  --The dollar has been hovering around the 110 yen level.//


Words: hovercraft
Meaning:
n   plural  hovercraft  or  hovercrafts  [C] //  a vehicle that travels just above the surface of land or water, travelling on a strong current of air that the engines produce beneath it//    hydrofoil//


Words: how
Meaning:
adv, conj   [Language: Old English; Origin: hu]//\n  1 used to ask or talk about the way in which something happens or is done:  --How do you spell your name?//  --How can I help you?//  --I’d like to help in some way, but I’m not sure how.//  --He explained how the system worked.//  --We both used to work at the airport - that’s how we met.//  how to do sth//  --I don’t know how to get to your house.//  --Alan showed me how to load the gun.//  --advice on how best  (=the best way) to invest your money//  --They had a number of suggestions as to how the service could be improved.//  --This still leaves the question of how local services should be funded.//  how on earth/in the world etc (=used for emphasis when you are surprised, angry etc) //  --How on earth did you find out?//\n  2 used to ask or talk about the amount, size, degree etc of something:  --How big is the state of Louisiana?//  --How many kids do they have now?//  --How long have you been learning English?//  --Do you know how old it is?//  --They couldn’t tell exactly how far away the bridge was.//  --She wondered how much Angela already knew.//  how much? (=used to ask the price of something) //  --How much are the tickets?//  --Can you tell me how much the repairs will cost?//\n  3  spoken :  a) used to ask about someone’s health, especially when you meet them//  --’Hi Laurie, how are you?’ ’Fine, thanks. How are you?’//  --Has Ros had the baby yet? How is she?//  --’How’s your ankle this morning?’ ’Better, thanks.’//  b) used when you meet someone to ask for news about their life, work etc//  --So how’s it going at work these days? Still enjoying it?//  --’ How are things with you?’ ’Fine.’//  -- How are you doing ?//\n  4 used to ask someone about their opinion or experience of something:  --How was the film?//  --’How’s your steak?’ ’Mmm, it’s good.’//  --How did your exams go?//  --How do you feel about seeing Peter again?//  --How’s that? Does that feel comfortable?//\n  5 used after certain adjectives or verbs to refer to an event or situation:  --It’s amazing how they’ve managed to get everything finished so quickly.//  --I remember how she always used to have fresh flowers in the house.//\n  6 [+ adjective/adverb] used to emphasize the quality you are mentioning:  --How lovely to see you!//  --’John’s been in an accident.’ ’Oh, how awful!’//  --I didn’t realize how difficult it was to get tickets.//  --He was impressed at how well she could read.//\n  7  old-fashioned  or  written used to say that something happens to a very great degree:  --How the crowd loved it!//\n  8  spoken  how about...?:  a) used to make a suggestion about what to do//   what about//  --No, I’m busy on Monday. How about Tuesday at seven?//  how about doing sth//  --How about putting the sofa closer to the window?//  --How about we have that game when we get back?//  --How about if we tell the police where Newley is hiding?//  how’s about  AmE //  --How’s about going to the beach this afternoon?//  b) used to ask about another person or thing//  --’Mary and Ken are still away.’ ’And how about Billy?’//  --I need a long cold drink. How about you?//\n  9  spoken  how do you mean?:  used to ask someone to explain something they have just said//  --’What’s your family situation?’ ’How do you mean?’ ’Are you married?’//\n  10  spoken  how come?:   informal used to ask why something has happened or why a particular situation exists, especially when you are surprised by it//  --How come Dave’s home? Isn’t he feeling well?//\n  11  spoken  how do you do?:   formal used as a polite greeting when you meet someone for the first time//\n  12  spoken  how can/could sb do sth?:  used when you are very surprised by something or disapprove strongly of something//  --William! How can you say such a thing?//  --How could anyone be so cruel?//\n  13  spoken  how you like/want:   BrE  informal in whatever way you like or want//  --Then you can arrange it how you like.//\n  14  spoken  how about that!/how do you like that!:  used when you think something is surprising, rude, impressive etc//  --He scored two goals! How about that!//\n  15  spoken  how’s that for sth?:  used to say that you think something is very impressive//  --I’ve already arranged everything. How’s that for efficiency?//\n  16  spoken  how ... is that?:   informal //  a) used to say that an action or event has a particular quality to a great degree//  --He sent himself a card for Valentine’s Day. How sad is that?//  b) used to say that an action or event does not have a particular quality//  --They say they’re not going to leave, but how likely is that?//\n  17  spoken  how so?:  used to ask someone to explain an opinion they have given//  --’Rick’s parents are a little strange, I think.’ ’How so?’//\n  18  spoken  how about if...?:   informal used to mention something that may happen, and ask what should be done if it does happen//  --How about if we quit now?//\n  19  spoken  and how!:   old-fashioned used to say ’yes’ strongly in reply to a question//  --’Was Matt drunk?’ ’And how!’//    how dare you at dare1 (2)//


Words: Howard League for Penal Reform
Meaning:
the   a British organization which is against physical punishment and the death sentence, and wants change in international attitudes to punishment and imprisonment//


Words: however
Meaning:
W1S2   adv \n  1 used when you are adding a fact or piece of information that seems surprising, or seems very different from what you have just said:   nevertheless//  --This is a cheap and simple process. However there are dangers.//  --an extremely unpleasant disease which is, however, easy to treat//\n  2 used to say that it does not matter how big, good, serious etc something is because it will not change a situation in any way:   no matter how//  --You should report any incident, however serious or minor it is.//  --We’ll have to finish the job, however long it takes.//  however much/many //  --I really want the car, however much it costs.//\n  3  especially BrE used to show surprise when you ask how something happens or how someone does something:  --However did he get that job?//\nhowever 2 conj   in whatever way//  --You can do it however you like.//  --If we win the match we’ll be delighted, however it happens.//  --However you look at it, it was a wicked thing to do.//


Words: howitzer
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Dutch; Origin: houwitser, from  Czech houfnice  ’weapon for throwing large rocks’]//  a heavy gun that fires shells high into the air//


Words: howl
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [I] if a dog, wolf, or other animal howls, it makes a long loud sound:    bark//  --The dogs howled all night.//\n  2 [I] to make a long loud cry because you are unhappy, angry, or in pain, or because you are amused or excited:  --Upstairs, one of the twins began to howl (=cry) .//  howl in/with//  --Somewhere, someone was howling in pain.//  --He makes audiences howl with laughter .//\n  3 [I and T] to shout or demand something angrily:  howl for//  --Republicans have been howling for military intervention.//\n  4 [I] if the wind howls, it makes a loud high sound as it blows:  --wind howling in the trees//  howl down [howl sb/sth → down] phr v//  to prevent someone or something from being heard by shouting loudly and angrily//   shout down//\nhowl 2 n [C] \n  1 a long loud sound made by a dog, wolf, or other animal:    bark//\n  2 a loud cry or shout showing pain, anger, happiness:  howl of//  --He let out a howl of anguish.//  --There were howls of protest.//  --This suggestion was greeted with howls of laughter .//\n  3 a loud high sound made by the wind blowing:


Words: howling
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   be a howling success//  something that is a howling success is extremely successful//


Words: HP sauce
Meaning:
trademark   a type of thick, dark brown liquid made of vegetables, fruit, and  spices, which is sold in a tall, thin bottle, and poured over food, especially fried food such as eggs and  sausages. It is popular in the UK.//


Words: HRT
Meaning:
n [U]   hormone replacement therapy treatment for women during and after the menopause, in which they are given hormones to replace those which are lacking//


Words: HTML
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   hypertext markup language a computer language used for producing pages of writing and pictures that can be put on the Internet//  --HTML documents//


Words: http
Meaning:
technical   hypertext transfer protocol a set of standards that control how computer documents that are written in HTML connect to each other//


Words: HUAC
Meaning:
the   the House Un-American Activities Committee a group in the US  House of Representatives which tried to find out whether US citizens were enemies of the government. It was especially active during the early 1950s as a result of  McCarthyism. At this time, the Committee judged many cases involving politicians, military officers, and other well-known people who were believed to be  Communists. It stopped operating in 1975.//


Words: hub
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from   HOB1]//\n  1 the central and most important part of an area, system, activity etc, which all the other parts are connected to:   centre//  hub of//  --Birmingham is at the hub of Britain’s motorway network.//  --the commercial hub of the region//\n  2 the central part of a wheel to which the axle is joined:


Words: Hubbard
Meaning:
L Ron   (1911-86) a US writer who started a new religion called the Church of  Scientology. He also wrote many  science fiction books.//


Words: Hubble Telescope
Meaning:
the   a very powerful  telescope (=a piece of equipment for making distant objects look larger and closer)  which is attached to a  satellite in space, going around the Earth, and can see much further into space than telescopes on Earth//


Words: hubbub
Meaning:
n [singular, U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from a  Celtic language]//\n  1 a mixture of loud noises, especially the noise of a lot of people talking at the same time:\n  2 a situation in which there is a lot of activity, excitement, or argument:    commotion//


Words: huckleberry
Meaning:
n   plural  huckleberries  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from  hurtleberry type of berry  (15-20 centuries), from  Old English horte type of berry]//  a small dark-blue North American fruit that grows on a bush//


Words: huckster
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: hokester, from  hoeken  ’to go around selling things’]//   AmE someone who tries to sell things in a way that is too forceful and not honest - used to show disapproval//  -- hucksterism n  [U] //


Words: HUD
Meaning:
Housing and Urban Development a US government department which is responsible for providing houses for people to live in, and for the way cities are developed //


Words: huddle
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from  Low German hudeln  ’to crowd together’]//\n  1 [I and T]  also huddle together/up :  if a group of people huddle together, they stay very close to each other, especially because they are cold or frightened//  --We lay huddled together for warmth.//  huddle around//  --People huddled around the radio, waiting for news.//\n  2 [I always + adverb/preposition] to lie or sit with your arms and legs close to your body because you are cold or frightened:  --She huddled under the blankets.//  --The snow blew against his huddled body.//\n  3 [I]  AmE to sit or stand with a small group of people in order to discuss something privately:  --The executive board huddled to discuss the issue.//\n  4 [I] if American football players huddle, they gather around one player who tells them the plan for the next part of the game:\nhuddle 2 n [C] \n  1 a group of people or things that are close together, but not arranged in any particular order, pattern, or system:  huddle of//  --a huddle of straw huts//  --Huddles of men stood around talking.//\n  2 a group of players in American football who gather around one player who tells them the plan for the next part of the game:\n  3  get/go into a huddle:  to form a small group away from other people in order to discuss something//


Words: Huddleston
Meaning:
Trevor, Bishop   (1913-98), a British priest who became famous for trying to end apartheid in South Africa. He worked in South Africa from 1943 until 1956.//


Words: Hudson River
Meaning:
the Hudson River//  a river in New York State in the US, which meets the Atlantic Ocean in New York City//


Words: Hudson River School
Meaning:
the   a group of US painters between 1820 and 1880, who painted  landscapes (=paintings of areas of countryside)  in a  romantic style//


Words: Hudson’s Bay Company
Meaning:
a British company, established in 1670, which exchanged goods for furs with the Native Americans and once owned large areas of land in Canada//


Words: hue
Meaning:
n [C]  literary   [Language: Old English; Origin: hiw]//\n  1 a colour or type of colour:    tint, shade//  --a golden hue//\n  2 a type of opinion, belief etc:  of every hue/of all hues (=of many kinds) //  --political opinions of every hue//


Words: hue and cry
Meaning:
n [singular]  written   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  hue from  Old French, from  huer  ’to shout’]//  angry protests about something, usually from a group of people//


Words: huff
Meaning:
v  informal   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1  huff and puff:  a) to breathe out in a noisy way, especially when you do something that involves a lot of physical effort//  --He was huffing and puffing by the time he got to the top.//  b) to show clearly that you strongly disagree with or are annoyed about something//  --After a lot of huffing and puffing, he eventually gave in to our request.//\n  2 [T] to say something in a way that shows you are annoyed, often because someone has offended you:  --’I haven’t got time for that now,’ huffed Sam irritably.//\nhuff 2 n   in a huff//  feeling angry or bad-tempered, especially because someone has offended you//  go off/walk off/leave etc in a huff //  --She stormed out in a huff.//


Words: huffy
Meaning:
adj  informal   in a bad  mood (=the way that you feel) , especially because someone has offended you//  --Some customers get huffy when you ask them for their ID.//  -- huffily adv //


Words: hug
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  hugged present participle  hugging  [T] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from a  Scandinavian language]//\n  1 to put your arms around someone and hold them tightly to show love or friendship:   embrace//  --We stood there crying and hugging each other.//  --She went to her daughter and hugged her tightly .//\n  2 to put your arms around yourself:  hug your knees/arms/legs etc //  --Sarah sat on the floor, hugging her knees.//  hug yourself//  --She stood close to the wall, hugging herself against the cold.//\n  3 to move along the side, edge, top etc of something, staying very close to it:  --The small boats hugged the coast.//\n  4 if clothes hug your body, they fit closely:    close-fitting//  body-/figure-hugging //  --a figure-hugging dress//\n  5 to hold something in your arms close to your chest:  --He was hugging a big pile of books.//\n  6  hug yourself with joy/delight etc:   BrE to feel very pleased with yourself//  --Kate hugged herself with pleasure after receiving the award.//\nhug 2 n [C]   the action of putting your arms around someone and holding them tightly to show love or friendship//  --Paul gave me a big hug .//  --Nesta greeted the visitors with hugs and kisses.//    bear hug//


Words: huge
Meaning:
adj   huge, tiny//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: ahuge]//\n  1 extremely large in size, amount, or degree:   enormous//  --a huge dog//  --huge crowds//  --Your room’s huge compared to mine.//  --These shoes make my feet look huge.//  a huge amount/sum/quantity etc //  --huge sums of money//  --the huge scale of the problem//  a huge loss/profit/increase etc //  --a huge increase in cost//  a huge range/variety/selection etc //  --a huge range of issues//  a huge success/disappointment etc //  --The play was a huge success.//  a huge difference/gap etc //  --The new system has made a huge difference.//\n  2  informal very popular or famous:  --David Hasselhoff is huge in Germany.//  -- hugely adv //  --hugely successful//  -- hugeness n  [U] //


Words: Huggies
Meaning:
trademark   a type of  nappy for babies, which is thrown away after being used, sold in the US and the UK//


Words: Hughes
Meaning:
Howard   (1905-76) a US businessman, aircraft designer, pilot, and film  producer, famous for being very rich but also for being very unwilling to spend money. He was a  recluse (=someone who lives on their own and does not want to see other people)  for the last 26 years of his life.//\n Langston   (1902-67) a black US poet and writer, known for using African-American language and patterns of speech in his work//\n Ted   (1930-98) a British poet who wrote especially about the cruelty of animals and nature. He was married to the US poet Sylvia  Plath. He became  poet laureate (=the Queen’s official poet)  in 1984.//


Words: Hugo
Meaning:
Victor   (1802-85) a French writer of poems, plays, and novels. Two of his most famous novels are  The Hunchback of Notre Dame and  Les Miserables//


Words: huh
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  A natural sound]//\n  1 used to show that you have not heard or understood a question:  --’Carly, are you listening to me?’ ’Huh?’//\n  2  especially  AmE used at the end of a question, often to ask for agreement:  --Not a bad little place, huh?//\n  3 used to show disagreement or surprise, or to show that you do not find something impressive:  --’She looks nice.’ ’Huh! Too much make-up, if you ask me.’//


Words: hula
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Hawaiian]//  a Polynesian dance done by women using gentle movements of the hips//


Words: hulk
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: holcas, from  Greek, from  helkein  ’to pull’]//\n  1 a large heavy person or thing:  --a hulk of a man//\n  2 the main part of an old ship, vehicle etc that has decayed or been destroyed:


Words: hulking
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   very big and often awkward//  --Two hulking figures guarded the entrance of the club.//


Words: hull
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: hulu]//\n  1 the main part of a ship that goes in the water:  wooden-hulled/steel-hulled etc (=having a wood, steel etc hull) //\n  2 the outer covering of seeds, rice, grain etc:\nhull 2 v [T]   to take off the outer part of vegetables, rice, grain etc//


Words: hullabaloo
Meaning:
n [singular]  informal   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  hello +  Scottish English balloo a word used to make children keep quiet]//\n  1 excited talk, newspaper stories etc, especially when something surprising or shocking is happening:   fuss//  --There was a huge hullabaloo when the book was first published.//\n  2 a lot of noise, especially made by people shouting:   commotion//  --She looked up to see what all the hullabaloo was about.//


Words: hum
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  hummed present participle  humming //  [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [I and T] to sing a tune by making a continuous sound with your lips closed:  hum to yourself//  --Tony was humming to himself as he drove along.//  --He began to hum a tune.//\n  2 [I] to make a low continuous sound:  --Machines hummed on the factory floor.//\n  3 [I ] if a place hums, it is full of activity - use this to show approval:    busy//  --By nine o’clock, the restaurant was humming.//  hum with//  --The streets were humming with life.//\n  4  hum and haw:   BrE to take a long time deciding what to say or do//    hesitate//  American Equivalent:  hem and haw//\nhum 2 n [singular] \n  1 a low continuous sound:  hum of//  --the distant hum of traffic//\n  2  hum of excitement/approval etc:  the sound of people talking because they are excited etc//


Words: human
Meaning:
W1   adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: humain, from  Latin humanus]//\n  1 belonging to or relating to people, especially as opposed to machines or animals:  -- There are many different cell types in  the human body  .//  --the power of  the human mind //  --The desire for joy lies deep within  the human spirit .//  -- Infra-red light is invisible to  the human eye . //  --theories of  human behaviour  //  --different areas of  human experience //  --respect for the absolute value of  human life //  --The accident was the result of human error .//  --The meat was declared unfit for human consumption .//\n  2 human weaknesses, emotions etc are those which are typical of people:  --He was also a person with very obvious human failings.//\n  3  sb is only human:  used to say that someone should not be blamed for what they have done//\n  4 having the same feelings and emotions as ordinary people:  --He’s really not so bad. When you get to know him he seems quite human.//\n  5  a/the human touch:  someone, especially someone in authority, who has the human touch deals with people in a kind friendly way and is able to understand their feelings and problems//  --The President has been accused of lacking the human touch.//\n  6  human interest:  a quality that makes a story interesting because it is about people’s feelings, lives, relationships etc//  --As a trainee reporter, she covered human interest stories.//\n  7  the human condition:  the experiences, emotions, needs etc that all people share, especially considered as a situation from which it is impossible to escape//\n  8  human chain:  a line of people//  --Firefighters formed a human chain to carry the brothers to safety.//\n  9  put a human face on sth:   also give sth a human face //  to make an important event or principle understandable to ordinary people by directing their attention to the way it affects a particular person//  --Anne Frank was the girl whose diary put a human face on the Holocaust.//\n  10  capitalism/communism/socialism etc with a human face:  a capitalist etc economic and political system that does not ignore people’s needs//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  the human body //  the human brain/mind //  the human spirit //  the human eye  (=used especially when talking about how difficult something is to see) //  human behaviour/activity/relationships //  human experience //  human life //  human society //  human error //  for human consumption (=to be eaten by people) //  ----------//\nhuman 2 W3  also human being  n [C]   a person//


Words: Human Genome Project
Meaning:
the   an international scientific project that started in 1988. Its aim was to find and describe every  gene in every  chromosome in the human body, and to find out what each gene’s purpose is, especially in order to discover which ones cause particular diseases.//


Words: human nature
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the qualities or ways of behaving that are natural and common to most people:\n  2  it’s (only/just) human nature:   spoken used to say that a particular feeling or way of behaving is normal and natural//


Words: human right
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   one of the basic rights which many societies think every person should have to be treated in a fair equal way without cruelty, for example by their government, or the right to vote//  --human rights violations//


Words: human shield
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who is taken and kept as a prisoner by a criminal in order to protect the criminal from being killed, injured, or caught//


Words: humane
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: human]//  treating people or animals in a way that is not cruel and causes them as little suffering as possible//  → inhumane//  --the campaign for the humane treatment of criminals//  --a better, more humane world//  -- humanely adv //


Words: Humane Society
Meaning:
the   a US organization that takes care of unwanted pets, especially ones that were treated cruelly, and tries to find them new homes. It also encourages people to treat animals better.//


Words: humanism
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the belief that human problems can by solved through science rather than religion:\n  2  Humanism:  the study during the Renaissance of the ideas of the ancient Greeks and Romans//  -- humanist n  [C] //  -- humanistic/hju[hA359]m[hA353]n[hA366]st[hA366]k[hA36B]/ adj //


Words: humanitarian
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   concerned with improving bad living conditions and preventing unfair treatment of people//  humanitarian aid/assistance/relief //  --Humanitarian aid is being sent to the refugees.//  humanitarian grounds/reasons/purposes //  --He was released from prison on humanitarian grounds.//  -- humanitarian n  [C] //  -- humanitarianism n  [U] //


Words: humanity
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] people in general:  --We want a clean healthy environment for all humanity .//  --crimes against humanity//\n  2 [U] kindness, respect, and sympathy towards others:  → inhumanity//  --a man of deep humanity//\n  3 [U] the state of being human rather than an animal or machine:  common/shared humanity //  --We must never forget our common humanity.//\n  4  (the) humanities [plural] subjects of study such as literature, history, or art, rather than science or mathematics:   (the) arts//


Words: humanize
Meaning:
also  humanise BrE   v [T]   to make a place or system more pleasant or more suitable for people//  --an attempt to humanize prison conditions//


Words: humanly
Meaning:
adv   humanly possible//  a) used to emphasize that something is possible//  --She wanted to put as much distance as was humanly possible between herself and Adrian.//  b) used to emphasize that someone did all they could//  --The doctors did everything humanly possible to save the child’s life.//


Words: humanoid
Meaning:
adj   having a human shape and qualities//  --The robot was humanoid in appearance.//  -- humanoid n  [C] //


Words: humble
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin humilis  ’low, humble’, from  humus  ’earth’]//\n  1 not considering yourself or your ideas to be as important as other people’s:  → proud//    humility//  --a modest and humble man//\n  2 having a low social class or position:  --He started his career as a humble peanut farmer.//  humble background/origins etc //  --Iacocca rose from humble beginnings to become boss of Ford.//\n  3  in my humble opinion:   spoken used humorously to give your opinion about something//\n  4  my humble apologies:   BrE  spoken used humorously to say you are sorry//\n  5 [only before noun] simple and ordinary, but useful or effective:  -- The humble potato may be the key to feeding the world’s population.//\n  6  eat humble pie:  to admit that you were wrong about something//\n  7  your humble servant:   BrE  old use a formal way of ending a letter//\n  8  sb’s humble abode:  someone’s house or apartment - used humorously//  --Welcome to our humble abode.//  -- humbly adv //\nhumble 2 v \n  1  be humbled:  if you are humbled, you realize that you are not as important, good, kind etc as you thought you were//  --You can’t help but be humbled when you enter this cathedral.//\n  2 [T] to easily defeat someone who is much stronger than you are:  --The mighty U.S. army was humbled by a small South East Asian country.//\n  3  humble yourself:  to show that you are not too proud to ask for something, admit you are wrong etc//  --I knew he had humbled himself to ask for my help.//  -- humbling adj //  --a humbling experience //


Words: humbug
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] insincere or dishonest words or behaviour:  --He dismissed the Prime Minister’s comments as ’pure humbug’.//\n  2 [C]  BrE a hard sweet made from boiled sugar, usually with a peppermint taste:\n  3 [C]  old-fashioned someone who behaves in a dishonest or insincere way, for example by pretending to be someone they are not:   imposter//


Words: humdinger
Meaning:
n   a humdinger//   informal a very exciting or impressive game, performance, or event//  --a real humdinger of a match//


Words: humdrum
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: hum]//  boring and ordinary, and having no variety or interest//   tedious//  humdrum existence/job/life etc //  --the prisoners’ humdrum routine//


Words: Hume
Meaning:
David   (1711-76) a Scottish writer on  philosophy and history. His most famous works are  A Treatise of Human Nature  and History of England. He believed in  empiricism, the idea that human knowledge comes only from what we see and feel, and his ideas had great influence on European philosophy.//\n John   (1939-) a politician from Northern Ireland, who was the leader of the SDLP (=Social Democratic Labour Party) from 1979 to 2001. John Hume has been active in trying to bring an end to violence in Northern Ireland, and trying to start peace talks between Catholics and Protestants. In 1998 he shared the Nobel Prize for peace with David Trimble. //


Words: humerus
Meaning:
n   plural  humeri /-ra[hA366]/ [C]  technical //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin,  ’upper arm, shoulder’]//  the bone between your shoulder and elbow//


Words: humid
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: humidus, from  humere  ’to be slightly wet’]//  if the weather is humid, you feel uncomfortable because the air is very wet and usually hot//  --Tokyo is extremely humid in mid-summer.//  humid air/climate/atmosphere etc //   see usage note  damp1 //  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Humid, moist,  or damp? //  ----------//


Words: humidify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  humidified present participle  humidifying third person singular  humidifies  [T] //  to add very small drops of water to the air in a room etc because the air is too dry//


Words: humidity
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the amount of water contained in the air:  --The room is kept at 72 degrees and 50% relative humidity.//\n  2 when the air is very warm and wet:  --a day of hot sunshine and humidity//


Words: humiliate
Meaning:
v [T]   to make someone feel ashamed or stupid, especially when other people are present//   embarrass//  --Her boss humiliated her in front of all her colleagues.//  -- humiliated adj //  --I’ve never felt so humiliated in all my life.//


Words: humiliating
Meaning:
adj   making you feel ashamed, embarrassed, and angry because you have been made to look weak or stupid//   embarrassing//  --a humiliating defeat //  -- humiliatingly adv //


Words: humiliation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] a feeling of shame and great embarrassment, because you have been made to look stupid or weak:  --the humiliation of having to ask her parents for money//\n  2 [C] a situation that makes you feel humiliated:  --The government suffered a series of political humiliations.//


Words: humility
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: French; Origin: humilite, from  Latin humilitas, from  humilis;   HUMBLE1]//  the quality of not being too proud about yourself - use this to show approval//   modesty//    humble//


Words: hummus
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Turkish; Origin: humus, from  hummus  ’chickpea’, from  Arabic]//  another spelling of humus//


Words: humongous
Meaning:
also  humungous BrE   adj  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from  huge +  tremendous]//  very big//   enormous//  --rich people living in humongous houses//


Words: humorous
Meaning:
adj   funny and enjoyable//  --humorous stories//  --The film has some mildly humorous moments.//  -- humorously adv //


Words: humour
Meaning:
BrE  humor AmE   n [U] \n  1 the ability or tendency to think that things are funny, or funny things you say that show you have this ability:  --his humour and charm//  --Greg’s feeble attempt at humour//  --English humour //  --It’s vital to have a  sense of humor  in this job.//  -- The host puts the contestants at ease with his own  brand of humour . //  --He showed  flashes of humor  that delighted the audience.//\n  2 the quality in something that makes it funny and makes people laugh:  --He failed to see the humour of the situation.//\n  3  in a good/an ill/a bad humour:   formal in a good or bad mood//  --He was in a good humour this morning.//    good humour//\n  4  out of humour:   BrE  old-fashioned in a bad mood//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  sense of humour //  somebody’s brand of humour //  black humour  (=jokes, funny stories etc about the unpleasant parts of life) //  schoolboy humour  (=jokes, funny stories etc that are silly and rude but not offensive) //  dry/deadpan humour (=when someone pretends to be serious when they are really joking) //  wry humour (=when someone jokes about something bad or difficult) //  a flash/trace/touch of humour (=a small amount of humour) //  ----------//\nhumour 2  BrE  humor AmE v [T]   to do what someone wants or to pretend to agree with them so that they do not become upset//  --’Of course,’ he said, humouring her.//


Words: humourless
Meaning:
BrE  humorless AmE   adj   too serious and not able to laugh at things that other people think are funny//  -- humourlessly adv //


Words: hump
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Perhaps from  Dutch homp or  Low German humpe]//\n  1 [C] a large round shape that rises above the surface of something:  --the hump of a hill//\n  2  speed/traffic humps:   BrE a series of humps in the road, designed to make traffic slow down//  hump//\n  3 [C] a raised part on the back of a camel:\n  4 [C] a raised part on someone’s back that is caused by an unusually curved spine:    hunchback//\n  5  be over the hump:  to have finished the most difficult part of something//\n  6  give sb the hump/get the hump:   BrE  spoken to make someone feel angry or upset, or to feel angry or upset//\nhump 2 v  informal \n  1 [T]  BrE to carry something heavy from one place to another with difficulty:   heave, lug//    drag//  hump sth down/along/across etc//  --I managed to hump the suitcases upstairs.//\n  2 [I and T]  not polite to have sex with someone:


Words: humph
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  A natural sound]//  used to show that you do not believe something or do not approve of something//


Words: Humpty Dumpty
Meaning:
a character in a  nursery rhyme (=an old song or poem for young children)  and in the book  Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis  Carroll, who is like a large egg in shape. The rhyme goes: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,/Humpty Dumpty had a great fall./All the King’s horses and all the King’s men/Couldn’t put Humpty together again.//\nhumus 1  hummus/hu[hA359]m[hA353]s, h[hA35E]-/ n [U]   a Greek food made from a soft mixture of chickpeas, oil, and garlic//\nhumus 2   n [U]   soil made of decayed plants, leaves etc which is good for growing plants//    compost//


Words: hunch
Meaning:
n [C]   if you have a hunch that something is true or will happen, you feel that it is true or will happen//    suspicion//  have a hunch (that)//  --I had a hunch that something like this would happen.//  sb’s hunch//  --My hunch is that she’s his mother.//\nhunch 2 v \n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition] to bend down and forwards so that your back forms a curve:  hunch over//  --He had to hunch over the steering wheel to see anything.//\n  2  hunch your shoulders:  to raise your shoulders into a rounded shape because you are cold, anxious etc//  -- hunched adj //  --a hunched figure sitting by the fire//


Words: hunchback
Meaning:
n [C]  not polite   an offensive word for someone who has a large raised part on their back because their spine curves in an unusual way//


Words: Hunchback of Notre Dame
Meaning:
The   (1831) a novel by Victor  Hugo about a kind but ugly  hunchback (=someone whose back has a large raised part on it)  called  Quasimodo, who rings bells in the  cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris in the 15th century. He secretly loves a beautiful woman called Esmeralda, and when she is wrongly punished for being a murderer, he tries to save her.//


Words: hundred
Meaning:
number, n   plural  hundred  or  hundreds //  [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 the number 100:  --The tree was probably a hundred years old.//  two/three/four etc hundred //  --I make nine hundred dollars a week.//  --a journey of 15 hundred miles//  hundreds of people/years/pounds etc //  --Hundreds of people were reported killed or wounded.//\n  2 a very large number of things or people:  a hundred//  --They’ve had this argument a hundred times before.//  hundreds of sth//  --He’s had hundreds of girlfriends.//\n  3  a/one hundred percent:   spoken //  a) completely//  --I’m not a hundred percent sure where she lives.//  b)  BrE completely well//  --I’m still not really feeling a hundred per cent.//\n  4  give a hundred percent:   also give a hundred and ten percent //  to do everything you can in order to achieve something//  --Everyone on the team gave a hundred percent.//\n  5 [C] a piece of paper money that is worth 100 dollars or 100 pounds:  --Can you change a hundred for five twenties?//  -- hundredth adj //  --her hundredth birthday//  -- hundredth n  [C] //


Words: Hundred Years War
Meaning:
the   a series of wars between England and France from 1337-1453, when the English kings tried to keep control of land which they ruled in France. The French finally won, and forced the English to leave France. //


Words: hundredweight
Meaning:
n   plural  hundredweight  [C]  written abbreviation cwt //  a unit for measuring weight, equal to 112 pounds or 50.8 kilograms in Britain, and 100 pounds or 45.3 kilograms in the US//


Words: hung parliament
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a parliament in which no political party has more elected representatives than the others added together//


Words: hung-up
Meaning:
be hung-up about/on sth//   informal to be thinking or worrying too much about someone or something//    hang-up//


Words: Hungary
Meaning:
a country in central Europe, east of Austria and west of Romania. Population: 10,106,000 (2001). Capital: Budapest. From 1945 to 1989, Hungary was one of the Communist countries of Eastern Europe. The people of Hungary are sometimes called magyars.//  -- Hungarian n  adj //


Words: hunger
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: hungor]//\n  1 [U] lack of food, especially for a long period of time, that can cause illness or death:   starvation//  die of/from hunger //  --Thousands of people are dying from hunger every day.//\n  2 [U] the feeling that you need to eat:    thirst//  --Try to satisfy your hunger by eating some fruit.//  hunger pangs (=sudden feelings of being hungry) //\n  3 [singular, U] a strong need or desire for something:  hunger for//  --her hunger for knowledge//  --a hunger for success//\nhunger 2 v   hunger for/after [hunger for/after sth] phr v//   literary to want something very much//  --The nation was hungering for change.//


Words: hunger strike
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a situation in which someone refuses to eat for a long time in order to protest about something//  --300 students occupied the building and over 50 went on hunger strike .//  -- hunger striker n  [C] //


Words: hungover
Meaning:
adj   if someone is hungover, they feel ill because they drank too much alcohol the previous evening//    hangover//


Words: hungrily
Meaning:
adv \n  1 in a way that shows you want to eat something very much:    greedily//  --She hungrily ate a slice of bread.//\n  2  literary in a way that shows you want something very much:  --He hungrily kissed her mouth.//


Words: hungry
Meaning:
S3   adj   comparative  hungrier superlative  hungriest //\n  1 wanting to eat something:    thirsty//  --I was cold, tired and hungry.//  --If you get hungry , there’s some cold chicken in the fridge.//  --Do you still feel hungry?//\n  2 ill or weak as a result of not having enough to eat for a long time:  --We can’t justify wasting food when half the world is hungry.//\n  3  go hungry:  to not have enough to eat//  --Thousands of families go hungry every day.//\n  4 wanting or needing something very much:   eager//  hungry for//  --She is hungry for success.//  hungry to do sth//  --Stan was hungry to learn.//\n  5  the hungry:  people who do not have enough food to eat//\n  6  power-hungry/news-hungry etc:  wanting power, news etc very much//  --a power-hungry politician//


Words: hunk
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Flemish; Origin: hunke]//\n  1 a thick piece of something, especially food, that has been taken from a bigger piece:  hunk of//  --a hunk of bread//\n  2  informal a sexually attractive man with a big strong body:


Words: hunker
Meaning:
v   hunker down phr v//  [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from a  Scandinavian language]//\n  1 to bend your knees so that you are sitting on your heels very close to the ground:   squat//\n  2 to make yourself comfortable in a safe place, especially for a long time:\n  3  informal to prepare yourself for a difficult situation:


Words: hunky-dory
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: hunky  ’fine’ (19-20 centuries) (from  hunk  ’safe, fine’ (1800-1900), from  hunk  ’goal, home (in a game)’ (1800-1900), from  Dutch honk) +  dory (of unknown origin)]//   informal if a situation is hunky-dory, everyone feels happy and there are no problems//   OK//


Words: Hunt
Meaning:
William Holman   (1827-1910) a British painter who, with  Millais and  Rossetti, started the  Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848//


Words: hunt
Meaning:
v   [Language: Old English; Origin: huntian]//\n  1 [I and T] to chase animals and birds in order to kill or catch them:  --the slopes where I hunted deer as a kid//  --Wolves tend to hunt in packs (=hunt in groups) .//\n  2 [I] to look for someone or something very carefully:   search//  hunt for//  --The kids were hunting for shells on the beach.//  --Detectives are busy hunting for clues.//\n  3 [I and T] to search for and try to catch a criminal or someone who is your enemy:  --The police are still hunting the killer.//  hunt for//  --The FBI were called in to hunt for the spy.//\n  4 [I and T]  BrE to hunt foxes as a sport, riding on horses and using dogs:  hunt down [hunt sb/sth → down] phr v//  to search for a person or animal until you catch them, especially in order to punish or kill them//  --The government agency was created to hunt down war criminals.//  hunt out [hunt sb/sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to search for someone or something in order to catch, kill, or destroy them:  --The plane was on a mission to hunt out enemy submarines.//\n  2 to search for and find something that you need or want, but which is difficult to find:  --In the school library he hunted out books on politics.//\nhunt 2 n [C] \n  1 an occasion when people chase animals in order to kill or catch them:  lion/rhino/stag etc hunt //\n  2 [usually singular] a search for someone or something that is difficult to find:  hunt for//  --the hunt for the missing child//  the hunt is on (=used to say that people have started looking for someone or something) //  murder hunt (=a search for a person who has killed someone) //  have a hunt around for sth  BrE  informal  (=look for something) //  --I’ll have a hunt around for it in my desk.//    treasure hunt,  witch-hunt//\n  3 a sporting event in Britain in which people ride on horses and hunt foxes using dogs:\n  4 in Britain, a group of people who regularly hunt foxes together:


Words: hunter
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] a person who hunts wild animals, or an animal that hunts other animals for food:\n  2  souvenir/autograph/bargain etc hunter:  someone who looks for or collects a particular type of thing//    bounty hunter//


Words: hunter-gatherer
Meaning:
n [C]   a member of group of people that lives by hunting and looking for plants that can be eaten, rather than by keeping animals for food or by growing crops//


Words: hunting
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 chasing and killing animals for food or sport:\n  2 in Britain, the sport of hunting foxes:   foxhunting//\n  3  job-hunting/house-hunting/flat-hunting:  the activity of looking for a job, house, or flat//\n  4  go hunting:  to hunt for animals, especially as a sport//  -- hunting adj //  --a hunting rifle//


Words: hunting ground
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a place where animals are hunted:\n  2  a happy/good hunting ground (for sth):  a place where people who are interested in a particular thing can easily find what they want//  --Madeira used to be a happy hunting ground for antique collectors.//


Words: huntsman
Meaning:
n   plural  huntsmen /-m[hA353]n/ [C]  literary //\n  1 a man who hunts animals:\n  2  BrE someone who hunts foxes for sport:


Words: hurdle
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: hyrdel]//\n  1 [C] a problem or difficulty that you must deal with before you can achieve something:   obstacle//  --Finding enough money for the project was the first hurdle.//  overcome/clear/get over etc a hurdle (=deal successfully with a problem) //\n  2 [C] one of a series of small fences that a person or horse has to jump over during a race:  clear a hurdle (=successfully jump over a hurdle) //\n  3  the 100 metres/400 metres hurdles:  a race in which the runners have to jump over hurdles//\nhurdle 2 v \n  1 [I and T] to jump over something while you are running:  --He hurdled the fence and ran off down the street.//\n  2 [I] to run in hurdle races:  -- hurdler n  [C] //  -- hurdling n  [U] //


Words: hurdy-gurdy
Meaning:
n   plural  hurdy-gurdies  [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  From the sound it makes]//  a small musical instrument that you play by turning a handle//    barrel organ//


Words: hurl
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1100-1200; Origin:  Probably copying the action]//\n  1 [T always + adverb/preposition] to throw something with a lot of force, especially because you are angry:  --Demonstrators were hurling bricks through the windows.//  --He hurled a chair across the set, smashing lamps and vases.//\n  2  hurl abuse/insults/accusations etc (at sb):  to shout at someone in a loud and angry way//  --He was accused of hurling abuse at the referee.//\n  3  hurl yourself at/against etc sb/sth:   also hurl yourself down //  to throw yourself at someone or something with a lot of force//  --She wanted to hurl herself into his arms.//\n  4 [I and T]  AmE  informal to vomit:


Words: hurly-burly
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  hurl]//  a lot of busy noisy activity//  --the hurly-burly of city life//


Words: Hurricane
Meaning:
a type of British fighter aircraft which became famous in World War II for its success against enemy bombers and fighters//


Words: hurricane
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: huracan, from  Taino hurakan]//  a storm that has very strong fast winds and that moves over water//    cyclone, typhoon, tornado//


Words: hurried
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   done more quickly than usual//   rushed//  → leisurely//  --a hurried meal//  -- hurriedly adv //


Words: hurry
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  hurried present participle  hurrying third person singular  hurries //  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably copying the action]//\n  1 [I and T] to do something or go somewhere more quickly than usual, especially because there is not much time:   rush//  --If we hurry, we’ll get there in time.//  --I hate having to hurry a meal.//  --We’ll have to hurry otherwise we’ll miss the start.//  --There’s no need to hurry. We’ve got plenty of time.//  hurry to do sth//  --They were hurrying to catch their train.//  hurry through/along/down etc//  --She hurried down the corridor as fast as she could.//  hurry after//  --John hurried off after his girlfriend.//\n  2 [T] to make someone do something more quickly:   rush//  --Don’t hurry me. I’m doing this as fast as I can.//  hurry sb into (doing) sth//  --She doesn’t want to be hurried into making a decision.//\n  3 [T always + adverb/preposition] to take someone or something quickly to a place:   rush//  hurry sth to/through/across etc sth//  --Emergency supplies have been hurried to the areas worst hit by the famine.//  hurry up phr v//\n  1  hurry up!:   spoken used to tell someone to do something more quickly//  --Hurry up, we’re late!//\n  2  hurry sb/sth up:  to make someone do something more quickly or to make something happen more quickly//  --See if you can hurry things up a little.//\nhurry 2 S3 n \n  1  in a hurry:  more quickly than usual//   in a rush//  --Sorry, I can’t stop, I’m in a hurry.//  --You’ll make mistakes if you do things in too much of a hurry.//  be in a hurry to do sth//  --Why are you in such a hurry to leave?//\n  2  (there’s) no hurry:   spoken used to tell someone that they do not have to do something quickly or soon//  --Pay me back whenever you can. There’s no great hurry.//\n  3  sb will not be doing sth (again) in a hurry:   spoken used to say that someone does not want to do something again//  --We won’t be going back there again in a hurry.//\n  4  in your hurry to do sth:  while you are trying to do something too quickly//  --In his hurry to leave the room, he tripped over a chair.//\n  5  be in no hurry/not be in any hurry (to do sth):  a) to be able to wait because you have a lot of time in which to do something//  --Take your time - I’m not in any hurry.//  b) to be unwilling to do something or not want to do it soon//  --He was clearly in no hurry to reply to our letter.//\n  6  what’s (all) the hurry?/why (all) the hurry?:   spoken used to say that someone is doing something too quickly//  --We’ve got plenty of time - what’s all the hurry?//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say that you are ’in hurry’. Say that you are  in a hurry. //  ----------//


Words: hurt
Meaning:
W3S2   v   past tense and past participle  hurt //  ----------//\n   1 injure somebody:\n   2 feel pain:\n   3 cause pain:\n   4 insult somebody:\n   5 bad effect:\n   6 be hurting:\n   7 something won’t/doesn’t hurt:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: hurter  ’to crash violently into’]//\n  1 INJURE SOMEBODY:   [T] to injure yourself or someone else//  --Was anyone hurt in the accident?//  --Put that thing down - you might hurt someone with it.//  hurt your arm/leg/nose etc //  --He hurt his knee playing football.//  hurt yourself//  --Be careful you don’t fall and hurt yourself. see usage note  damage2 //\n  2 FEEL PAIN:   [I] to feel pain in part of your body//    ache//  --My back hurts.//  --Where does it hurt?//  --It hurts when I try to move my leg.//  hurt like hell  informal  (=hurt very much) //  --My shoulder hurts like hell.//\n  3 CAUSE PAIN:   [T] to cause pain in a part of your body//  --The sun’s hurting my eyes.//\n  4 INSULT SOMEBODY:   [I and T] to make someone feel very upset, unhappy, sad etc//  --I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings .//  it hurts (sb) to do sth//  --What really hurts is that he never even said goodbye.//  --It hurt me to think that you hated me.//  --The last thing I want to do is to hurt you.//\n  5 BAD EFFECT:   [T] to have a bad effect on someone or something, especially by making them less successful or powerful//  --Foreign competition has hurt the company’s position in the market.//\n  6  be hurting:   AmE //  a)  informal to feel very upset or unhappy about something//  --Martha’s going through a divorce and really hurting right now.//  b) if a group, organization etc is hurting, they do not have something important that they need//  be hurting for//  --The team is hurting for quarterbacks.//\n  7  sth won’t/doesn’t hurt:   spoken said when you think someone should do something or that something is a good idea//  --The house looks pretty good, but a fresh paint job wouldn’t hurt either.//  it won’t/doesn’t hurt (sb) to do sth//  --It won’t hurt Julia to get up early for a change.//\nhurt 2 adj \n  1 [not usually before noun] suffering pain or injury:   injured//  badly/seriously hurt //  --Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt.//  --Sometimes players get hurt in training.//\n  2 very upset or unhappy because someone has said or done something unkind, dishonest, or unfair:  --Rachel felt hurt and betrayed.//  --He’s no good for you, Jenny. You’ll only get hurt again.//  --his hurt pride//  --She wore a hurt expression on her face.//  very/deeply hurt //  --Alice was deeply hurt that she hadn’t been invited.//\nhurt 3 n [U and C]   a feeling of great unhappiness because someone, especially someone you trust, has treated you badly or unfairly//  --She saw the hurt in his eyes.//  --all the hurts and wrongs of the past//  --All her anger and hurt melted away.//   harm//


Words: hurtful
Meaning:
adj   making you feel very upset or offended//   unkind//  hurtful remark/comment etc //  -- hurtfully adv //  -- hurtfulness n  [U] //


Words: hurtle
Meaning:
preposition]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: hurt]//  if something, especially something big or heavy, hurtles somewhere, it moves or falls very fast//  --All of a sudden, a car came hurtling round the corner.//


Words: husband
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: husbonda, from  Old Norse, from  hus  ’house’ +  bondi  ’someone who lives in a house’]//\n  1 [C] the man that a woman is married to:    wife//  --Have you met my husband Roy?//\n  2  ex-husband:  a man that a woman used to be married to//\n  3  husband and wife:  a man and woman who are married to each other//\nhusband 2 v [T]    formal to be very careful in the way you use your money, supplies etc and not waste any//


Words: husbandry
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1  technical farming:  --animal husbandry//\n  2  old-fashioned careful management of money and supplies:


Words: hush
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: husht  ’silent, hushed’ (15-19 centuries), from  husht a word used to tell people to keep quiet]//\n  1  hush:   spoken used to tell people to be quiet or to comfort a child who is crying or upset//  --Hush, now. Try to get to sleep.//\n  2 [T]  written to make someone stop shouting, talking, crying etc:  --Ella asked them to hush their voices.//\n  3 [I]  written to stop shouting, talking etc:  --The audience hushed as he stepped onto the stage.//  hush up [hush sth → up] phr v//  to prevent people from knowing about something dishonest or immoral//   cover up//  --The whole affair was hushed up by the government.//\nhush 2 n \n  1 [singular] a period of silence, especially when people are expecting something to happen:  -- A sudden hush fell over the crowd.//\n  2  a bit of hush:   BrE  spoken used to ask people, especially noisy children, to be quiet//  -- Let’s have a bit of hush , please, gentlemen.//


Words: hushed
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   quiet because people are listening, waiting to hear something, or talking quietly//  --A hushed courtroom awaited the verdict.//  hushed tones/voice/whispers etc (=quiet speech) //  --They spoke in hushed tones at the table.//


Words: husk
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from  Middle Dutch huuskijn, from  huus  ’house, cover’]//\n  1 [U and C] the dry outer part of corn, some grains, seeds, nuts etc:\n  2 [C] the useless outer part of something that remains after the important or useful part is gone or has been used:  husk of//  --His drug addiction had turned him into a husk of his former self.//\nhusk 2 v [T]   to remove the husks from grains, seeds etc//


Words: husky
Meaning:
adj   [Sense: 1; Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from  husk  ’to have a dry cough’ (16-19 centuries) (from the sound).]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from   HUSK1; because corn-husks are hard and strong]//\n  1 a husky voice is deep, quiet, and attractive :  --’Come quickly,’ she said in a husky whisper.//\n  2  especially AmE a man or boy who is husky is big and strong:  -- huskily adv //\nhusky 2   plural  huskies  n [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  Eskimo]//  a dog with thick hair used in Canada and Alaska to pull sledges over the snow//


Words: Hussein
Meaning:
King   (1935- 99) the king of Jordan from 1952 until his death in 1999. He was admired by many people for his attempts to encourage peace between Israel and the Arab countries that surround it. //\n Saddam     Saddam Hussein//


Words: hussy
Meaning:
n   plural  hussies  [C]  old-fashioned //  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: housewife]//  a woman who is sexually immoral//


Words: hustings
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: husting  ’council meeting’, from  Old Norse, from  hus  ’house’ +  thing  ’council, assembly’]//  the hustings//  the process of trying to persuade people to vote for you by making speeches etc//  at/on the hustings//  --The senator is usually at his best on the hustings.//


Words: hustle
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  hustled present participle  hustling //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Dutch; Origin: husselen  ’to shake’]//\n  1 [T] to make someone move quickly, especially by pushing them roughly:  hustle sb into/out of/through etc sth//  --I was hustled out of the building by a couple of security men.//  hustle sb away//  --He was hustled away by police officers.//\n  2 [I]  AmE to do something with a lot of energy and determination:  --Cindy’s not a great player, but she really hustles.//\n  3 [I]  AmE to hurry in doing something or going somewhere:  --We need to hustle if we’re going to make this flight.//\n  4 [I and T]  AmE to sell or obtain things in an illegal or dishonest way:  --thieves hustling stolen goods on the street//\n  5 [I]  AmE  informal to work as a prostitute, or to be in charge of prostitutes:\nhustle 2 n [U] \n  1 busy and noisy activity:  --the hustle and bustle of the market place//\n  2  AmE ways of getting money that involve cheating or deceiving people:\n  3  AmE when someone does something quickly, with a lot of effort and eagerness:  --The team has a lot of talent but no hustle.//


Words: hustler
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  especially AmE someone who tries to trick people into giving them money:\n  2  AmE a prostitute:


Words: Huston
Meaning:
John   (1906-87) a US film  director and film writer and actor whose many films include  The Maltese Falcon (1941),  The African Queen (1951), and  Prizzi’s Honor (1984)//


Words: hut
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: hutte]//  a small simple building with only one or two rooms//    shack//  --a wooden hut//


Words: hutch
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: French; Origin: huche, from  Medieval Latin hutica]//\n  1 a small wooden cage that small animals are kept in, especially rabbits:\n  2  AmE a piece of furniture used for storing and showing dishes:


Words: Huxley
Meaning:
Aldous   (1894-1963) a British writer whose most famous work is  Brave New World, about a society of the future where people are completely controlled and have no freedom//


Words: hyacinth
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: hyacinthus  ’jewel, flowering plant’, from  Greek hyakinthos]//  a garden plant with blue, pink, or white bell-shaped flowers and a sweet smell//


Words: hybrid
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: hybrida]//\n  1 an animal or plant produced from parents of different breeds or types:    cross-breed//  hybrid of//  --a hybrid of wheat and rye//\n  2 something that consists of or comes from a mixture of two or more other things:  --hybrid architecture//  hybrid of//  --a unique hybrid of blues, country, pop, and gospel music//


Words: hybridize
Meaning:
also  hybridise BrE   v [I and T]  technical   to form a new type of plant or animal from two existing types, so that the new type has some qualities from each of the other types//  -- hybridization/ha[hA366]br[hA369]da[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -d[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: Hyde Park
Meaning:
1 a large park in central London, which includes the  Serpentine, a lake, and  Speaker’s Corner, a place where ordinary people can make speeches about anything that they have strong opinions about:\n  2 an area in the south part of Chicago, in the US state of Illinois, where the University of Chicago is based:


Words: hydra
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  Hydra:  a snake in ancient Greek stories with many heads that grow again when they are cut off//\n  2  formal a problem that is very difficult to get rid of because it keeps returning:


Words: hydrate
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]   to supply someone or something with water to keep them healthy and in good condition//  → dehydrate//  --After you run, drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated.//  -- hydration/ha[hA366]dre[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //\nhydrate 2 n [C]  technical   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: hydro-]//  a chemical substance that contains water//


Words: hydraulic
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: hydraulicus, from  Greek, from  hydraulis  ’organ worked by water’]//  moved or operated by the pressure of water or other liquid//  --a hydraulic pump//  --hydraulic brakes//  -- hydraulically/-kli/ adv //


Words: hydraulics
Meaning:
n \n  1 [plural] parts of a machine or system that use the pressure of water or other liquids to move or lift things:\n  2 [U] the study of how to use the pressure of water or other liquids to produce power:


Words: hydro-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, from  Greek, from  hydor  ’water’]//\n  1 relating to water, or using water:  --hydroelectricity (=produced by water power) //  --hydrotherapy (=treatment of disease using water) //\n  2 relating to hydrogen, or containing it:  --hydrocarbons//


Words: hydrochloric acid
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: hydro- +  chloric  (19-21 centuries) (from  chlorine)]//  a strong acid used especially in industry//


Words: hydroelectric
Meaning:
adj   using water power to produce electricity//  --a huge hydroelectric power station//  -- hydroelectricity/ha[hA366]dr[hA353][hA35E][hA366]lektr[hA366]s[hA369]ti $ -dro[hA35E]-/ n  [U] //


Words: hydrofoil
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: hydro- +  foil, on the model of airfoil]//  a large boat with wing-shaped parts on the bottom that lift it above the surface of the water when it travels fast//    hovercraft//


Words: hydrogen
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: hydrog[hA169]ne, from  hydro- (  HYDRO-) +  -g[hA169]ne  ’producing’; because it produces water when it is burned]//  a colourless gas that is the lightest of all gases, forms water when it combines with oxygen, and is used to produce ammonia and other chemicals. It is a chemical element: symbol H//


Words: hydrogen peroxide
Meaning:
n [U]   a chemical liquid used for killing bacteria and for making hair and other substances lighter in colour//


Words: hydroplane
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a hydrofoil:\n  2  AmE a plane that can take off from and land on water:\nhydroplane 2 v [I] \n  1  AmE if a car hydroplanes, it slides in a way that is out of control on a wet road:  British Equivalent:  aquaplane//\n  2 if a boat hydroplanes, it travels very quickly, just touching the surface of the water:


Words: hyena
Meaning:
also  hyaena BrE   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: hyaena, from  Greek, from  hys  ’pig’]//  a wild animal like a dog that makes a sound like a laugh//


Words: hygiene
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: hyg[hA169]ne, from  Greek hygieina, from  hygies  ’healthy’]//  the practice of keeping yourself and the things around you clean in order to prevent diseases//  --the importance of personal hygiene //  oral/dental hygiene //  --a food hygiene training course//  good/poor/proper hygiene //  --The Consumers’ Association blames poor hygiene standards.//


Words: hygienic
Meaning:
adj   clean and likely to prevent bacteria, infections, or disease from spreading//  --An inspector ensures that food is prepared in hygienic conditions.//  -- hygienically/-kli/ adv //


Words: hygienist
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   someone who helps a dentist by cleaning patients’ teeth and giving advice about keeping teeth healthy//  American Equivalent:  dental hygienist//


Words: hymen
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Greek,  ’thin covering of skin’]//  a piece of skin that partly covers the entrance to the vagina of some girls or women who have not had sex//


Words: hymn
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 800-900; Language: Latin; Origin: hymnus  ’song of praise’, from  Greek hymnos]//\n  1 a song of praise to God:  --He liked to sing hymns as he worked.//\n  2  a hymn to sth:  a book, film, song etc that strongly praises a person or idea//  --Their first single was a hymn to selfishness called ’Looking After Number One’.//\n  3  be singing from the same hymn book/sheet:   BrE used to say that two or more people understand each other and are thinking about something in the same way//


Words: Hymns Ancient and Modern
Meaning:
a book of  hymns (=songs of praise to God)  which is often used in churches of the  Church of England//


Words: hype
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: hype  ’deceiving, lies’ (1900-2000), perhaps from  hype  ’drug addict’ (1900-2000), from  hypodermic; influenced by hyperbole]//  attempts to make people think something is good or important by talking about it a lot on television, the radio etc - used to show disapproval//  --Some experts are concerned that the new drug won’t live up to all the hype.//  --Despite the media hype , I found the film very disappointing.//\nhype 2  also hype up  v [T]   to try to make people think something is good or important by talking about it a lot on television, the radio etc//    promote//  --The director is just using the controversy to hype his movie.//  hype up [hype sb up] phr v//  to make someone feel excited//


Words: hyped up
Meaning:
adj  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: hypodermic]//  very excited or nervous and unable to keep still//  --Wayne was so hyped up that we thought he was drunk.//


Words: hyper
Meaning:
adj  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: hyperactive]//  extremely excited or nervous about something//  --No, don’t give Luke any candy - it’ll make him hyper.//


Words: hyper-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Latin; Origin: Greek, from  hyper  ’above’]//\n  1 more than usual, especially too much:  --hypersensitive (=too sensitive) //  --hyper-inflation//  --a hyper-extended knee//\n  2 beyond the usual size or limits:  --a hyperlink (=from one website to another) //


Words: hyperactive
Meaning:
adj   someone, especially a child, who is hyperactive is too active, and is not able to keep still or be quiet for very long//    attention deficit disorder//  -- hyperactivity/ha[hA366]p[hA353]r[zB024]kt[hA366]v[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: hyperbole
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek,  ’too much of something, hyperbole’, from  hyperballein  ’to go beyond limits’]//  a way of describing something by saying it is much bigger, smaller, worse etc than it actually is//   exaggeration//  --It was not hyperbole to call it the worst storm in twenty years.//  -- hyperbolic/ha[hA366]p[hA353]b[hA361]l[hA366]k[hA36B] $ -p[hA353]rb[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //


Words: hypercritical
Meaning:
adj   too eager to criticize other people and things, especially about small details//  -- hypercritically/-kli/ adv //


Words: hyperlink
Meaning:
n [C]   a word or picture in a website or computer document that will take you to another page or document if you click on it//  --We should encourage hyperlinks to each other’s webpages.//


Words: hypersensitive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 if someone is hypersensitive to a drug, substance etc, their body reacts very badly to it:   allergic//  hypersensitive to//  --I discovered I was hypersensitive to caffeine.//\n  2 very easily offended or upset:  hypersensitive to//  --She’s hypersensitive to any form of criticism.//  -- hypersensitivity/ha[hA366]p[hA353]sens[hA369]t[hA366]v[hA369]ti $ -p[hA353]r-/ n  [U] //


Words: hypertext
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   a way of writing computer documents that makes it possible to move from one document to another by clicking on words or pictures, especially on the Internet//


Words: hyperventilate
Meaning:
v [I]   to breathe too quickly or too deeply, so that you get too much oxygen and feel dizzy//  -- hyperventilation/ha[hA366]p[hA353]vent[hA369]le[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -p[hA353]rventle[hA366]-/ n  [U] //


Words: hyphen
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Greek, from  hyph’ hen  ’under one’]//  a short written or printed line (-) that joins words or syllables//    dash//


Words: hyphenate
Meaning:
v [T]   to join words or syllables with a hyphen//  -- hyphenated adj //  -- hyphenation/ha[hA366]f[hA353]ne[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: hypnosis
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 a state similar to sleep, in which someone’s thoughts and actions can be influenced by someone else:  under hypnosis//  --While under hypnosis, the victim was able to describe her attacker.//\n  2 the act of producing this state:


Words: hypnotic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: hypnotique, from  Greek, from  hypnos  ’sleep’]//\n  1 making you feel tired or unable to pay attention to anything else, especially because of a regularly repeated sound or movement:  --His voice had a smooth hypnotic effect .//  --the hypnotic beat of the drum//\n  2 [only before noun] relating to hypnosis:  --a hypnotic trance//  -- hypnotically/-kli/ adv //\nhypnotic 2 n [C]  technical   a drug that helps you to sleep//   sleeping pill//


Words: hypnotize
Meaning:
also  hypnotise BrE   v [T] \n  1 to produce a sleep-like state in someone so that you can influence their thoughts and actions:\n  2 [usually passive] to be so interesting or exciting that people cannot think of anything else:   mesmerized//  --We were completely hypnotized by her performance of the Haydn.//


Words: hypo-
Meaning:
prefix  technical   [Language: Late Latin; Origin: Greek, from  hypo  ’under’]//  less than usual, especially too little//  --hypothermia (=condition in which your body temperature is too low) //  --a hypodermic injection (=given under the skin) //


Words: hypochondria
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin:  (plural),  ’parts of the body just below the chest’ (which was thought to be where hypochondria came from), from  Greek,  ’parts below the central bone in the chest’, from  hypo- (  HYPO-) +  chondros  ’cartilage’]//  when someone continuously worries that there is something wrong with their health, even when they are not ill//


Words: hypochondriac
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who always worries about their health and thinks they may be ill, even when they are really not ill//  -- hypochondriac adj //


Words: hypocrisy
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: ypocrisie, from  Greek hypokrisis  ’act of playing a part on stage, hypocrisy’]//  when someone pretends to have certain beliefs or opinions that they do not really have - used to show disapproval//  → sincerity//  --It would be sheer hypocrisy to pray for success, since I’ve never believed in God.//


Words: hypocrite
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who pretends to have certain beliefs or opinions that they do not really have - used to show disapproval//


Words: hypocritical
Meaning:
adj   behaving in a way that is different from what you claim to believe - used to show disapproval//  → sincere//  it’s hypocritical (of sb) to do sth//  --It’s hypocritical of these universities to call their football players student-athletes.//


Words: hypodermic
Meaning:
n [C]   an instrument with a very thin hollow needle used for putting drugs directly into the body through the skin//   syringe//\nhypodermic 2 adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: hypo- +  Greek derma  ’skin’]//  used to give an injection beneath the skin//  --a hypodermic needle//


Words: hypotenuse
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: hypotenusa, from  Greek, from  hypoteinein  ’to stretch under’]//  the longest side of a triangle that has a right angle//


Words: hypothermia
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: hypo- +  Greek therme  ’heat’]//  a serious medical condition caused by extreme cold//


Words: hypothesis
Meaning:
n   plural  hypotheses /-si[hA359]z///  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Greek; Origin: hypotithenai  ’to put under, hypothesize’]//\n  1 [C] an idea that is suggested as an explanation for something, but that has not yet been proved to be true:   theory//  --One hypothesis is that the victim fell asleep while driving.//  prove/test/support etc a hypothesis //  --We hope that further research will confirm our hypothesis.//  hypothesis about//  --The authors reject the hypothesis about unemployment contributing to crime.//\n  2 [U] ideas or guesses rather than facts:   speculation//  --All this is mere hypothesis.//


Words: hypothesize
Meaning:
also  hypothesise BrE   v [I and T]   to suggest a possible explanation that has not yet been proved to be true//  hypothesize that//  --Scientists hypothesize that the dinosaurs were killed by a giant meteor.//


Words: hypothetical
Meaning:
adj   based on a situation that is not real, but that might happen//  hypothetical situation/example/question //  --Brennan brought up a hypothetical case to make his point.//  --The question is purely hypothetical .//   imaginary//  -- hypothetically/-kli/ adv //


Words: hysterectomy
Meaning:
n   plural  hysterectomies  [U and C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: hystera  ’uterus’ +  English -ectomy]//  a medical operation to remove a woman’s uterus//


Words: hysteria
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: hysteric  ’hysterical’ (17-20 centuries), from  Latin hystericus, from  Greek hystera (  HYSTERECTOMY); because it was believed hysteria was caused by the uterus]//\n  1 extreme excitement that makes people cry, laugh, shout etc in a way that is out of control:  --In a fit of hysteria, Silvia blamed me for causing her father’s death.//\n  2 a situation in which a lot of people feel fear, anger, or excitement, which makes them behave in an unreasonable way:  --Since the General’s death, the population has been gripped by mass hysteria .//\n  3  medical a medical condition which upsets someone’s emotions and makes them suddenly feel very nervous, excited, anxious etc:


Words: hysterical
Meaning:
adj \n  1 unable to control your behaviour or emotions because you are very upset, afraid, excited etc:  --Janet became hysterical and began screaming.//  --Everyone in the studio burst into hysterical laughter .//\n  2  informal extremely funny:   hilarious//  --It was absolutely hysterical ! I’ve never laughed so much.//  -- hysterically/-kli/ adv //


Words: hysterics
Meaning:
n [plural]  spoken \n  1 when you are unable to control your behaviour or emotions because you are very upset, afraid, excited etc:  --She went into hysterics when she heard about her husband.//  have hysterics (=be extremely upset or angry)  BrE //  --Mum’d have hysterics if she knew what you’d done.//\n  2  in hysterics:  if someone is in hysterics, they are laughing and not able to stop//  --The audience was in hysterics.//


Words: I
Meaning:
pron [used as the subject of a verb]   [Language: Old English; Origin: ic]//  used by the person speaking or writing to refer to himself or herself//  --I moved to this city six years ago.//  --I’m not late again, am I?//  --My husband and I enjoy going to the theatre.//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’taller than I’, ’younger than I’, ’better than I’ etc. Say taller than me, younger than me, better than me or taller than I am, younger than I am,  better than I am etc. //  ----------//\nI 2  i/a[hA366]/ n   plural  I’s  i’s //\n  1 [U and C] the ninth letter of the English alphabet:\n  2 [C] the number one in the system of roman numerals:\n  3  I-25, I-40 etc:  the name of an interstate (=important road between states in the US) // 2  AmE //  the abbreviation of  interstate (=an important road between states in the US) //  --the point where I95 meets I40//


Words: I Ching
Meaning:
The   an ancient Chinese book, also known as the Book of Changes, which some people believe helps you to understand events happening in your life and tells you what will happen in the future. To use the I Ching, you throw a set of sticks or coins, and the patterns that they make are connected to specific parts of the book which explain the meaning of each pattern.//


Words: I Claudius
Meaning:
a novel by Robert  Graves, published in 1934, about Claudius, who became  Roman emperor after the death of his nephew Caligula. Graves also wrote Claudius The God, which described the reign of Claudius.//


Words: I Vow To Thee My Country
Meaning:
a British  patriotic song, the music for which was written by Gustav  Holst, which is often played at school ceremonies and similar events in the UK//


Words: I’d
Meaning:
1 the short form of ’I had’:  --I wish I’d said that.//\n  2 the short form of ’I would’:  --I’d leave now if I were you.//


Words: I-mode phone
Meaning:
n [C]  trademark   a mobile phone that has a small screen which you can use for Internet and e-mail services//


Words: i.e.
Meaning:
written before a word or phrase that gives the exact meaning of something you have just written or said//  --The film is only open to adults, i.e. people over 18.//


Words: Iacocca
Meaning:
Lee   (1924- ) a US businessman who was president of the Ford car company and later greatly increased the profits made by the Chrysler car company after a period when it had not been very successful. He also wrote an  autobiography (=the story of his own life) , which was very popular.//


Words: Iago
Meaning:
a character in the play  Othello by William  Shakespeare. Iago is an evil man who deliberately lies and tells Othello that  Desdemona, Othello’s wife, is having a sexual relationship with another man, and as a result Othello kills her.//


Words: iamb
Meaning:
[C]  technical   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: iambus, from  Greek iambos]//  a unit of rhythm in poetry, that has one short or weak beat followed by a long or strong beat, as in the word ’alive’//  -- iambic/a[hA366][zB024]mb[hA366]k/ adj //


Words: iambic pentameter
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a common pattern of beats in English poetry, in which each line consists of five iambs//


Words: IATA
Meaning:
the International Air Transport Association; an international association of  airlines which makes decisions about plane services, such as rules about safety or the price of plane tickets//


Words: Iberia
Meaning:
the area of western Europe which consists of Spain and Portugal//  -- Iberian adj //  --the Iberian peninsula//


Words: Iberian
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: Iberia  ’land of the Iberes’, from  Greek Iberes  ’Spanish people’]//  relating to Spain or Portugal, or its people//  --the Iberian peninsula//


Words: ibex
Meaning:
n   plural  ibexes  or  ibex  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin]//  a wild goat that lives in the mountains of Europe, Asia, and North Africa//


Words: IBF
Meaning:
International Boxing Federation one of the organizations responsible for controlling professional boxing. A boxer who holds an IBF title is described as a world champion.//


Words: ibid
Meaning:
used in formal writing to mean from the same book, writer, or article as the one that has just been mentioned//


Words: ibis
Meaning:
n   plural  ibises  [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek, from  Egyptian hby]//  a large bird with a long beak and long legs that is related to the stork//


Words: IBM
Meaning:
trademark   International Business Machines the world’s largest computer company, based in the US, which produces both  hardware and  software, especially for business users. IBM is sometimes informally called "Big Blue".//


Words: Ibsen
Meaning:
Henrik   (1828-1906) a Norwegian writer of plays who wrote especially about  middle class society and criticized social attitudes and behaviour. His best-known plays include  Peer Gynt,  A Dolls House,  Hedda Gabler,  An Enemy of the People, and  Ghosts.//


Words: ibuprofen
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: iso- +  butyl type of chemical  (19-21 centuries) +  propionic describing a type of chemical  (19-21 centuries) +  phenyl type of chemical  (19-21 centuries)]//  a medicine that reduces pain, inflammation, and fever//


Words: ICA
Meaning:
the ICA//   the Institute of Contemporary Arts a building in central London where modern paintings, films etc are shown//


Words: Icarus
Meaning:
in ancient Greek stories, the son of the inventor  Daedalus, who made wings fastened together with  wax for himself and Icarus so that they could escape from the island of  Crete by flying. But Icarus flew too close to the sun, so that the wax melted, and he fell and died.//


Words: ice
Meaning:
W3S2   n   [Language: Old English; Origin: is]//\n  1 [U] water that has frozen into a solid state:    icy//  --Would you like some ice in your drink?//  --Her hands were as cold as ice.//  --Spring flowers pushed through the slowly melting ice.//  --The city spent $7 million to remove snow and ice from the roads.//  --a cup full of crushed ice //  --Linda’s hair sparkled with tiny ice crystals .//\n  2  keep/put sth on ice:  to do nothing about a plan or suggestion for a period of time//  --I’m putting my plans for a new car on ice until I finish college.//\n  3  be (skating) on thin ice:  to be in a situation in which you are likely to upset someone or cause trouble//  --You’d better not be late for work again, Hugo - you’re skating on thin ice.//\n  4  the ice:  a specially prepared surface of ice where you can ice skate or play ice hockey//  --The two teams are ready to take to the ice.//\n  5 [C] :  a) a frozen sweet food made with fruit juice//   sorbet//  b)  old-fashioned  especially BrE an ice cream//\n  6 [U]  AmE diamonds:    black ice,  dry ice,  break the ice at break1 (29),  cut no ice at cut1 (39)//\nice 2 v [T]  especially BrE   to cover a cake with icing (=a mixture made of liquid and very fine sugar) //  American Equivalent:  frost//  ice down [ice sth → down] phr v//  to cover an injured part of the body in ice to stop it from swelling//  --Make sure you ice that ankle down as soon as you get inside.//  ice over/up phr v//  to become covered with ice//  --Schools were closed when the roads iced over.//  --The plane’s engines had iced up.//


Words: Ice Age
Meaning:
n [C]   one of the long periods of time, thousands of years ago, when ice covered many northern countries//


Words: ice bucket
Meaning:
n [C]   1 a container filled with ice to keep bottles of wine cold//\n  2 a container in which pieces of ice are kept for putting in drinks:


Words: ice cream
Meaning:
S2   n   1 [U] a frozen sweet food made of milk, cream, and sugar, with fruit, nuts, chocolate etc sometimes added to it//  --vanilla ice cream//\n  2 [C] a small amount of this food for one person:  --Mummy, can I have an ice cream?//


Words: ice cream cone
Meaning:
n [C]   a hard thin cooked cake shaped like a cone, that you put ice cream in, or one of these with ice cream in it//


Words: ice hockey
Meaning:
n [U]   glove, ice skate, puck//   BrE a sport played on ice, in which players try to hit a hard flat round object into the other team’s goal with special sticks//  American Equivalent:  hockey//


Words: ice lolly plural
Meaning:
ice lollies  n [C]  BrE   a piece of sweet-tasting ice on a stick, that you suck//  American Equivalent:  popsicle//


Words: ice pack
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a bag containing ice that is put on injured or painful parts of your body to keep them cold:\n  2 a large area of crushed ice floating in the sea:    pack ice//


Words: ice skate
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   a special boot with thin metal blades on the bottom, that allows you to move quickly on ice//


Words: iceberg
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Danish; Origin: Norwegian isberg  ’ice-mountain’]//  a very large mass of ice floating in the sea, most of which is under the surface of the water//    the tip of the iceberg at tip1 (4)//


Words: icebox
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  old-fashioned \n  1 a refrigerator:\n  2 a special cupboard into which people in the past put ice in order to keep food cold:


Words: icebreaker
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 something that you say or do to make people less nervous when they first meet:  --This game is an effective icebreaker at the beginning of a semester.//    break the ice at break1 (29)//\n  2 a ship that cuts a passage through floating ice:


Words: iced
Meaning:
adj \n  1 iced drinks are made very cold or served with ice:  --iced water//  --iced tea//  --iced coffee//\n  2 an iced cake has icing on the top:


Words: Iceland
Meaning:
an island country in the Atlantic Ocean just south of the Arctic Circle. Population: 278,000 (2001). Capital: Reykjavik//  -- Icelander n //  -- Icelandic n  adj //


Words: iceman
Meaning:
n   plural  icemen /-men/ [C]  AmE //  a man who delivered ice to people’s houses in the past, so that they could keep food cold//


Words: icicle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: ice +  ickle  ’icicle’ (14-19 centuries) (from  Old English gicel)]//  a long thin pointed piece of ice hanging from a roof or other surface//


Words: icily
Meaning:
adv   if you say something icily, or look at someone icily, you do it in an angry or very unfriendly way//  --’I want you to leave now,’ she said icily.//


Words: icing
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 a mixture made from very fine light sugar and liquid, used to cover cakes:  American Equivalent:  frosting//\n  2  the icing on the cake:  something that makes a very good experience even better//  --It was a great day, but meeting her there was just the icing on the cake!//


Words: icing sugar
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   very fine light sugar that is mixed with liquid to make icing//  American Equivalent:  powdered sugar//


Words: icky
Meaning:
adj  spoken   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Perhaps from  sticky]//  very unpleasant, especially to look at, taste, or feel//   yucky//  --There was some icky black stuff between the tiles.//


Words: icon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek eikon, from  eikenai  ’to be like’]//\n  1 a small sign or picture on a computer screen that is used to start a particular operation:  --To open a new file, click on the icon at the top of the screen.//\n  2 someone famous who is admired by many people and is thought to represent an important idea:  --a 60s cultural icon//\n  3  also ikon :  a picture or figure of a holy person that is used in worship in the Greek or Russian Orthodox Church//  -- iconic/a[hA366]k[hA361]n[hA366]k $ -k[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //


Words: iconoclast
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: iconoclastes, from  Greek eikon (  ICON) +  klan  ’to break’]//  someone who attacks established ideas and customs//


Words: iconoclastic
Meaning:
adj  formal   iconoclastic ideas, opinions, writings etc attack established beliefs and customs//  --Wolfe’s theories were revolutionary and iconoclastic.//  -- iconoclasm/a[hA366]k[hA361]n[hA353]kl[zB024]z[hA368]m $ -k[hA35A][hA359]-/ n  [U] //


Words: iconography
Meaning:
n [U]   the way that a particular people, religious or political group etc represent ideas in pictures or images//  --Native American iconography//


Words: ICU
Meaning:
n [C]   intensive care unit a department in a hospital that gives special attention and treatment to people who are very sick or badly injured//


Words: icy
Meaning:
adj \n  1 extremely cold:   frosty//  --an icy wind//  --The bath water was icy cold.//\n  2 covered in ice:  --an icy mountain road//\n  3 an icy remark, look etc shows that you feel annoyed with or unfriendly towards someone:  --an icy stare//    icily//  -- iciness n  [U] //


Words: ID
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: identification and  identity]//  a document that shows your name and date of birth, usually with a photograph//   identification//  --I’ll need to see some ID before I can let you in.//  --a fake ID//\nID 2 v [T]  spoken   to identify a criminal or dead body//  --Police are still looking for someone who can ID the body.//


Words: id
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Latin; Origin: ’it’]//  according to Freudian psychology, the part of your mind that is completely unconscious but has hidden needs and desires//    ego(2),  superego//


Words: idea
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 plan/suggestion:\n   2 knowledge:\n   3 aim/intention:\n   4 how you imagine something to be:\n   5 belief/opinion:\n   6 principle:\n   7 have an idea (that):\n   8 get the wrong idea:\n   9 have the right idea:\n  10 that’s/there’s an idea:\n  11 that’s the idea:\n  12 bright idea:\n  13 give somebody ideas/put ideas into somebody’s head:\n  14 is it somebody’s idea of a joke?:\n  15 what’s the big idea?:\n  16 you have no idea (how/what etc):\n  17 the idea!:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek, from  idein  ’to see’]//\n  1 PLAN/SUGGESTION:   [C] a plan or suggestion for a possible course of action, especially one that you think of suddenly//  --I’ve  had an idea . Why don’t we walk into town? //  --She  got the idea  from an article in a fashion magazine.//  -- What  gave  you  the idea of  using a male actor for the part? //  --Mike’s always good at  coming up with new ideas .//  --It was my wife’s idea to move house. //  idea for//  -- The idea for the book came from an old war movie. //  -- What a  great idea ! //  -- I knew it was a  bad idea  to leave him on his own. //  --She was always very enthusiastic and  bursting with ideas .//  -- an exchange of ideas  between academic and business communities//  --Lately I’ve been toying with the idea of going back to school.//\n  2 KNOWLEDGE:   [U and C] a general understanding of something, based on some knowledge about it//  --Could you give me an idea of how bad his injuries are?//  --You must have some idea  (=have at least a little knowledge) of what happened to the money.//  --Don’t worry if you don’t understand it right now - you’ll get the idea  (=begin to understand or be able to do something) .//  have no idea/not have any idea //  --She doesn’t have any idea where they’ve gone.//  a general/rough idea (=a not very exact idea) //  --Can you give me a rough idea of how much the repairs will cost?//  not have the faintest/slightest/foggiest idea  spoken //  --I don’t have the faintest idea what to get Rachel for her birthday.//\n  3 AIM/INTENTION:   [U and C] the aim, intention, or purpose of doing something//  --The idea is to teach children to save money.//  idea of/behind//  --The idea behind the outing is to encourage employees to get to know each other.//  --They wanted Mike to go to law school, but he had other ideas  (=had different plans) .//\n  4 HOW YOU IMAGINE SOMETHING TO BE:   [U and C] an image in your mind of what something is like or should be like//  idea of//  --Chefs differ in their idea of what makes a good dessert.//  --I only have a vague idea of the kind of work I’ll be doing.//  --It helps if you have a  clear idea  of what you want.//  not my idea of sth //  --Chocolate milk and a piece of cake is not my idea of dinner.//  -- The very idea  of kissing him made her feel physically sick.//\n  5 BELIEF/OPINION:   [C usually plural] someone’s opinion or belief about something//  idea about//  --She had some rather unusual ideas about raising children.//  where did you get that idea? (=used to say that what someone thinks is completely wrong) //  --No, I’m not seeing Jane. Where did you get that idea?//\n  6 PRINCIPLE:   [C] a principle or belief about how something is or should be//  idea of//  --The whole idea of democracy was something strange and new to most people.//  idea that//  --It’s based on the idea that all people are created equal.//\n  7  have an idea (that):  to be fairly sure that something is true, without being completely sure//  --I’m not sure where my necklace is, but I have a pretty good idea who took it.//\n  8  get the wrong idea:  to think that something is true when it is not//  --Don’t get the wrong idea about Dan and Helen - they’re just friends.//\n  9  have the right idea:  to act or think in a way that will probably lead to the correct result//  --He still makes a few mistakes but I reckon he’s got the right idea.//\n  10  that’s/there’s an idea:   spoken used to say that you like what someone has just suggested//  --’Why don’t you invite Paula to come with us?’ ’There’s an idea.’//\n  11  that’s the idea:   spoken //  a) used to tell someone who is learning to do something that they are doing it the right way, in order to encourage them//  --Keep your knees bent and lean forward slightly. That’s the idea!//  b) used to emphasize what the main point of something is, or to say that someone understands that point//  --’You’re thinking of getting a new job?’ ’Yeah, that’s the idea.’//\n  12  bright idea:  a very clever idea, often used in a joking way to mean a very stupid idea or action//  --Whose bright idea was it to leave the back door wide open?//\n  13  give sb ideas/put ideas into sb’s head:  to make someone think of doing something that they had not thought of doing before, especially something that they should not do//  --Nick tells me he wants a motorbike. Have you been putting ideas into his head?//\n  14  is it sb’s idea of a joke?:  used when you are surprised and often rather annoyed by what someone has said or done//  --’She wants you to do it by tomorrow.’ ’Is that your idea of a joke?’//\n  15  what’s the big idea?:   spoken used when you cannot understand why someone has done something//\n  16  you have no idea (how/what etc):   spoken used when you are telling someone that something is extremely good, bad etc//  --You have no idea how worried I was.//\n  17  the idea!:   old-fashioned  spoken used to express surprise or disapproval when someone has said something stupid or strange//    buck your ideas up at buck up(4)//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  have an idea //  get an idea //  give somebody an idea //  come up with/hit on an idea (=think of a new idea) //  the idea of (doing) something //  good/great/brilliant idea //  bad/stupid/crazy idea //  it is a good/bad idea to do something //  be full of ideas also  be bursting with ideas (=have a lot of ideas) //  toy with an idea (=think about a plan, but not very seriously) //  exchange/share ideas also an exchange of ideas //  fire ideas off each other (=discuss each other’s ideas and think of good new ones) //  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’the idea to do something’. Say the idea of doing something. However, you can say it is a good idea to do something and  it was your idea to do something. //  ----------//


Words: ideal
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: ideal, from  Late Latin idealis, from  Latin idea;   IDEA]//\n  1 the best or most suitable that something could possibly be:  --advice on how to reach your ideal weight//  --The scheme offers an ideal opportunity for youngsters to get training.//  --With so much rain, conditions are far from ideal.//  ideal for//  --An elastic waist makes these jeans ideal for the larger woman.//  --an ideal place for a pleasant walk//\n  2 [only before noun] an ideal world, job, system etc is one that you imagine to be perfect, but that is not likely to really exist:  -- In an ideal world there would be no need for a police force.//\nideal 2 n [C] \n  1 a principle about what is morally right or a perfect standard that you hope to achieve:  ideal of//  --the ideal of a free and democratic society//  --the long-vanished ideals of the 1950s//\n  2 a perfect example of what something should be like:  ideal of//  --Are our ideals of beauty changing?//


Words: Ideal Home
Meaning:
trademark   a British magazine containing pictures of beautiful houses and articles about ways to decorate your own home//


Words: idealism
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the belief that you should live your life according to high standards and principles, even when they are very difficult to achieve:    realism//  --the idealism of the younger generation//  --moral and religious idealism//\n  2  technical a way of using art or literature to show the world as a perfect place, even though it is not:    realism, naturalism//


Words: idealist
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who tries to live according to high standards or principles, especially in a way that is not practical or possible//    realist//


Words: idealistic
Meaning:
adj   believing that you should live according to high standards and principles, even if they cannot really be achieved, or showing this belief//    realistic//  --idealistic young doctors//  --the idealistic values of the 1960s//  -- idealistically/-kli/ adv //


Words: idealize
Meaning:
also idealise  BrE   v [T]   to imagine or represent something or someone as being perfect or better than they really are//  --Society continues to idealize the two-parent family.//  --an idealized view of marriage//  -- idealization/a[hA366]d[hA366][hA353]la[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -l[hA353]-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: ideally
Meaning:
S3   adv \n  1 used to describe the way you would like things to be even though this may not be possible:  [sentence adverb] //  --Ideally, your car should have high security locks.//  --Fruit and vegetables should ideally be organically grown.//\n  2  ideally suited/placed/situated etc:  having the best qualities, experience, knowledge etc for a particular situation//  --He was ideally suited for the job.//  --The hotel is ideally located for enjoying the beauty of Yorkshire.//


Words: identical
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: identicus, from  Late Latin identitas;   IDENTITY]//  exactly the same, or very similar//  --four identical houses//  identical to/with//  --Nutritionally, infant formulas are almost identical to breast milk.//  --The ingredients are identical with those of competing products.//  identical in//  --The sisters were identical in appearance and character.//  -- identically/-kli/ adv //


Words: identical twin
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   one of a pair of brothers or sisters born at the same time, who develop from the same egg and look almost exactly alike//    fraternal twin//


Words: identifiable
Meaning:
adj   able to be recognized//  identifiable as//  --She looked young, and was immediately identifiable as a trainee.//  identifiable by//  --The police were identifiable by their uniform.//


Words: identification
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 ID official papers or cards, such as your passport, that prove who you are:  --Do you have any identification?//  form/proof of identification //  --Bring some form of identification, preferably a passport.//  --fingerprinting as a means of identification .//\n  2 when someone says officially that they know who someone else is, especially a criminal or a dead person:  --His body was taken to Brighton mortuary for identification.//\n  3 when you recognize something or discover exactly what it is:  identification of//  --the identification of customer needs//  --the identification of children who need professional help//\n  4 the act of saying that two things are very closely related:  identification of sth with sth//  --the identification of sexism with women’s oppression//\n  5 a strong feeling of sympathy with someone that makes you able to share their feelings:  identification with//  --my identification with the heroine of the book//


Words: identification parade
Meaning:
also identity parade  n [C]  BrE   a process in which someone who has seen a crime take place looks at a group of people to see if they can recognize the criminal//  American Equivalent:  line-up//


Words: identify
Meaning:
W1   v   past tense and past participle  identified present participle  identifying third person singular  identifies  [T] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: identificare, from  Latin idem;   IDENTITY]//\n  1 to recognize and correctly name someone or something:  --He was too far away to be able to identify faces.//  --The police took fingerprints and identified the body .//  identify sb/sth as sb/sth//  --Eye witnesses identified the gunman as an army sergeant.//  --The aircraft were identified as American.//\n  2 to recognize something or discover exactly what it is, what its nature or origin is etc:  --Scientists have identified the gene that causes abnormal growth.//  --They identified a number of problem areas.//\n  3 if a particular thing identifies someone or something, it makes them easy to recognize:  identify sb as sb//  --His accent identified him as a Frenchman.//  identify with phr v//\n  1  identify with sb/sth:  to feel sympathy with someone or be able to share their feelings//  --Humans can easily identify with the emotional expressions of chimpanzees.//  --He identified with our distress and despair.//\n  2  identify sb with sth:  to think that someone is very closely related to or involved with something such as a political group//  --She has always been identified with the radical left.//\n  3  identify sth with sb/sth:  to think that something is the same as, or closely related to, something else//  --the attempt to identify crime with poverty and social problems//


Words: identikit&trade;
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: identity +  kit]//\n  1 a method used by the police in which a picture of a criminal is produced from descriptions given by people who have seen the crime take place:  American Equivalent:  composite//  --an identikit picture//\n  2 used to describe things that are all exactly the same, with no interesting or unusual features:  --new identikit cities//


Words: identity
Meaning:
W2   n   plural  identities //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: identitas, from  Latin idem  ’same’]//\n  1 [U and C] someone’s identity is their name or who they are:  -- The identity of  the killer is still unknown.//  -- He maintained he did not  know  the identity  of the woman. //  -- Why did she need to  conceal  her  identity ? //  -- Police are trying to  discover  the  identity  of a baby found by the side of a road. //  -- They will testify behind a screen in order to  protect  their  identities . //  -- She applied for a teaching job under a  false identity . //  --One theory was that the attack was  a case of mistaken identity . //  -- Journalists should have to produce  proof of identity . //\n  2 [U] the qualities and attitudes that a person or group of people have, that make them different from other people:  --Children need continuity, security, and a sense of identity .//  --Travelling alone can lead to a loss of identity .//  national/cultural/social etc identity (=a strong feeling of belonging to a particular group, race etc) //  --Our strong sense of national identity has been shaped by our history.//  identity crisis/crisis of identity (=a feeling of uncertainty about who you really are and what your purpose is) //  --My father experienced an identity crisis in middle age.//\n  3 [U]  formal exact similarity between two things:  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  somebody’s identity/the identity of somebody //  know somebody’s identity //  disclose/reveal somebody’s identity //  hide/conceal somebody’s identity //  discover somebody’s identity //  protect somebody’s identity  (=make sure no one finds out who someone is) //  false identity  (=when someone pretends to be another person) //  (a case of) mistaken identity  (=when you think someone is a different person) //  somebody’s true identity (=who someone really is) //  proof of identity  (=something that proves you are who you say you are) //  identity papers/documents  (=documents that show you are who you say you are) //  ----------//


Words: identity card
Meaning:
n [C]   a card with your name, date of birth, and photograph on it, that proves who you are//   ID card//


Words: ideogram
Meaning:
[C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: idea (  IDEA) +  English -gram]//  a written sign, for example in Chinese, that represents an idea or thing rather than the sound of a word//


Words: ideological
Meaning:
adj   based on strong beliefs or ideas, especially political or economic ideas//  --The party is split by ideological differences.//  -- ideologically/-kli/ adv //


Words: ideologue
Meaning:
[C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ideologue, from  ideologie;   IDEOLOGY]//  someone whose actions are very much influenced by an ideology//


Words: ideology
Meaning:
W3   n   plural  ideologies  [U and C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ideologie, from  Greek idea (  IDEA) +  French -ologie  ’-ology’]//  a set of beliefs on which a political or economic system is based, or which strongly influence the way people behave//  --the ideologies of fascism and communism//  --a new ideology based on individualism//


Words: Ides of March
Meaning:
the   March 15th, famous for being the day on which Julius Caesar was killed by a group of his former friends because they thought he had too much power. Caesar is supposed to have been warned by a  fortune-teller to "Beware the Ides of March"//


Words: idiocy
Meaning:
n   plural  idiocies //  [U and C] something that you think is extremely silly or stupid//   stupidity//  --The idiocy of his behaviour appalled her.//  --He smiled calmly at the idiocies of mankind.//


Words: idiolect
Meaning:
n [U and C]  technical   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: idio-  ’own, personal’ (from  Greek, from  idios;   IDIOT) +  -lect (as in dialect)]//  the way in which a particular person uses language//    dialect//


Words: idiom
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: idiome, from  Greek idioma  ’personal way of expressing yourself’, from  idios;   IDIOT]//\n  1 [C] a group of words that has a special meaning that is different from the ordinary meaning of each separate word. For example, ’under the weather’ is an idiom meaning ’ill’.:\n  2 [U and C]  formal  or  technical a style of expression in writing, speech, or music that is typical of a particular group of people:  --the new musical idiom//


Words: idiomatic
Meaning:
adj \n  1  idiomatic expression/phrase:  an idiom//\n  2 typical of the natural way in which someone speaks or writes when they are using their own language:  --He had the ability to write fluent, accurate, and idiomatic English.//  --the idiomatic richness of the Spanish language//  -- idiomatically/-kli/ adv //


Words: idiosyncrasy
Meaning:
n   plural  idiosyncrasies  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: idiosynkrasia, from  idio- (  IDIOLECT) +  synkerannynai  ’to mix together’]//\n  1 an unusual habit or way of behaving that someone has:  --my uncle’s idiosyncrasies//\n  2 an unusual or unexpected feature that something has:  --one of the many idiosyncrasies of English spelling//  -- idiosyncratic/[hA366]di[hA353]s[hA366]nkr[zB024]t[hA366]k[hA36B]/ adj //


Words: idiot
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: idiota  ’person who knows nothing’, from  Greek idiotes  ’private person, person who knows nothing’, from  idios  ’own, personal, private’]//\n  1 a stupid person or someone who has done something stupid:  --It was all your fault, you idiot.//\n  2  old use someone who is mentally ill or has a very low level of intelligence:  -- idiotic/[hA366]di[hA361]t[hA366]k[hA36B] $ -[hA35A][hA359]t-/ adj //  --Stop asking such idiotic questions.//  -- idiotically/-kli/ adv //


Words: idiot-proof
Meaning:
adj   something that is idiot-proof is so easy to use or do that even stupid people will not break it or make a mistake//  --idiot-proof instructions//


Words: idle
Meaning:
adj   [Language: Old English; Origin: idel]//\n  1 not working or producing anything:  → busy//  --I cannot afford to leave the land lying idle .//  --The whole team stood idle , waiting for the mechanic.//  --The workers have been idle for the last six months.//\n  2 not serious, or not done with any definite intention:  --She was not a woman to make idle threats .//  idle chatter/talk/gossip etc //  --It was only from idle curiosity that she went into the barn.//\n  3 lazy:  --Go and wake up that idle brother of yours.//\n  4  it is idle to do sth:  it is not worth doing something, because nothing will be achieved//  --It would be idle to deny that great progress was made.//\n  5  the idle rich:  rich people who do not have to work//  -- idleness n  [U] //  -- idly adv //  --They sat around, chatting idly.//  --I cannot stand idly by and let him take the blame.//\nidle 2 v \n  1 [I] if an engine idles, it runs slowly while the vehicle, machine etc is not moving:  --He flicked a switch and let the boat idle.//\n  2 [I] to spend time doing nothing:  --Sometimes he went for a walk; sometimes he just idled.//\n  3 [T]  AmE to stop using a factory or stop providing work for your workers, especially temporarily:   shut down//  --The company has reduced its workforce and indefinitely idled a number of its US plants.//  idle away [idle sth → away] phr v//  to spend time in a relaxed way, doing nothing//  --They idled their time away in the pub.//


Words: idol
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: idole, from  Greek eidolon  ’image, idol’]//\n  1 someone or something that you love or admire very much:   hero//  idol of//  --She is the idol of countless teenagers.//  --She had made an idol of her husband.//  --a pop idol //\n  2 a picture or statue that is worshipped as a god:


Words: idolatry
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: idolatrie, from  Greek, from  eidolon (  IDOL) +  latreia  ’service, worship’]//\n  1 the practice of worshipping idols:\n  2 when you admire someone or something too much:  -- idolatrous adj //


Words: idolize
Meaning:
also  idolise BrE   v [T]   to admire and love someone so much that you think they are perfect//  --They had one child, a girl whom they idolized.//


Words: idyll
Meaning:
n [singular]  literary   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: idyllium, from  Greek eidyllion, from  eidos  ’form’]//  a place or experience in which everything is peaceful and everyone is perfectly happy//  --a rural idyll //


Words: idyllic
Meaning:
adj   an idyllic place or time is very beautiful, happy, and peaceful, with no problems or dangers//  idyllic setting/surroundings/scene etc //  --If you want old-world tradition in an idyllic setting, this is the hotel for you.//  -- idyllically/-kli/ adv //  --idyllically happy//


Words: If
Meaning:
a famous poem by Rudyard  Kipling which starts with the words "If you can keep your head when all about you/Are losing theirs and blaming it on you...". It describes the qualities of character that some people think of as typically English, such as the ability to remain calm in difficult situations.//


Words: if
Meaning:
conj   [Language: Old English; Origin: gif]//\n  1 used when talking about something that might happen or be true, or might have happened:  --We’ll stay at home if it rains.//  --If you need money, I can lend you some.//  --If I didn’t apologize I’d feel guilty.//  --If you had worked harder, you would have passed your exams.//  --What would happen to your family if you were to die in an accident?//  --If Dad were here, he would know what to do.//  --Taste the soup and add salt and pepper if necessary .//  --I want to get back by five o’clock if possible .//  --I think I can fix it tomorrow. If not , you’ll have to wait till Friday.//  --Is the book available, and if so where?//  --The missiles can be fired only if the operator types in a six-digit code.//  --We’ll face that problem if and when it comes along (=if it happens or when it happens) .//  -- If by any chance you can’t manage dinner tonight, perhaps we can at least have a drink together. see usage note  unless//\n  2 used to mention a fact, situation, or event that someone asks about, or is not certain about:  --He stopped to ask me if I was all right.//  --I don’t know if what I am saying makes any sense.//  --I doubt if anyone will remember me.//  --I’m not sure if this is the right road or not. //\n  3 used to mention a type of event or situation when talking about what happens on occasions of that type:  --If I go to bed late I feel dreadful in the morning.//  --Plastic will melt if it gets too hot.//\n  4 used when saying what someone’s feelings are about a possible situation:  --You don’t seem to care if I’m tired.//  --I’m sorry if I upset you.//  --It would be nice if we could spend more time together.//\n  5  spoken used when making a polite request:  --I wonder if you could help me.//  --I’d be grateful if you would send me further details.//  --Would you mind if I open a window?//  --If you would just wait for a moment, I’ll try to find your papers.//\n  6 used when you are adding that something may be even more, less, better, worse etc than you have just said:  --Brian rarely, if ever, goes to bed before 3 am.//  --Their policies have changed little, if at all, since the last election.//  --Her needs are just as important as yours, if not more so.//  --The snow was now two feet deep, making it difficult, if not impossible, to get the car out.//\n  7  even if:  used to emphasize that, although something may happen or may be true, it will not change a situation//  --I wouldn’t tell you even if I knew.//  --Even if she survives, she’ll never fully recover.//\n  8  if anything:  used when adding a remark that changes what you have just said or makes it stronger//  --It’s warm enough here in London. A little too warm, if anything.//\n  9  spoken used during a conversation when you are trying to make a suggestion, change the subject, or interrupt someone else:  --If I might just make a suggestion, I think that the matter could be easily settled with a little practical demonstration.//  --If I could just take one example to illustrate this.//\n  10  if I were you:   spoken used when giving advice and telling someone what you think they should do//  --I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you.//\n  11  if only:  a) used to express a strong wish, especially when you know that what you want cannot happen//  --If only he had talked to her sooner!//  --If only I weren’t so tired!//  b) used to give a reason for something, although you think it is not a good one//  --Media studies is regarded as a more exciting subject, if only because it’s new.//\n  12 used to say that although something may be true, it is not important:  --If he has a fault at all, it is that he is too generous.//  --Her only problem, if you can call it a problem, is that she expects to be successful all the time.//\n  13 used when adding one criticism of a person or thing that you generally like:  --The eldest son was highly intelligent, if somewhat lazy.//  --Lunch was a grand if rather noisy affair.//    as if at as2 (9)//    if ever there was one at ever(15)//    what if...? at what1 (18)//  ----------//  GRAMMAR //  When you are using  if  to talk about something that might happen in the future, use the present simple tense, not  will  or  shall : if I failthe test (NOT if I will fail the test). //  To refer to the present or the future after  if when you are talking about something unlikely or untrue, use the past tense, not ’would’ or ’should’ : If someone gave me the money, I’d buy a car tomorrow (NOT If someone would give me the money...) //  !!  In formal English or in writing, use  were  not  was  when the subject of the clause is  I, he, she, it, there  or a singular noun : If I were in that position, I’d get legal advice. |  Imagine how you would feel if your child were killed. //  In normal conversation, you can also use  was : If I was ten years younger, I’d go out with him. //  !!  The expression  if I were you is fixed. Do not say ’if I was you’, even in normal conversation : If I were you, I’d have a talk with your parents. //  To refer to the past when you are talking about something that did not happen, use the past perfect tense : If he had married Laura, he would have been unhappy (NOT If he would have married Laura...). //  ----------//\nif 2 n [C]  informal \n  1  ifs and buts:   BrE ifs, ands, or buts  AmE //  if you do not want any ifs and buts, you want someone to do something quickly without arguing//  --No ifs and buts - just make sure the job is done by tomorrow!//\n  2  and it’s a big if:  used to say that something is not likely to happen//  --The team will go racing next year if - and it’s a very big if - they can raise six million pounds.//\n  3 something that may or may not happen:  --There are too many ifs in this plan of yours.//


Words: iffy
Meaning:
adj  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: if]//\n  1  BrE not very good:  --That meat smells a bit iffy to me.//\n  2 not certain to happen:   doubtful//  --The July date is still rather iffy.//


Words: igloo
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Inuit; Origin: iglu  ’house’]//  a house made from blocks of hard snow or ice//


Words: Ignatius of Loyola
Meaning:
St  also St Ignatius Loyola   (1491-1556) a Spanish priest who started the  Jesuit order (=a Roman Catholic group of  missionary priests, which is also called the  Society of Jesus) //


Words: igneous
Meaning:
adj  technical   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: igneus, from  ignis;   IGNITE]//  igneous rocks are formed from lava (=hot liquid rock) //


Words: ignite
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  ignire  ’to cause to start burning’, from  ignis  ’fire’]//\n  1 [I and T]  formal to start burning, or to make something start burning:  --The petrol tank suddenly ignited.//  --The candle ignited the plastic and started a small fire.//\n  2 [T] to start a dangerous situation, angry argument etc:  --events which ignited the war in Europe//


Words: ignition
Meaning:
n \n  1 [singular] the electrical part of a vehicle’s engine that makes it start working:\n  2 [C usually singular] the place in a car where you put in a key to start the engine:\n  3 [U]  formal the act of starting to burn or of making something start to burn:


Words: ignoble
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: ignobilis, from  in-  ’not’ +  gnobilis,  nobilis (  NOBLE1)]//  ignoble thoughts, feelings, or actions are ones that you should feel ashamed or embarrassed about//  --ignoble feelings of intense jealousy//


Words: ignominious
Meaning:
adj  formal   making you feel ashamed or embarrassed//   humiliating//  ignominious defeat/failure/retreat etc //  --an ignominious end to his career//  -- ignominiously adv //


Words: ignominy
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: ignominie, from  Latin, from  ig- (as in  ignorare;   IGNORE) +  nomen  ’name, reputation’]//  an event or situation that makes you feel ashamed or embarrassed, especially in public//   humiliation//  ignominy of//  --He feared the ignominy of being exposed as a spy.//


Words: ignoramus
Meaning:
n   plural  ignoramuses  [C]  old-fashioned //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’we do not know’, from  ignorare;   IGNORE]//  someone who does not know about things that most people know about//


Words: ignorance
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 lack of knowledge or information about something:  --Excuse my ignorance, but how does it actually work?//  ignorance of//  --our ignorance of the true situation//  in ignorance//  --I would have remained in ignorance if Shaun hadn’t mentioned it.//  ignorance about//  --public fear and ignorance about AIDS//\n  2  ignorance is bliss:  used to say that if you do not know about a problem, you cannot worry about it//


Words: ignorant
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not knowing facts or information that you ought to know:  --an ignorant and uneducated man//  ignorant of//  --Political historians are often rather ignorant of economics.//  ignorant about//  --Many school-leavers are ignorant about the range of job opportunities.//  --Many people remain blissfully ignorant about the dangers of too much sun (=happy because they do not know about the dangers) . see usage note  ignore//\n  2 caused by a lack of knowledge and understanding:  --an ignorant remark//  --ignorant opinions//\n  3  BrE  spoken rude or impolite:  --ignorant behaviour//  -- ignorantly adv //


Words: ignore
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: ignorer  ’not to know’, from  Latin, from  ignarus  ’not knowing, unknown’, from  in-  ’not’ +  gnoscere  ’to know’]//\n  1 to deliberately pay no attention to something that you have been told or that you know about:  --You can’t ignore the fact that many criminals never go to prison.//  --problems which we can’t afford to ignore//\n  2 to behave as if you had not heard or seen someone or something:  --The phone rang, but she ignored it.//  --Sam rudely ignored the question.//  completely/totally ignore sb/sth //  --He had completely ignored her remark, preferring his own theory.//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: ignore, be ignorant of, not know //  If you ignore something, you know about it or have seen or heard it, but deliberately do not take notice of it : We cannot ignore the problem. //  !!  Do not use  ignore  to mean ’not know about something’. Use  not know  instead : We don’t know how famous people live their lives (NOT We ignore how famous people live their lives). //  You can also say that you  are ignorant of  something, especially when you should know about it : They seem to be ignorant of the dangers involved. //  ----------//


Words: iguana
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: Arawakan iwana]//  a large tropical American lizard//


Words: ilk
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: ilk  ’same’ (12-19 centuries), from  Old English ilca]//  a particular type//   kind//  of that/his/their etc ilk//  --Irving Berlin and composers of his ilk//  sb and that/his/their etc ilk//  --Mrs Taylor and her ilk talk absolute rubbish.//


Words: ill
Meaning:
W3S3   adj   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old Norse; Origin: illr]//\n  1  especially BrE suffering from a disease or not feeling well:  American Equivalent:  sick//  --Bridget can’t come - she’s ill. //  -- I was  feeling ill  that day and decided to stay at home. //  -- She was suddenly  taken ill  at school. //  -- All these diets are  making  you  ill . //  ill with//  --Her husband has been ill with bladder trouble.//  -- A number of these patients are  seriously ill . //  -- caring for  mentally ill  people //  -- a hospice for the  terminally ill   see usage note  sick1 //\n  2 [only before noun] bad or harmful:  --Many people consumed the poisoned oil without ill effects .//  --the neglect and ill treatment of children//  --He was unable to join the army because of ill health .//\n  3  ill at ease:  nervous, uncomfortable, or embarrassed//  --He always felt shy and ill at ease at parties.//\n  4  it’s an ill wind (that blows nobody any good):   spoken used to say that every problem brings an advantage for someone//    ill feeling,  ill will//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  feel ill //  become/fall/get ill also  be taken ill //  make somebody ill //  seriously/critically/gravely ill  (=very ill) //  chronically ill (=always ill) //  mentally ill //  terminally ill  (=with an illness you will die from) //  ----------//\nill 2 adv \n  1  sb can ill afford (to do) sth:  to be unable to do or have something without making the situation you are in very difficult//  --I was losing weight which I could ill afford to lose.//  --Most gamblers can ill afford their habit.//\n  2  think/speak ill of sb:   formal to think or say unpleasant things about someone//  --She really believes you should never speak ill of the dead.//\n  3  bode ill:   formal to give you a reason to think that something bad will happen//  --The look on his face boded ill for somebody.//\nill 3 n \n  1  ills [plural] problems and difficulties:  --He wants to cure all the ills of the world.//\n  2 [U]  formal harm, evil, or bad luck:  --She did not like Matthew but she would never wish him ill.//


Words: ill will
Meaning:
n [U]   unfriendly or unkind feelings towards someone//  --He said the accusation had been made from hatred and ill will.//


Words: ill-advised
Meaning:
adj   not sensible or not wise and likely to cause problems in the future//  ill-advised to do sth//  --You would be ill-advised to go out alone at night.//  --ill-advised remarks//  -- ill-advisedly/-[hA353]dva[hA366]zd[hA369]li/ adv //


Words: ill-conceived
Meaning:
adj   not planned well and not having an aim that is likely to be achieved//  --The policy was ill-conceived and wrong-headed.//


Words: ill-considered
Meaning:
adj   decisions, actions, ideas etc that are ill-considered have not been carefully thought about//  --The tax reforms are ill-considered.//


Words: ill-defined
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not described clearly enough:  --Some jobs in the company are pretty ill-defined.//\n  2 not clearly marked, or not having a clear shape:   indistinct//  --The borders were vague and ill-defined.//


Words: ill-equipped
Meaning:
adj   not having the necessary equipment or skills for a particular situation or activity//  ill-equipped to do sth//  --The rebels were ill-equipped to cope with Western weapons and forces.//  ill-equipped for//  --Their army is ill-equipped for modern warfare.//


Words: ill-fitting
Meaning:
adj   ill-fitting clothes do not fit the person who is wearing them//  → well-fitting//  --Many children have problems with their feet, caused by ill-fitting shoes.//


Words: ill-gotten gains
Meaning:
adj   money that was obtained in an unfair or dishonest way - used humorously//  --Well, I hope you enjoy your ill-gotten gains.//


Words: ill-informed
Meaning:
adj   knowing less than you should about a particular subject//  ill-informed about//  --Some employers are ill-informed about education.//


Words: ill-judged
Meaning:
adj  formal   an action that is ill-judged has not been thought about carefully enough//  → well-judged//  --an ill-judged choice of words//


Words: ill-mannered
Meaning:
adj  formal   not polite and behaving badly in social situations//  → well-mannered//  --The fellow is an ill-mannered brute.//


Words: ill-served
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   not helped by something or not represented well//  --The north-east of the country is ill-served by the rail network.//


Words: ill-starred
Meaning:
adj  literary   unlucky and likely to cause or experience a lot of problems or unhappiness//  --an ill-starred love affair//


Words: ill-suited
Meaning:
adj   not useful for a particular purpose//  ill-suited to//  --a country ill-suited to wheat farming//


Words: ill-tempered
Meaning:
adj  formal \n  1 easily made angry or impatient:   bad-tempered//\n  2 an ill-tempered meeting, argument etc is one in which people are angry and often rude to each other:  --Six players were sent off in an ill-tempered game.//


Words: ill-treat
Meaning:
v [T]   to be cruel to someone, especially to a child or animal//  --a rescue centre for ill-treated horses//  -- ill-treatment n  [U] //


Words: illegal
Meaning:
adj   not allowed by the law//   unlawful//  → legal//  -- illegal drugs //  -- illegal activities such as prostitution and gambling//  it is illegal to do sth//  --It is illegal to sell tobacco to someone under 16.//  -- illegally adv //  --They entered the country illegally.//  -- illegality/[hA366]l[hA366]g[zB024]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //\nillegal 2 n [C]  AmE  spoken   an illegal immigrant//  --Illegals are still slipping through in unacceptable numbers.//


Words: illegal immigrant
Meaning:
also illegal alien  AmE n [C]   someone who comes to live in another country without official permission//


Words: illegible
Meaning:
adj   difficult or impossible to read//  → legible//  --His handwriting is totally illegible.//  -- illegibly adv //  -- illegibility/[hA366]led[hA360][hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: illegitimate
Meaning:
adj \n  1 born to parents who are not married:  → legitimate//  --his illegitimate son//\n  2 not allowed or acceptable according to rules or agreements:  → legitimate//  --a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate trade//  -- illegitimately adv //  -- illegitimacy n  [U] //


Words: illiberal
Meaning:
adj  formal \n  1 not supporting people’s rights to say or do what they want:  → liberal//  --illiberal and undemocratic policies//\n  2 not generous:  -- illiberally adv //  -- illiberality/[hA366]l[hA366]b[hA353]r[zB024]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: illicit
Meaning:
adj   not allowed by laws or rules, or strongly disapproved of by society//    illegal//  -- illicit drugs //  --the illicit trade in stolen cattle//  -- illicitly adv //


Words: Illinois
Meaning:
IL a state in the  Midwest of the US, famous for its farming and industry. Chicago is its largest city.//


Words: illiterate
Meaning:
adj \n  1 someone who is illiterate has not learned to read or write:\n  2 badly written, in an uneducated way:  --It was an illiterate letter, full of mistakes.//\n  3  economically/politically/scientifically etc illiterate:  knowing very little about economics, politics etc//  -- illiteracy n  [U] //\nilliterate 2 n [C]   someone who has not learned to read or write//


Words: illness
Meaning:
W3S2   n [U and C]   a disease of the body or mind, or the condition of being ill//  --She  had  all the normal childhood  illnesses .//  --I’d been told I’d been suffering from various illnesses .//  --Her mother was just recovering from an illness .//  --Have you ever had any  serious illnesses ?//  --He died in hospital yesterday after a  short illness .//  --patients with chronic illnesses //  --Her husband was diagnosed with a  terminal illness . (=doctors found that her husband had a terminal illness) //  --Stress can cause mental illness .//  --I’ve never missed a day’s work  through illness  in my life.//  --ways to improve your health and reduce the risk of illness//    disease//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  have an illness/suffer from an illness //  recover from an illness //  serious illness //  minor illness //  short/long illness //  childhood illness //  acute illness (=an illness that becomes serious very quickly) //  chronic illness (=an illness that lasts a long time and cannot be cured) //  fatal illness (=an illness which causes death) //  terminal illness (=an illness which cannot be cured and that causes death, often slowly) //  mental illness //  the symptoms of an illness (=the things that show that someone has it) //  through illness (=because of illness) //  WORD CHOICE: illness, disease //  Illness  and  disease  are often used in the same way and are equally common in spoken English.  //  However,  illness  is more often used to refer to the length of time or state of being unwell : He died after a long illness. |  if you are off school because of illness //  !!  Do not use  illness  to talk about less serious problems such as headaches or colds. //  Disease  is a particular kind of illness, especially one that spreads from one person to another or affects a particular part of your body : infectious diseases |  heart disease //  !! Disease  can also be used to mean a lot of different diseases : Cigarette smoking causes death and disease. //  ----------//


Words: illogical
Meaning:
adj   not sensible or reasonable//  → logical//  --illogical and unreasonable fear//  it is illogical to do sth//  --It is illogical to assume you can do the work of three people.//  -- illogically/-kli/ adv //  -- illogicality/[hA366]l[hA361]d[hA360][hA369]k[zB024]l[hA369]ti $ [hA366]l[hA35A][hA359]-/ n  [U] //


Words: illuminate
Meaning:
v  also illumine  [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  illuminare, from  lumen  ’light’]//\n  1 to make a light shine on something, or to fill a place with light:  --A single candle illuminated his face.//  --At night the canals are beautifully illuminated.//\n  2  formal to make something much clearer and easier to understand:  --The report illuminated the difficult issues at the heart of science policy.//


Words: illuminated
Meaning:
adj \n  1 lit up by lights:  --An illuminated sign flashed on and off.//\n  2  illuminated manuscript/book:  a book of a type produced by hand in the Middle Ages, whose pages are decorated with gold paint and other bright colours//


Words: illumination
Meaning:
n  formal \n  1 [U] lighting provided by a lamp, light etc:  --White candles, the only illumination, burned on the table.//  --The rooms were flooded with soft illumination.//\n  2 [C usually plural] a picture or pattern painted on a page of a book, especially in the past:  --the illuminations in a medieval manuscript//\n  3  illuminations:   BrE a show of coloured lights used to make a town bright and colourful//  --the Blackpool illuminations//\n  4 [U and C]  formal a clear explanation or understanding of a particular subject:


Words: illusion
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Latin illusio, from  illudere  ’to make fun of’, from  ludere  ’to play’]//\n  1 an idea or opinion that is wrong, especially about yourself:    delusion//  illusion that//  --They suffer from the illusion that they cannot solve their problems.//  --She was under no illusion that he loved her.//  -- It is an illusion that the Arctic is dark in winter.//  --She had no illusions about her physical attractions.//  --’I hate to shatter your illusions,’ he said.//\n  2 something that seems to be different from the way it really is:  illusion of//  --He was unlikely to be satisfied with the illusion of power.//  give/create an illusion //  --The mirrors in the room gave an illusion of greater space.//  --Credit creates the illusion that you can own things without paying for them.//    optical illusion//


Words: illustrate
Meaning:
W2   v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  illustrare, from  lustrare  ’to make pure or bright’]//\n  1 to make the meaning of something clearer by giving examples:  --Let me give an example to illustrate the point .//  --She illustrated her discussion with diagrams.//\n  2 to be an example which shows that something is true or that a fact exists:  illustrate that//  --This dispute illustrates that the regime is deeply divided.//  illustrate how//  --The following examples illustrate how this operates in practice.//  --This illustrates a fundamental weakness in the system.//\n  3 to put pictures in a book, article etc:  --Over a hundred diagrams, tables and pictures illustrate the book.//


Words: illustration
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] a picture in a book, article etc, especially one that helps you to understand it:  --The book contains 62 pages of illustrations.//\n  2 [U and C] a story, event, action etc that shows the truth or existence of something very clearly:  illustration of//  --a striking illustration of 19th century attitudes to women//  --For the purposes of illustration, some of the more important symptoms are listed below.//\n  3 [U] the act or process of illustrating something:


Words: illustrative
Meaning:
adj \n  1 helping to explain the meaning of something:  illustrative of//  --The case is illustrative of a common pattern.//  -- For illustrative purposes , only a simple example is given here.//\n  2 having pictures, especially to help you understand something:  --graphics and other illustrative material//    illustrate//


Words: illustrious
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: illustris  ’bright, famous’, from  illustrare;   ILLUSTRATE]//  famous and admired because of what you have achieved//  --She has had an illustrious career.//  --Wagner was just one of many illustrious visitors to the town.//


Words: IM
Meaning:
n [U]   instant messaging a type of service available on the Internet that allows you to quickly exchange written messages with people that you know//


Words: image
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 public opinion:\n   2 idea in mind:\n   3 picture/what you see:\n   4 description:\n   5 be the (very/living/spitting) image of somebody:\n   6 in the image of somebody/something:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: imagene, from  Latin imago]//\n  1 PUBLIC OPINION:  the opinion people have of a person, organization, product etc, or the way a person, organization etc seems to be to the public//  --The hotel and casino industry is working hard on improving its image .//  --The party has to project the right image .//  image of//  --Attempts were made to improve the public image of the police.//\n  2 IDEA IN MIND:  a picture that you have in your mind, especially about what someone or something is like or the way they look//  image of//  --He had no visual image of her, only her name.//  --He had the clearest image in his mind of his mother and father.//\n  3 PICTURE/WHAT YOU SEE:  a) a picture of an object in a mirror or in the lens of a camera//  --She peered closely at her image in the mirror.//  b) a picture on the screen of a television, cinema, or computer//  --Jill Sharpe was little more than a name, a glossy image on a television screen.//  c) a picture or shape of a person or thing that is copied onto paper or is cut in wood or stone//  --carved images//\n  4 DESCRIPTION:  a word, phrase, or picture that describes an idea in a poem, book, film etc//  --He paints a very romantic image of working-class communities.//\n  5  be the (very/living/spitting) image of sb:  to look exactly like someone or something else//  --He’s the spitting image of his mother.//\n  6  in the image of sb/sth:   literary in the same form or shape as someone or something else//  --According to the Bible, man was made in the image of God.//    mirror image//


Words: imagery
Meaning:
n [U]   the use of words or pictures to describe ideas or actions in poems, books, films etc//  imagery of//  --the imagery of love//  --Their dreams commonly involved complex stories with visual imagery .//


Words: imaginable
Meaning:
adj \n  1 used to emphasize that something is the best, worst etc that can be imagined:  --The travel brochure is full of the most wonderful resorts imaginable.//\n  2 used to emphasize that something includes every possible example of something:  --He seems to have been influenced by every imaginable musical style.//


Words: imaginary
Meaning:
adj   not real, but produced from pictures or ideas in your mind//  --As she listened, she played an imaginary piano on her knees.//  --We must protect older people from harm, whether it is real or imaginary.//


Words: imagination
Meaning:
W3S3   n \n  1 [U and C] the ability to form pictures or ideas in your mind:  --You don’t have to  use  your  imagination  when you’re watching television.//  --Children often have very  vivid imaginations . //  -- There is a  lack of imagination  in the way the furniture is displayed. //  --It does not  take  much  imagination  to understand the depth of their grief.//  --These ancient objects must have  fired  his  imagination .//  -- With a little imagination , you can find great inexpensive Christmas gifts.//\n  2  be (a figment of) sb’s imagination:  to be something that someone imagines, not something that really exists or happens//  --Did you hear that noise, or was it my imagination?//  --These people do exist; they’re not figments of my imagination.//\n  3  in sb’s imagination:  only existing or happening in someone’s mind, not in real life//  --For the refugees, home exists only in their imagination.//\n  4  capture/catch sb’s imagination:  to make people feel very interested and excited//  --American football really captured the imagination of the British public.//\n  5  leave sth to sb’s imagination:  to deliberately not describe something because you think someone can guess or imagine it//  --Mercifully, the writer leaves most of the physical horrors to our imagination.//\n  6  leave little/nothing to the imagination:  a) if someone’s clothes leave little or nothing to the imagination, the clothes are very thin or are worn in a way that shows the person’s body//  --Her black satin dress left nothing to the imagination.//  b) if something sexual or violent is described in a way that leaves nothing to the imagination, it is described in too much detail//\n  7  use your imagination:   spoken used to tell someone that they can easily guess the answer to a question, so you should not need to tell them//    not by any stretch of the imagination at stretch2 (4)//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  use your imagination //  vivid/fertile/creative imagination  (=when you have many pictures and ideas in your mind) //  overactive imagination  (=when you imagine things that are very unlikely) //  lack of imagination //  something takes imagination //  stretch somebody’s/the imagination  (=make someone imagine something very unlikely) //  fire somebody’s imagination (=make someone eager to use their imagination) //  with a little imagination //  ----------//


Words: imaginative
Meaning:
adj \n  1 containing new and interesting ideas:  --an imaginative use of computer technology//  --children’s imaginative play//  --an imaginative solution to the litter problem//\n  2 good at thinking of new and interesting ideas:  --an imaginative child//  -- imaginatively adv //  --imaginatively displayed exhibits//


Words: imagine
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: imaginer, from  Latin imaginari, from  imago;   IMAGE]//\n  1 to form a picture or idea in your mind about what something could be like:  imagine (that)//  --Imagine that you have just won a million pounds.//  --Imagine life without hot water.//  imagine what/how/why etc//  --Can you imagine what it’s like when it’s really hot out here in Delhi?//  imagine sb doing sth//  --She could imagine dark-robed figures moving silently along the stone corridors.//  (just) imagine doing sth//  --Imagine doing a horrible job like that!//  --Just imagine going all that way for nothing!//  imagine sb/sth as sth//  --He didn’t quite dare to imagine himself as a real artist.//  imagine sb in/with/without etc sth//  --Somehow I can’t imagine him without a beard.//  it is difficult/easy/possible/impossible etc to imagine sth //  --After such a dry summer, it’s difficult to imagine what rain looks like.//\n  2 to have a false or wrong idea about something:  --Perhaps she’d never really been there at all - perhaps she’d just imagined it.//  --imagined dangers//  imagine (that)//  --She had imagined that the doctor would be male.//  --I was surprised when I saw the farm. I had imagined it would be much bigger.//  imagine sth/sb to be sth//  --There’s nobody here. You’re just imagining things .//\n  3 [not in progressive] to think that something is true or may happen, but without being sure or having proof:  --’A very complicated subject, I imagine,’ said Edwin.//  imagine (that)//  --You are obviously tired and I imagine that nothing would make you admit it.//\n  4  you can/can’t imagine sth:   BrE  spoken used to emphasize how good, bad etc something is//  You can/can’t imagine how/what/why etc//  --You can imagine how angry I was!//  --You can’t imagine what a terrible week we had.//


Words: imaging
Meaning:
n [U]   a technical process in which pictures of the inside of someone’s body are produced, especially for medical reasons//  --New imaging technologies mean that doctors are better able to screen for breast cancer.//


Words: imaginings
Meaning:
n [plural]  literary   situations or ideas that you imagine, but which are not real or true//  --In my wildest imaginings , I could not have foreseen what a wonderful life lay before me.//


Words: imam
Meaning:
Imam/[hA366]m[hA35A][hA359]m, [hA366]m[zB024]m/ n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Arabic]//  a Muslim religious leader or priest//


Words: imbalance
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a lack of a fair or correct balance between two things, which results in problems or unfairness//   inequality//  imbalance in//  --The government must redress the imbalance  (=put it right) in spending on black and white children.//  imbalance between//  --the current imbalance between farming and conservation interests//  --a hormonal imbalance//  -- imbalanced adj //  --Many pupils follow an imbalanced curriculum.//


Words: imbecile
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: imbecile, from  imbecile  ’weak, weak-minded’, from  Latin imbecillus, probably from  baculum  ’stick (for support)’]//  someone who is very stupid or behaves very stupidly//   idiot//  --He looked at me as if I was a total imbecile.//  -- imbecilic/[hA366]mb[hA369]s[hA366]l[hA366]k[hA36B]/ adj //  -- imbecility/[hA366]mb[hA369]s[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U and C] //


Words: imbibe
Meaning:
v [I and T]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: imbibere, from  bibere  ’to drink’]//\n  1 to drink something, especially alcohol - sometimes used humorously:  --Both men imbibed considerable quantities of gin.//\n  2 to accept and be influenced by qualities, ideas, values etc:  --She had imbibed the traditions of her family.//


Words: imbroglio
Meaning:
n   plural  imbroglios  [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: imbrogliare  ’to mix up’]//  a difficult, embarrassing, or confusing situation, especially in politics or public life//  --a political imbroglio//


Words: imbue
Meaning:
v   imbue with [imbue sb/sth with sth] phr v//  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: imbuere  ’to make wet, stain’]//  to make someone or something have a quality, idea, or emotion very strongly//  --His philosophical writings are imbued with religious belief.//  --Hoskins imbues Iago’s character with hostility and rage.//


Words: IMEI
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   international mobile equipment identifier a number that each mobile phone has, which it sends whenever someone uses it to make a phone call//


Words: IMF
Meaning:
n   the IMF//   the International Monetary Fund an international organization that tries to encourage trade between countries and to help poorer countries develop economically//


Words: imitate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  imitari]//\n  1 to copy the way someone behaves, speaks, moves etc, especially in order to make people laugh:  --She was a splendid mimic and loved to imitate Winston Churchill.//\n  2 to copy something because you think it is good:  --vegetarian products which imitate meat//  --The Japanese have no wish to imitate Western social customs and attitudes.//  -- imitator n  [C] //  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not use imitate when you mean to do the same thing as someone else. Use copy instead: She worries that Tom will copy his brother and leave home (NOT She worries that he will imitate his brother). //  ----------//


Words: imitation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] when you copy someone else’s actions:  by imitation//  --Many people think that children learn language by imitation.//  --The remake of ’Casablanca’ was a pale imitation  (=something that is much less good than the thing it imitates) of the original movie.//\n  2 [C] when you copy the way someone speaks or behaves, especially in order to be funny:   impression//  --She acted, she danced, she did imitations .//  imitation of//  --his imitation of an American accent//\n  3 [C] a copy of something:  imitation of//  --She wore an imitation of a sailor’s hat.//  imitation fur/pearls/silk/leather etc (=something that looks like an expensive material but is a copy of it) //  --an imitation fur coat//


Words: imitative
Meaning:
adj  formal   copying someone or something, especially in a way that shows you do not have any ideas of your own//  --Young people might be provoked into imitative crime by the exploits they see on TV.//


Words: immaculate
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: immaculatus, from  macula  ’spot of dirt’]//\n  1 very clean and tidy:  → messy//  --He wore an immaculate dark-blue suit.//  --an immaculate kitchen//\n  2 exactly correct or perfect in every detail:  --her immaculate stage performances//  -- immaculately adv //


Words: Immaculate Conception
Meaning:
the   the Roman Catholic belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, was born without original sin (=the state of disobedience to God with which all human beings are born) //


Words: immanent
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , present participle of  immanere  ’to stay in place’, from  Latin manere  ’to stay’]//\n  1 a quality that is immanent seems to be present everywhere:  --Love is a force immanent in the world.//\n  2 God or another spiritual power that is immanent is present everywhere:  -- immanence n  [U] //


Words: immaterial
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not important in a particular situation:   irrelevant//  --If you sign a document, it is wholly immaterial whether you have read it carefully or not.//\n  2  formal not having a physical body or form:  --our immaterial soul//


Words: immature
Meaning:
adj \n  1 someone who is immature behaves or thinks in a way that is typical of someone much younger - used to show disapproval:  → mature//   childish//  --He forgave his son’s immature behaviour.//\n  2 not fully formed or developed:  --We need measures to protect immature whales.//  -- immaturity n  [U] //


Words: immeasurable
Meaning:
adj   used to emphasize that something is too big or too extreme to be measured//  --The refugee problem has now reached immeasurable proportions.//  -- immeasurably adv //  --Your Spanish has improved immeasurably.//


Words: immediacy
Meaning:
n [U]   when something is important or urgent because it relates to a situation or event that is happening now//  immediacy of//  --the immediacy of everyday experience//  --Television brings a new immediacy to world events.//


Words: immediate
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: immediatus, from  mediatus  ’in between, separated’]//\n  1 happening or done at once and without delay:  --Our immediate response to the attack was sheer horror.//  --They promise immediate action to help the unemployed.//  --If the eyes are affected, seek immediate medical attention.//\n  2 [only before noun] existing now, and needing to be dealt with quickly:  --Let’s try and solve the most immediate problem .//  --There is an immediate danger of war.//\n  3 [only before noun] happening just before or just after someone or something else:  --The most immediate effect of retirement is a dramatic reduction in living standards.//  --He promised that there would be no tax increases in the immediate future .//\n  4 [only before noun] next to, or very near to, a particular place:  --It is a thriving shopping centre for the people who live in the immediate area .//\n  5  immediate family:  people who are very closely related to you, such as your parents, children, brothers, and sisters//


Words: immediately
Meaning:
W1S2   adv \n  1 without delay:   at once//  --Mix in the remaining ingredients and serve immediately.//  --The telephone rang, and he answered it immediately.//\n  2 very soon before or after something:  immediately after/following sth //  --He retired immediately after the end of the war.//  immediately before/preceding sth //  --I can’t remember what happened immediately before the crash.//\n  3  immediately obvious/apparent:  able to be seen or understood very easily//  --The solution to this problem is not immediately obvious.//\n  4 [+ adjective/adverb] very near to something:  immediately behind/above/below/in front of etc sth//  --the seat immediately behind the driver//\n  5  immediately affected/concerned/involved etc:  very closely involved etc in a particular situation//  --Those most immediately involved in the disaster will be given support.//\nimmediately 2 conj  BrE  formal   as soon as//  --Immediately you begin to speak, he gives you his full attention.//


Words: immemorial
Meaning:
adj   starting longer ago than people can remember, or than written history shows//  from/since time immemorial //  --Markets have been held here since time immemorial.//


Words: immense
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: Latin immensus, from  mensus  ’measured’]//  extremely large//   enormous//  --People who travel by rail still read an immense amount.//  --Regular visits from a social worker can be of immense value to old people living alone.//


Words: immensely
Meaning:
adv   very much//   extremely//  --Champagne wines became immensely popular in the 18th century.//  immensely powerful/strong/important etc //  --Nationalism is an immensely powerful force.//  --We enjoyed the play immensely.//


Words: immensity
Meaning:
n   plural  immensities //\n  1 [U and C] used to emphasize the great size of something, especially something that cannot be measured:  immensity of//  --the immensity of outer space//\n  2 [U] used to emphasize the great size and seriousness of something such as a problem you have to deal with or a job you have to do:  immensity of//  --the immensity of the problem//


Words: immerse
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  immergere, from  mergere;   MERGE]//\n  1 to put someone or something deep into a liquid so that they are completely covered:  immerse sb/sth in sth//  --Immerse your foot in ice cold water to reduce the swelling.//\n  2  immerse yourself in sth:  to become completely involved in an activity//  --He left school at 16 and immersed himself in the Labour party.//  -- immersed adj //  --She was far too immersed in her studies.//


Words: immersion
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the action of immersing something in liquid, or the state of being immersed:  immersion in//  --his near-fatal immersion in the icy Atlantic ocean//\n  2 [U] the fact of being completely involved in something you are doing:  immersion in//  --my immersion in black music and culture//\n  3 [U]  technical the language teaching method in which people are put in situations where they have to use the new language:\n  4 [C]  BrE  informal an immersion heater:


Words: immigrant
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who enters another country to live there permanently//    emigrant//  --an illegal immigrant//  --a new wave of immigrants from the Middle East//


Words: immigrate
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  immigrare  ’to go in’, from  migrare;   MIGRATE]//  to come into a country in order to live there permanently//    emigrate//  --His father and mother immigrated when he was two.//


Words: immigration
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the process of entering another country in order to live there permanently:    emigration//  --He called for a common European policy on immigration.//\n  2 the total number of people who immigrate:  --Immigration fell in the 1980s.//\n  3  also immigration control :  the place at an airport, sea port etc where officials check the documents of everyone entering the country//


Words: Immigration and Naturalization Service
Meaning:
the   the INS a US government organization which deals with  immigration, making sure that people from other countries obey official rules about who is allowed to live or work in the US. It also has the power to decide whether these people can become US citizens.//


Words: imminent
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  imminere  ’to stick out, threaten’]//  an event that is imminent, especially an unpleasant one, will happen very soon//  imminent danger/threat/death/disaster etc //  --He was in imminent danger of dying.//  --He smiled in anticipation of her imminent arrival.//  --A new trade agreement is imminent.//  -- imminence n  [U] //  --the imminence of the General Election//  -- imminently adv //


Words: immobile
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not moving at all:   motionless//  --She could see a figure sitting immobile, facing the sea.//\n  2 unable to move or walk normally:  --Kim’s illness had rendered her completely immobile.//  -- immobility/[hA366]m[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: immobilize
Meaning:
also immobilise  BrE   v [T] \n  1 to prevent someone or something from moving:  --The broken limb must be immobilized immediately.//  --She was immobilized with a broken leg.//\n  2 to stop something from working:  --The car’s security device will immobilize the ignition system.//  -- immobilization/[hA366]m[hA353][hA35E]b[hA369]la[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ [hA366]mo[hA35E]b[hA353]l[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: immobilizer
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a piece of equipment that is fitted to a car to stop it moving if someone tries to steal it//


Words: immoderate
Meaning:
adj  formal   not within reasonable and sensible limits//   excessive//  --immoderate drinking//  -- immoderately adv //


Words: immodest
Meaning:
adj \n  1 having a very high opinion of yourself and your abilities, and not embarrassed about telling people how clever you are:  → modest//  --Webb was an immodest publicist of his own achievements.//\n  2 clothes that are immodest show too much of someone’s body:   revealing//  → modest//\n  3  old-fashioned behaviour that is immodest shocks or embarrasses people:  --They thought it was immodest for both sexes to swim together.//  -- immodestly adv //  -- immodesty n  [U] //


Words: immolate
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  immolare, from  mola  ’crushed grain’; because people about to be ceremonially killed had crushed grain scattered over them]//  to kill someone or destroy something by burning them//  -- immolation/[hA366]m[hA353]le[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: immoral
Meaning:
adj \n  1 morally wrong:    amoral//  --Deliberately making people suffer is immoral.//  -- It’s immoral to be rich while people are starving and homeless.//\n  2 not following accepted standards of sexual behaviour:  -- immorally adv //  -- immorality/[hA366]m[hA353]r[zB024]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //  --the immorality of bombing civilians//


Words: immortal
Meaning:
adj \n  1 living or continuing for ever:  → mortal//  --Plato believed that the soul is immortal.//\n  2 an immortal line, play, song etc is so famous that it will never be forgotten:  --In the immortal words of Henry Ford, ’If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’//  -- immortal n  [C] //


Words: Immortal Memory
Meaning:
The   especially in Scotland, the title of a  toast (=when people drink a glass of alcohol to show respect for someone)  to the poet Robert  Burns, usually made at parties on Burns Night//


Words: immortality
Meaning:
n [U]   the state of living for ever or being remembered for ever//  --the immortality of the soul//


Words: immortalize
Meaning:
also immortalise  BrE   v [T usually passive]   to make someone or something famous for a long time, especially by writing about them, painting a picture of them etc//  --Dickens’ father was immortalized as Mr Micawber in ’David Copperfield’.//


Words: immovable
Meaning:
adj \n  1 impossible to move:  --Lock your bike to something immovable like a railing or lamp-post.//\n  2 impossible to change or persuade:  --The president is immovable on this issue.//  -- immovably adv //


Words: immune
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: immunis, from  munis  ’ready for service’]//\n  1 [not before noun] someone who is immune to a particular disease cannot catch it:  --Once we’ve had the disease, we’re immune for life.//\n  2  immune response/reaction:  the reaction of the body’s immune system to something that is harmful//  --HIV is a progressive disease which the immune response ultimately fails to control.//\n  3 [not before noun] not affected by something that happens or is done:  immune to//  --The Labour Party is not immune to new ideas.//\n  4 [not before noun] specially protected from something unpleasant:  immune from//  --The senior members of the group appeared to be immune from arrest.//


Words: immune system
Meaning:
n [C]   the system by which your body protects itself against disease//  --This flu is a warning to me that my immune system is not as strong as it ought to be.//


Words: immunity
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the state or right of being protected from particular laws or from unpleasant things:  immunity from//  --They were granted immunity from prosecution.//\n  2 the state of being immune to a disease:  immunity to//  --immunity to infection//  immunity from//  --immunity from smallpox//


Words: immunize
Meaning:
also immunise  BrE   v [T]   to protect someone from a particular illness by giving them a vaccine//   vaccinate, inoculate//  immunize sb against sth//  --There is still no vaccine to immunize people against the virus.//  -- immunization/[hA366]mj[hA36A]na[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -n[hA353]-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: immutable
Meaning:
adj  formal   never changing or impossible to change//  --This decision should not be seen as immutable.//  -- immutably adv //  -- immutability/[hA366]mju[hA359]t[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: imp
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: impa]//\n  1 a child who behaves badly, but in a way that is funny:\n  2 a small creature in stories who has magic powers and behaves very badly:    impish//


Words: impact
Meaning:
W2   n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  impingere;   IMPINGE]//\n  1 [C] the effect or influence that an event, situation etc has on someone or something:  impact on/upon//  --We need to assess the impact on climate change.//  major/significant/profound etc impact //  --Higher mortgage rates have already had a major impact on spending.//  impact of//  --an international meeting to consider the environmental impacts of global warming//\n  2 [U and C] the force of one object hitting another:  --The force of the impact knocked the breath out of her.//\n  3  on impact:  at the moment when one thing hits another//  --The plane’s wing was damaged on impact.//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’cause an impact’ on something. Say have an impact on something. //  ----------//\nimpact 2   v [I and T]  especially  AmE   to have an important or noticeable effect on someone or something//  impact on/upon//  --The Food Safety Act will progressively impact on the way food businesses operate.//


Words: impair
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: empeirer, from  Vulgar Latin impejorare, from  Late Latin pejorare  ’to make worse’]//  to damage something or make it not as good as it should be//  --The illness had impaired his ability to think and concentrate.//  -- impairment n  [U] //


Words: impaired
Meaning:
adj   damaged, less strong, or not as good as before//  --impaired vision//  visually/hearing/mentally/physically etc impaired (=used to describe someone who cannot see, hear etc well) //


Words: impairment
Meaning:
n [U and C]   mental/visual/cognitive/hearing etc impairment//  a condition in which a part of a person’s mind or body is damaged or does not work well//


Words: impale
Meaning:
v [T often passive]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: empaler, from  Medieval Latin impalare, from  Latin palus  ’pointed stick’]//  if someone or something is impaled, a sharp pointed object goes through them//  be impaled on sth//  --Their heads were impaled on Charles Bridge as a warning to others.//  -- impalement n  [U and C] //


Words: impalpable
Meaning:
adj  formal \n  1 impossible to touch or feel physically:  → palpable//\n  2 very difficult to understand:


Words: impart
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: empartir, from  Latin impartire  ’to give out’, from  partire  ’to divide, share’]//\n  1 to give a particular quality to something:  impart sth to sth//  --Use a piece of fresh ginger to impart a Far-Eastern flavour to simple ingredients.//\n  2 to give information, knowledge, wisdom etc to someone:  --She had information that she couldn’t wait to impart.//


Words: impartial
Meaning:
adj   not involved in a particular situation, and therefore able to give a fair opinion or piece of advice//   fair//  → biased//  --We offer impartial advice on tax and insurance.//  --an impartial inquiry into the deaths//  --an impartial observer//  -- impartially adv //  -- impartiality/[hA366]mp[hA35A][hA359][hA35D]i[zB024]l[hA369]ti $ -[hA35A][hA359]r-/ n  [U] //


Words: impassable
Meaning:
adj   a road, path, or area that is impassable is impossible to travel along or through//  --The mountains are impassable.//


Words: impasse
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: passer  ’to pass’]//  a situation in which it is impossible to continue with a discussion or plan because the people involved cannot agree//  at an impasse//  --The political process is at an impasse.//  --Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse .//


Words: impassioned
Meaning:
adj   full of strong feeling and emotion//  --She appeared on television to make an impassioned plea for help.//  --an impassioned speech//


Words: impassive
Meaning:
adj   not showing any emotion//  --Her impassive face showed no reaction at all.//  -- impassively adv //  --The children studied him impassively.//  -- impassivity/[hA366]mp[zB024]s[hA366]v[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: impatience
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 annoyance at having to accept delays, other people’s weaknesses etc:  → patience//  impatience with//  --his impatience with the slowness of bureaucratic procedures//  --A note of impatience had entered his voice.//\n  2 great eagerness for something to happen, especially something that is going to happen soon:  impatience to do sth//  --She was bursting with impatience to tell Natalia what had happened.//


Words: impatient
Meaning:
adj \n  1 annoyed because of delays, someone else’s mistakes etc:  → patient//  become/grow impatient (with sb/sth) //  --We are growing impatient with the lack of results.//  --He turned away with an impatient gesture.//\n  2 [not before noun] very eager for something to happen and not wanting to wait:  impatient to do sth//  --Alec strode down the street, impatient to be home.//  impatient for sb to do sth//  --He was eager to talk to Shildon and impatient for him to return from lunch.//  -- impatiently adv //


Words: impeach
Meaning:
v [T]  law   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: empeechier, from  Late Latin impedicare  ’to fasten the feet together’, from  Latin pedica  ’fetter’]//  if a government official is impeached, they are formally charged with a serious crime in a special government court//  --The governor was impeached for using state funds improperly.//  -- impeachment n  [U and C] //


Words: impeccable
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: impeccabilis, from  peccare  ’to do bad things’]//  without any faults and impossible to criticize//   perfect//  --She has taught her children impeccable manners .//  --a bar with impeccable service//  -- impeccably adv //  --impeccably dressed//


Words: impecunious
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: pecunious  ’rich’ (14-19 centuries), from  Latin pecunia  ’money’]//  having very little money, especially over a long period - sometimes used humorously//  --He came from a respectable if impecunious family.//  -- impecuniously adv //  -- impecuniousness n  [U] //


Words: impedance
Meaning:
n [singular,U]    technical a measure of the power of a piece of electrical equipment to stop the flow of an alternating current//


Words: impede
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: impedire, from  pes  ’foot’]//  to make it difficult for someone or something to move forward or make progress//  --Storms at sea impeded our progress .//


Words: impediment
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: impedimentum, from  impedire;   IMPEDE]//\n  1 a physical problem that makes speaking, hearing, or moving difficult:  --a speech impediment //\n  2 a situation or event that makes it difficult or impossible for someone or something to succeed or make progress:  impediment to//  --War is one of the greatest impediments to human progress.//


Words: impedimenta
Meaning:
n [plural]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , plural of  impedimentum;   IMPEDIMENT]//  things that you think you need to have or do, but which can slow your progress - often used humourously//


Words: impel
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  impelled present participle  impelling  [T]  formal //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: impellere, from  pellere  ’to drive’]//  if something impels you to do something, it makes you feel very strongly that you must do it//    compel//  impel sb to do sth//  --The lack of democracy and equality impelled the oppressed to fight for independence.//


Words: impending
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: impendere  ’to hang over’, from  pendere  ’to hang’]//  an impending event or situation, especially an unpleasant one, is going to happen very soon//  impending danger/doom/death/disaster etc //  --She had a sense of impending disaster.//  -- impending changes in government legislation//


Words: impenetrable
Meaning:
adj \n  1 impossible to get through, see through, or get into:  --The trees formed a dark and impenetrable barrier .//  --the impenetrable blackness of the night//\n  2 very difficult or impossible to understand:  --impenetrable legal jargon//  -- impenetrably adv //  -- impenetrability/[hA366]mpen[hA369]tr[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: imperative
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: imperativus, from  Latin imperatus, past participle of  imperare  ’to command’]//\n  1 extremely important and needing to be done or dealt with immediately:  -- It is imperative that politicians should be good communicators.//  it is imperative (for sb) to do sth//  --It is imperative to meet face to face with the client.//  --It is imperative for us to remain on good terms.//\n  2  technical an imperative verb is one that expresses an order, such as ’stand up’:  -- imperatively adv //\nimperative 2 n [C] \n  1 something that must be done urgently:  --A broad and balanced education is an imperative for raising standards.//\n  2  formal an idea or belief that has a strong influence on people, making them behave in a particular way:  --Sharing food is the most important moral imperative in Semai society.//\n  3  technical the form of a verb that expresses an order. For example, in the order ’come here’, ’come’ is in the imperative:


Words: imperceptible
Meaning:
adj   almost impossible to see or notice//  --Such changes are imperceptible to even the best-trained eye.//  -- imperceptibly adv //  --The daylight faded almost imperceptibly into night.//  -- imperceptibility/[hA366]mp[hA353]sept[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti $ -p[hA353]r-/ n  [U] //


Words: imperfect
Meaning:
adj   not completely correct or perfect//   flawed//  --the imperfect world we live in//  --I got it cheap because it’s slightly imperfect.//  -- imperfectly adv //  -- imperfection/[hA366]mp[hA353]fek[hA35D][hA368]n $ -p[hA353]r-/ n  [U and C] //\nimperfect 2 n   the imperfect//   technical the form of a verb which is used when talking about an action in the past that is not complete. For example, ’I was eating.’//


Words: imperial
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin imperialis, from  Latin imperium  ’command, empire’]//\n  1 relating to an empire or to the person who rules it:  --Britain’s imperial expansion in the 19th century//  --a major imperial power//\n  2 relating to the system of weights and measurements based on pounds, inches, miles etc:


Words: Imperial College
Meaning:
IC one of the colleges of the University of London, which is famous for education and  research in science, computing, and engineering//


Words: Imperial War Museum
Meaning:
the   a military  museum in London, where people can see  exhibits relating to wars that the UK has fought in.//


Words: imperialism
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 a political system in which one country rules a lot of other countries:    colonialism//  --a book on the history of British imperialism//\n  2 the way in which a rich or powerful country’s way of life, culture, businesses etc influence and change a poorer country’s way of life etc:  cultural/economic/social etc imperialism //  --Small nations resent Western cultural imperialism.//  -- imperialist n  [C] //  -- imperialist adj //


Words: imperil
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  imperilled present participle  imperilling  BrE //  past tense and past participle  imperiled present participle  imperiling  AmE  [T]  formal //  to put something or someone in danger//   endanger//  --Tax increases now might imperil economic recovery.//


Words: imperious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: imperiosus, from  imperium;   IMPERIAL]//  giving orders and expecting to be obeyed, in a way that seems too proud//  --She raised her hand in an imperious gesture.//  -- imperiously adv //  -- imperiousness n  [U] //


Words: imperishable
Meaning:
adj  formal   existing or continuing for a long time or for ever//  --a set of imperishable truths//


Words: impermanent
Meaning:
adj  formal   not staying the same for ever//   temporary//  → permanent//  --single-storey structures, built from cheap and impermanent materials//  -- impermanence n  [U] //  --His philosophy stressed the impermanence of the world.//


Words: impermeable
Meaning:
adj  technical   not allowing liquids or gases to pass through//  → permeable//  --No paint is impermeable to water vapour.//


Words: impersonal
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not showing any feelings of sympathy, friendliness etc:  --Business letters do not have to be impersonal and formal.//  --Sometimes she seems a very impersonal, even unkind, mother.//\n  2 a place or situation that is impersonal does not make people feel that they are important:  --I hate staying in hotels; they’re so impersonal.//  --a formal and impersonal style of management//\n  3  technical in grammar, an impersonal sentence or verb is one where the subject is represented by ’it’ or ’there’, as in the sentence ’It rained all day’:  -- impersonally adv //


Words: impersonate
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to pretend to be someone else by copying their appearance, voice, and behaviour, especially in order to deceive people:  --Do you know it is a very serious offence to impersonate a police officer?//\n  2 to copy someone’s voice and behaviour, especially in order to make people laugh:  --In the film he amusingly impersonates a woman.//  -- impersonation/[hA366]mp[hA362][hA359]s[hA353]ne[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -[hA362][hA359]r-/ n  [U and C] //  --He’s renowned for his Elvis impersonation.//


Words: impersonator
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who copies the way that other people look, speak, and behave, as part of a performance//  --a female impersonator//


Words: impertinent
Meaning:
adj   rude and not respectful, especially to someone who is older or more important//   cheeky//  --He was always asking impertinent questions.//  --You are an impertinent young woman.//  -- impertinently adv //  -- impertinence n  [U] //


Words: imperturbable
Meaning:
adj   remaining calm and unworried in spite of problems or difficulties//  -- imperturbably adv //  -- imperturbability/[hA366]mp[hA353]t[hA362][hA359]b[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti $ -p[hA353]rt[hA362][hA359]r-/ n  [U] //


Words: impervious
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: impervius, from  pervius  ’allowing things to pass through’, from  per  ’through’ +  via  ’way’]//\n  1  formal not affected or influenced by something and seeming not to notice it:  impervious to//  --His ego was impervious to self-doubt.//\n  2  technical not allowing anything to enter or pass through:  --impervious volcanic rock//  impervious to//  --materials that are impervious to water//


Words: impetigo
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: impetere;   IMPETUS]//  an infectious skin disease//


Words: impetuous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: impetueux, from  Late Latin impetuosus, from  Latin impetus;   IMPETUS]//  tending to do things very quickly, without thinking carefully first, or showing this quality//   impulsive//  --He was high-spirited and impetuous.//  --She might live to regret this impetuous decision.//  -- impetuously adv //  -- impetuousness n  [U] //  -- impetuosity/[hA366]mpet[hA35D]u[hA361]s[hA369]ti $ -[hA35A][hA359]-/ n  [U] //


Words: impetus
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: impetere  ’to attack’, from  petere  ’to go to, look for’]//\n  1 an influence that makes something happen or makes it happen more quickly:  impetus for//  --The report may provide further impetus for reform.//  --The discovery gave fresh impetus to the research.//\n  2  technical the force that makes an object start moving, or keeps it moving:


Words: impiety
Meaning:
n   plural  impieties  formal //  [U and C] lack of respect for religion or God, or an action that shows this//    impious//


Words: impinge
Meaning:
v   impinge on/upon / [impinge on/upon sb/sth] phr v//  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: impingere, from  pangere  ’to fasten, drive in’]//  to have a harmful effect on someone or something//  --Personal problems experienced by students may impinge on their work.//  -- impingement n  [U and C] //


Words: impious
Meaning:
adj  formal   lacking respect for religion or God//    impiety//  --an impious crime//  -- impiously adv //  -- impiousness n  [U] //


Words: impish
Meaning:
adj   showing a lack of respect or seriousness in a way that is amusing rather than bad//   mischievous//  --a little girl with dark hair and an impish grin//  -- impishly adv //


Words: implacable
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: implacabilis, from  placabilis  ’easily made calm’]//  very determined to continue opposing someone or something//  --implacable enemies//  --The government faces implacable opposition on the issue of nuclear waste.//  -- implacably adv //  --He remained implacably opposed to Stalin’s regime.//  -- implacability/[hA366]mpl[zB024]k[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: implant
Meaning:
v \n  1 [T] to strongly fix an idea, feeling, attitude etc in someone’s mind or character:  implant sth in sth//  --A deep sense of patriotism had been implanted in him by his father.//\n  2 [T] to put something into someone’s body by performing a medical operation:  --Surgeons successfully implanted an artificial hip.//  implant sth in/into sth//  --A donor egg fertilised by her husband’s sperm will be implanted in her womb.//\n  3 [I]  medical if an egg or embryo implants, it begins to develop normally:  --The fertilized egg implants and becomes a foetus.//  -- implantation/[hA366]mpl[hA35A][hA359]nte[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -pl[zB024]n-/ n  [U] //\nimplant 2   n [C]   something artificial that is put into someone’s body in a medical operation//    transplant//  --silicone breast implants//


Words: implausible
Meaning:
adj   difficult to believe and therefore unlikely to be true//  → plausible//  implausible theory/idea/explanation etc //  --Margaret found his excuse somewhat implausible.//  --It’s not entirely implausible that a galaxy could be identical to our own.//  -- implausibly adv //  -- implausibility/[hA366]mpl[hA350][hA359]z[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti $ -pl[hA361][hA359]-/ n  [U] //


Words: implement
Meaning:
W3   v [T]   to take action or make changes that you have officially decided should happen//  implement a policy/plan/decision etc //  --We have decided to implement the committee’s recommendations in full .//  -- implementation/[hA366]mpl[hA369]mente[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  --the implementation of the peace plan//\nimplement 2   n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: implementum  ’act of filling up’, from  Latin implere  ’to fill up’]//  a tool, especially one used for outdoor physical work//  --farming implements//


Words: implicate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  implicare  ’to twist together, make complicated’]//\n  1 to show or suggest that someone is involved in a crime or dishonest act:  --The allegations implicated Abe to such an extent he was forced to resign.//  implicate sb in sth//  --Three police officers are implicated in the cover-up.//\n  2 [usually passive]  formal if something is implicated in something bad or harmful, it is shown to be its cause:  be implicated in sth//  --Viruses are known to be implicated in the development of some cancers.//


Words: implication
Meaning:
W2   n \n  1 [C usually plural] a possible future effect or result of an action, event, decision etc:  implication of//  --What are the implications of these proposals?//  --This election has profound implications for the future of U.S. democracy.//  consider/discuss/examine the implications //  --His talk will examine the wider implications of the Internet revolution.//  practical/financial/political etc implications //\n  2 [U] a situation in which it is shown or suggested that someone or something is involved in a crime or a dishonest act:    implicate//  the implication of sb (in sth)//  --the implication of the former Chief of Staff in a major scandal//\n  3 [U and C] a suggestion that is not made directly but that people are expected to understand or accept:    imply//  --They are called ’Supertrams’, the implication being that  (=which is meant to suggest that) they are more advanced than earlier models.//  by implication//  --The law bans organized protests and, by implication, any form of opposition.//


Words: implicit
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: implicatus, past participle of  implicare;   IMPLICATE]//\n  1 suggested or understood without being stated directly:  → explicit//  implicit criticism/threat/assumption //  --Her words contained an implicit threat.//  --His statement is being seen as implicit criticism of the work of research laboratories.//\n  2  formal forming a central part of something, but without being openly stated:  implicit in//  --Confidentiality is implicit in your relationship with a counselor.//\n  3 complete and containing no doubts:  implicit faith/trust/belief //  --They had implicit faith in his powers.//  -- implicitly adv //  --They believed implicitly in their own superiority.//


Words: implode
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: im- +  -plode (as in  explode)]//\n  1  technical to explode inwards:  → explode//  --The windows on both sides of the room had imploded.//\n  2  written if an organization or system implodes, it fails suddenly, often because of faults that it has:   collapse//  --Most nations learned their lesson during the 1930s when trade imploded and incomes plunged.//  -- implosion/[hA366]mpl[hA353][hA35E][hA360][hA368]n $ -plo[hA35E]-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: implore
Meaning:
v [I and T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: implorer, from  Latin, from  plorare  ’to cry out’]//  to ask for something in an emotional way//   beg//  --’Don’t go,’ I implored her.//  implore sb to do sth//  --She implored the soldiers to save her child.//  -- imploring adj //  --a ragged child with imploring eyes//


Words: imply
Meaning:
W2   v   past tense and past participle  implied present participle  implying third person singular  implies  [T] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: emplier, from  Latin implicare;   IMPLICATE]//\n  1 to suggest that something is true, without saying this directly:    infer, implication//  imply (that)//  --Cleo blushed. She had not meant to imply that he was lying.//  --an implied threat//\n  2 if a fact, event etc implies something, it shows that it is likely to be true:   suggest//  imply (that)//  --The high level of radiation in the rocks implies that they are volcanic in origin.//\n  3 if one thing implies another, it proves that the second thing exists:  --Democracy implies a respect for individual liberties.//  --High profits do not necessarily imply efficiency.//


Words: impolite
Meaning:
adj   not polite//   rude//  --an impolite remark//  it is impolite (of sb) (to do sth)//  --Would it be impolite of me to ask exactly where you’ve been?//  -- impolitely adv //


Words: impolitic
Meaning:
adj  formal   behaving in a way that is not careful and that could make people think you are not sensible//   unwise//  --It was considered impolitic of him to spend too much time with the party radicals.//


Words: imponderable
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]  formal   something that cannot be exactly measured, judged, or calculated//  --There are too many imponderables to make an accurate prediction.//  -- imponderable adj //  --an imponderable question//


Words: import
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a product that is brought from one country into another so that it can be sold there, or the business of doing this:  → export//  --a ban on beef imports//  --the abolition of import duties  (=taxes) //  import from//  --cheap imports from Asia//  --American demand for Japanese imports (=goods from Japan) //  --the import of electrical goods//  --an application for an import licence//\n  2 [C] something new or different that is brought to a place where it did not previously exist:  --The beetle is thought to be a European import.//\n  3 [U]  formal importance or meaning:  --a matter of no great import//\nimport 2   v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: importare, from  portare  ’to carry’]//\n  1 to bring a product from one country into another so that it can be sold there:  → export//  --In 2001, Britain exported more cars than it imported.//  import sth from sth//  --All the meat is imported from France.//\n  2 to introduce something new or different in a place where it did not previously exist:  --The unusual designs were probably imported from Iran.//  import sth to/into sth//  --The US comedy format was gradually imported to UK screens.//\n  3 to move information from one computer to another:  → export//  import sth from/into sth//  --You can now import graphics from other applications.//  -- imported adj //  --imported autos//  --imported data//


Words: importance
Meaning:
W1S2   n [singular, U]   the quality of being important//  the importance of sth//  --the importance of regular exercise//  --The fur trade now exceeded timber in importance .//  --Hindus attach great importance to food preparation. (=it is very important to them) //  great/growing/paramount etc importance //  --The men were on a mission of vital importance to their country.//  of primary/secondary/equal importance //  --Sometimes we forget that the media coverage of a sport is actually of secondary importance to the event itself.//  --I agree about the importance of these proposals (=the reasons why they are important) .//  --Just being in the studio gave her a sense of importance  (=she felt important) .//


Words: Importance of Being Earnest
Meaning:
The   (1895) a play by Oscar  Wilde in which a man pretends that his name is Ernest because he thinks this will give him an advantage with a woman he admires//    Bracknell, Lady//


Words: important
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: Old Italian importante  ’carrying a meaning, significant’, from  Latin importare;   IMPORT2]//\n  1 an important event, decision, problem etc has a big effect or influence on people’s lives or on events in the future:  --a very important meeting//  --The accident taught him an important lesson.//  --Happiness is more important than money.//  --’What did you say?’ ’Oh, nothing important.’//  it is important (to do sth)//  --It’s important to explain the procedure to the patient.//  -- It’s vitally important that you understand the danger.//  important for//  --It was important for the president to continue his schedule, regardless of the bomb threat.//  important to//  --Nothing could be more important to me than my family.//\n  2 people who are important have a lot of power or influence:  --a very important customer//  --They carry guns because it makes them feel important .//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  When you mean that you care or think about something a lot, say that it is important to you, not that it is ’important for’ you. //  WORD FOCUS: important //  similar words: main,  key,  chief,  principal,  leading,  vital,  crucial,  essential,  significant //  not important: unimportant,  trivial,  minor,  irrelevant,  insignificant //  ----------//


Words: importantly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 [sentence adverb] used to show that your next statement or question is more, equally etc important than what you said before:  more/most/less/equally importantly //  --Most importantly, you must keep a record of everything you do.//\n  2 in a way that shows you think that what you are saying or doing is important:  --He strode importantly into the room.//


Words: importation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C]  formal the act of bringing something new or different to a place where it did not previously exist, or something that arrives in this way:  importation of//  --restrictions on the importation of American movies//\n  2 [U]  technical the business of bringing things into a country from other countries in order to sell them:   import//  importation of//  --a law prohibiting the importation of tuna//


Words: importer
Meaning:
n [C]   a person, company, or country that buys goods from other countries so they can be sold in their own country//  → exporter//


Words: importunate
Meaning:
adj  formal   continuously asking for things in an annoying or unreasonable way//  --importunate demands//  -- importunity/[hA366]mp[hA353]tju[hA359]n[hA369]ti $ -p[hA353]rtu[hA359]-/ n  [U] //


Words: importune
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: importuner, from  Latin importunus  ’importunate’]//  to ask someone for something continuously in an annoying or unreasonable way//    beg//


Words: impose
Meaning:
W2   v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: imposer, from  Latin imponere, from  ponere  ’to put’]//\n  1 [T] if someone in authority imposes a rule, punishment, tax etc, they force people to accept it:  --The court can impose a fine or a prison sentence.//  impose sth on sth/sb//  --The government imposed a ban on the sale of ivory.//\n  2 [T] to force someone to have the same ideas, beliefs etc as you:  impose sth on sb//  --parents who impose their own moral values on their children//\n  3 [I]  formal to expect or ask someone to do something for you when this is not convenient for them:  impose on/upon//  --We could ask to stay the night, but I don’t want to impose on them.//\n  4 [T] to have a bad effect on something or someone and to cause problems for them:  impose a burden/hardship etc (on sb/sth) //  --Military spending imposes a huge strain on the economy.//


Words: imposing
Meaning:
adj   large, impressive, and appearing important//  --an imposing building//  --He’s a tall, quietly spoken, but imposing figure.//


Words: imposition
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the introduction of something such as a rule, punishment, tax etc:  imposition of//  --the imposition of martial law//\n  2 [C usually singular]  formal something that someone expects or asks you to do for them, which is not convenient for you:  --I know it’s an imposition, but could I use your bathroom?//


Words: impossible
Meaning:
adj   ----------//\n   1 can’t be done:\n   2 situation:\n   3 person:  ----------//\n  1 CAN’T BE DONE:  something that is impossible cannot happen or be done//  → possible//  --’I want to speak to Mr Franks.’ ’I’m afraid that’s impossible.’//  -- It’s impossible to  be accurate about these things. //  --The noise  made  sleep  impossible .//  -- Members with young children often  found it impossible to  attend evening meetings. //  -- It is difficult to find work these days, but for blind people it is  virtually impossible . //  -- He was faced with a  seemingly impossible  task. //  --It was physically impossible to get the fridge through the door.//  -- Six months ago, peace seemed an  impossible dream . //  --Such mental attitudes are  difficult, if not impossible , to change.//\n  2 SITUATION:  a situation that is impossible is one that you cannot deal with//  --We were in an impossible situation. Whatever we decided to do would upset someone.//  --Helen’s refusal to cooperate put me in an impossible position .//  --His attitude is making life impossible for the rest of the team.//  --He was facing impossible odds.//\n  3 PERSON:  behaving in a very unreasonable and annoying way//  --Oh, you’re just impossible!//  -- impossibly adv //  --Some sales managers think selling abroad is impossibly difficult.//  --He looked impossibly handsome in his formal suit.//  -- impossibility/[hA366]mp[hA361]s[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti $ -p[hA35A][hA359]-/ n  [U and C] //  --100 percent airline security is a practical impossibility.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  it is impossible (for somebody) to do something //  make something impossible //  find it impossible to do something //  prove impossible (=be impossible, because you have tried but not succeeded) //  virtually/almost/practically/nearly impossible //  well-nigh impossible  (=almost impossible) //  absolutely/utterly impossible //  seemingly impossible  (=seeming to be impossible) //  physically impossible //  impossible task //  impossible feat  (=something that is impossible to do) //  impossible dream  (=something you want but that will never happen) //  difficult, if not impossible (=difficult, and perhaps impossible) //  ----------//\nimpossible 2 n   the impossible//  something that cannot be done//  attempt/do/ask etc the impossible //  --I just want to be able to buy healthy food at a reasonable price. Is that asking the impossible?//


Words: impostor
Meaning:
also imposter  AmE   n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: impostus, past participle of  imponere;   IMPOSE]//  someone who pretends to be someone else in order to trick people//  --The nurse was soon discovered to be an impostor.//


Words: impotent
Meaning:
adj \n  1 unable to take effective action because you do not have enough power, strength, or control:  --Emergency services seem impotent in the face of such a disaster.//  --impotent rage//\n  2 a man who is impotent is unable to have sex because he cannot get an erection:  -- impotently adv //  -- impotence n  [U] //  --political impotence//


Words: impound
Meaning:
v [T]  law   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  POUND12]//  if the police or law courts impound something you have or own, they keep it until it has been decided that you can have it back//   confiscate//  --He sued the police after they impounded his car.//


Words: impoverish
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: empovrir, from  povre  ’poor’]//\n  1 to make someone very poor:  --Falling coffee prices have impoverished many Third World economies.//  --families impoverished by debt//\n  2 to make something worse in quality:  --Fast-growing trees remove nutrients and impoverish the soil.//  -- impoverished adj //  --an impoverished student//  -- impoverishment n  [U] //  --spiritual impoverishment//


Words: impracticable
Meaning:
adj  formal   impossible or very difficult to do for practical reasons//  --It was an appealing plan but quite impracticable.//  -- impracticably adv //  -- impracticability/[hA366]mpr[zB024]kt[hA366]k[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: impractical
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not sensible or possible for practical reasons:  --The road toll scheme was dismissed as impractical.//  --James was a foolish man, full of impractical plans.//\n  2 not good at dealing with ordinary practical matters, such as making or repairing things:  --Sandra was hopelessly impractical around the house.//  -- impractically/-kli/ adv //  -- impracticality/[hA366]mpr[zB024]kt[hA366]k[zB024]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //  --the sheer impracticality of collecting DNA from such a large population//


Words: imprecation
Meaning:
n [C]  literary   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: imprecatio, from  precari  ’to pray’]//  an offensive word or phrase, used when someone is very angry//


Words: imprecise
Meaning:
adj   not clear or exact//  → precise, exact//  --vague, imprecise estimates//  --Alcohol affects the brain, making speech slurred and imprecise.//  -- imprecisely adv //  -- imprecision/-s[hA366][hA360][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  --an imprecision in the terminology//


Words: impregnable
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: imprenable  ’impossible to capture’, from  prendre  ’to take’]//\n  1 a building that is impregnable is so strong that it cannot be entered by force:  --an impregnable fortress//\n  2 strong and impossible to change or influence:  --her impregnable obstinacy//


Words: impregnate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , past participle of  impraegnare, from  Latin praegnas;   PREGNANT]//\n  1 to make a substance spread completely through something, or to spread completely through something:  impregnate sth with sth//  --The mats have to be impregnated with disinfectant.//\n  2  technical to make a woman or female animal pregnant:


Words: impresario
Meaning:
n   plural  impresarios  [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: imprendere  ’to do a piece of work, organize something’]//  someone who organizes performances in theatres, concert halls etc//


Words: impress
Meaning:
W3   v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  imprimere, from  premere  ’to press’]//\n  1 [not in progressive] to make someone feel admiration and respect:  --Steve borrowed his dad’s sports car to impress his girlfriend.//  impress sb with/by sth//  --We were very impressed by the standard of work.//  --One candidate in particular impressed us with her knowledge.//  --She was a simple girl, easily impressed by Tom’s sophistication.//  --I think the chief exec was favourably impressed by your presentation.//  --’He’s a lawyer?’ Mum looked suitably impressed  (=as impressed as you would expect) .//\n  2 to make the importance of something clear to someone:  impress sth on sb//  --Father impressed on me the value of hard work.//\n  3 to press something into a soft surface so that a mark or pattern appears on it:  --patterns impressed in the clay//


Words: impression
Meaning:
W2S3   n \n  1 [U and C] the opinion or feeling you have about someone or something because of the way they seem:  -- Arriving late won’t  create a  very favourable impression . //  --We were  left with the impression that the contract was ours if we wanted it.//  -- I  get the  distinct  impression  that we’re not wanted here. //  -- It was their first meeting and Richard was determined to  make an impression . //  --When it comes to job interviews,  first impressions  are important.//  --Canceling the conference will make a very  bad impression . //  --The final score gives a  false impression  of the game. //  -- How you greet a customer can leave a  lasting impression . //  -- The  overall impression  was one of chaos. //\n  2  be under the impression (that):  to believe that something is true when it is not//  --I’m sorry, I was under the impression that you were the manager.//\n  3 [C] when someone copies the speech or behaviour of a famous person in order to make people laugh:   imitation//  --Jean does a great impression of Madonna.//\n  4 [C] a picture or drawing of what someone or something might look like, or what something will look like in the future:  impression of//  --an  artist’s impression  of the new building//\n  5 [C] a mark left by pressing something into a soft surface:  --Some of the fallen trees had  left a clear  impression  in the hardened mud.//\n  6 [C] all the copies of a book printed at one time:    edition//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  give/create/convey an impression //  leave somebody with an impression //  leave an impression (on somebody) //  have/get the impression (that) //  make an impression (on somebody)  (=make someone admire or remember you) //  first/initial impression  (=the impression you get when you see someone or something for the first time) //  good/favourable impression //  bad impression //  false/wrong/misleading impression //  lasting/indelible impression //  overall/general impression //  the distinct impression (that) //  ----------//


Words: impressionable
Meaning:
adj   someone who is impressionable is easily influenced, especially because they are young//  --The kids are at an impressionable age .//


Words: impressionism
Meaning:
Impressionism/[hA366]mpre[hA35D][hA368]n[hA366]z[hA368]m/ n [U] \n  1 a style of painting used especially in France in the 19th century which uses colour instead of details of form to produce effects of light or feeling:    realism//\n  2 a style of music from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that produces feelings and images by the quality of sounds rather than by a pattern of notes:


Words: impressionist
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who copies the speech or behaviour of famous people in order to entertain other people:\n  2 someone who uses impressionism in the paintings or music that they produce:  --impressionist painters//


Words: impressionistic
Meaning:
adj   based on a general feeling of what something is like, rather than on specific facts or details//  --The officers seemed to make only an impressionistic assessment.//  -- impressionistically/-kli/ adv //


Words: impressive
Meaning:
W3   adj   something that is impressive makes you admire it because it is very good, large, important etc//  --Among the guests was an impressive array of authors and critics.//  --the remains of an impressive Roman villa//  -- impressively adv //  --The latest version has an impressively user-friendly interface.//  -- impressiveness n  [U] //


Words: imprimatur
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’let it be printed’, from  imprimere;   IMPRESS]//\n  1  formal approval of something, especially from an important person:  --His actions have the imprimatur of the Secretary of State.//\n  2  technical official permission to print a book, given by the Roman Catholic Church:


Words: imprint
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 the mark left by an object being pressed into or onto something:  imprint of//  --the imprint of her hand on the soft sand//\n  2  technical the name of a publisher as it appears on a book:\nimprint 2   v \n  1 [T] to print or press the mark of an object on something:  imprint sth with/on/in/onto sth//  --One snowy morning footprints and tyre marks were imprinted in the snow.//\n  2  literary to become fixed in your mind or memory so that you never forget:  imprint sth on your mind/memory/brain etc //  --The sight of Joe’s dead body was imprinted on his mind forever.//


Words: imprison
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to put someone in prison or to keep them somewhere and prevent them from leaving:  --The government imprisoned all opposition leaders.//  --She was imprisoned within his strong arms.//\n  2 if a situation or feeling imprisons people, it restricts what they can do:  --Many elderly people feel imprisoned in their own homes.//


Words: imprisonment
Meaning:
n [U]   the state of being in prison, or the time someone spends there//  --They were sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment.//  -- life imprisonment //


Words: improbable
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not likely to happen or to be true:   unlikely//  → probable//  --a film with an improbable plot//  --It seems highly improbable that he had no knowledge of the affair.//\n  2 surprising and slightly strange:  --improbable combinations of colours//  -- improbably adv //  -- improbability/[hA366]mpr[hA361]b[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti $ -pr[hA35A][hA359]-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: impromptu
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Latin in promptu  ’in readiness’]//  done or said without any preparation or planning//  impromptu speech/party/meeting etc //  --The band gave an impromptu concert on the roof of the studio.//  -- impromptu adv //


Words: improper
Meaning:
adj \n  1 dishonest, illegal, or morally wrong:  it is improper (for sb) to do sth//  --He realised that it was improper for a police officer to accept gifts.//  improper behaviour/conduct/dealings etc //  --allegations of improper banking practices//  --improper sexual conduct//\n  2 not sensible, right, or fair in a particular situation:   inappropriate//  it is improper to do sth//  --It would be improper of me to comment before the election outcome is known.//\n  3 wrong or not correct:  -- improperly adv //  --If you are improperly dressed, you will not be admitted.//


Words: improper fraction
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   a fraction such as 107/8 in which the top number is larger than the bottom number//  → proper fraction//


Words: impropriety
Meaning:
n   plural  improprieties  [U and C]  formal //  behaviour or an action that is wrong or unacceptable according to moral, social, or professional standards//  --Accusations of impropriety were made against the company’s directors.//


Words: improv
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   improvisation acting, singing, performing etc without preparing what you will say first//  --comedy improv//


Words: improve
Meaning:
W1S2   v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: emprowe  ’to improve’ (15-16 centuries), from  Anglo-French emprouer  ’to make a profit’, from  Old French prou  ’advantage, profit’; probably influenced by  approve]//  [I and T] to make something better, or to become better//  --a course for students wishing to improve their English//  --The doctors say she is improving (=after being ill) .//  --You could use the money for improving your home.//  --Many wines improve with age  (=get better as they get older) .//  improve on/upon [improve on/upon sth] phr v//  to do something better than before or make something better than before//  --Bertorelli has scored 165 points, and I don’t think anyone will improve on that.//


Words: improved
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   better than before//  --improved performance//  --Our washing powder now has a new improved formula.//


Words: improvement
Meaning:
W2   n \n  1 [U and C] the act of improving something or the state of being improved:  improvement in/on/to//  --There’s been a big improvement in the children’s behaviour.//  --an improvement on earlier models//  --We need to carry out some improvements to the system.//  dramatic/major/significant/substantial etc improvement //  --a marked improvement in her condition//  --It could be quite some time before we see any improvement .//  --This month’s sales figures show some improvement .//  --Your English is much better, but there’s still room for improvement  (=it could be even better) .//\n  2 [C] a change or addition that improves something:  --Are you thinking of making some improvements to your home?//


Words: improvident
Meaning:
adj  formal   too careless to save any money or to plan for the future//  -- improvidence n  [U] //  -- improvidently adv //


Words: improvise
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: improviser, from  Italian, from  improvviso  ’sudden’]//\n  1 to do something without any preparation, because you are forced to do this by unexpected events:  --I forgot to bring my notes, so I had to improvise.//\n  2 to make something by using whatever you can find because you do not have the equipment or materials that you need:  --There were no spare nappies, so we had to improvise with what we could find.//  --Annie improvised a sandpit for the children to play in.//\n  3 to invent music, words, a statement etc from your imagination, rather than planning or preparing it first:  --I just started playing, and the other guys started improvising around me.//  --an improvised sketch//  -- improvisation/[hA366]mpr[hA353]va[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ [hA366]mpr[hA35A][hA359]v[hA353]-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: imprudent
Meaning:
adj  formal   not sensible or wise//  --The banks made hundreds of imprudent loans in the 1970s.//  -- imprudently adv //  -- imprudence n  [U and C] //


Words: impudent
Meaning:
adj  formal  or  old-fashioned   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: pudere  ’to feel shame’]//  rude and showing no respect to other people//   cheeky//  -- impudence n  [U] //  --He stared at me with a mixture of impudence and hostility.//


Words: impugn
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: impugnare, from  pugnare  ’to fight’]//  to express doubts about someone’s honesty, courage, ability etc//  --I did not mean to impugn her professional abilities.//


Words: impulse
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: impulsus, from the past participle of  impellere;   IMPEL]//\n  1 [U and C] a sudden strong desire to do something without thinking about whether it is a sensible thing to do:   urge//  impulse to do sth//  --a sudden impulse to laugh//  --Marge’s first impulse was to run.//  --Gerry couldn’t resist the impulse to kiss her.//  on impulse//  --On impulse, I picked up the phone and rang her.//  --Most beginners buy plants on impulse and then hope for the best.//  impulse buying/shopping (=when you buy things that you had not planned to buy) //\n  2 [C]  technical a short electrical signal that travels in one direction along a nerve or wire:  --The eye converts light signals to nerve impulses.//\n  3 [C] a reason or aim that causes a particular kind of activity or behaviour:  --It is the passions which provide the main impulse of music.//


Words: impulsive
Meaning:
adj   someone who is impulsive does things without considering the possible dangers or problems first//  --Rosa was impulsive and sometimes regretted things she’d done.//  --In a burst of impulsive generosity, I offered to pay.//  -- impulsively adv //  --’Oh, Anne, I do love you!’ he said impulsively.//  -- impulsiveness n  [U] //


Words: impunity
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: impunitas, from  poena  ’pain, punishment’]//  do sth with impunity//  if someone does something bad with impunity, there is no risk that they will be punished for it//  --It’s astonishing that these criminals are free to walk the streets with impunity.//


Words: impure
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not pure or clean, and often consisting of a mixture of things instead of just one:  → pure//  --drug dealers selling impure heroin//\n  2  old-fashioned impure thoughts, feelings etc are morally bad because they are about sex - sometimes used humorously:  --He tried, without success, to rid his mind of any impure thoughts about Julia.//


Words: impurity
Meaning:
n   plural  impurities //\n  1 [C usually plural] a substance of a low quality that is contained in or mixed with something else, making it less pure:  --All natural minerals contain impurities.//  --Our oatmeal face mask absorbs impurities from your skin.//\n  2 [U] the state of being impure:


Words: impute
Meaning:
v   impute to [impute sth to sb] phr v//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: imputare, from  putare  ’to think, consider’]//  to say, often unfairly, that someone is responsible for something bad or has bad intentions//  --The police were not guilty of the violence imputed to them.//  -- imputation/[hA366]mpj[hA35E]te[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: in
Meaning:
prep   [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 used with the name of a container, place, or area to say where someone or something is:  --There’s some sugar in the cupboard.//  --My mother was in the kitchen.//  --He took us for a drive in his new car.//  --I found her sitting up in bed.//  --Manson spent fifteen years in prison.//  --a hole in the ground//  --Mr Fisher is in Boston this week.//  --My parents live in New Zealand now. see usage note  at//\n  2 into a container, place etc:  --I never went in pubs.//  --He almost drowned when he fell in the river.//  --You can put your pyjamas in the bottom drawer.//  --Get in the car.//  --She looked in her handbag, but her keys were not there.//\n  3 used to say how something is done or happens:  --a room furnished in the modern style//  --Her parents always talk to her in German.//  --She shouted my name in a harsh voice.//  --a short note scribbled in pencil//  --The title was printed in capital letters.//  --We waited in silence.//\n  4 used with the names of months, years, seasons etc to say when something happens:  --Shaw first visited Russia in 1927.//  --Bright yellow flowers appear in late summer.//  --He retired in October.//\n  5 during a period of time:  --It was amazing how much we managed to do in a day.//  --the hardest decision I ever made in my life//\n  6 at the end of a period of time:  --I’ll be with you in a minute.//  --The results will be announced in two weeks’ time. see usage note  after1  see usage note  by1 //\n  7 used with negatives or with ’first’ to say how much time has passed since the last time something happened:  --I haven’t enjoyed myself so much in years.//  --It was the team’s first win in eighteen months.//\n  8 used to name the book, document, film etc where something or someone appears:  --You shouldn’t believe everything you read in the newspapers.//  --Which actress starred in the film ’Cleopatra’?//  --There are a few mistakes in your essay.//  --In his speech Professor Leary praised the work of the volunteers.//\n  9 making up the whole of something or included as part of something:  --There are twelve programmes in the series.//  --How many minutes are there in an hour?//  --Think of a word with eight letters in it meaning ’cold’.//  --Owen will be playing in the England team tomorrow.//\n  10 doing or affecting a particular kind of job:  --a career in industry//  --He’s been in politics for fifteen years.//  --reforms in education//\n  11 wearing something:  --He looked very handsome in his uniform.//  --She was dressed in a blue linen suit.//\n  12 used to talk about the state or situation of something or someone:  --I hear that their marriage is in trouble.//  --The engine appears to be in good condition.//  --His life was in danger.//  --The castle now lies in ruins.//\n  13 used to say what activity a group of people do:  --About 4000 students took part in the protest.//  --his role in the negotiations//\n  14 used to talk about the shape, arrangement, or course of something or someone:  --I want you all to stand in a circle.//  --She slept curled up in a ball.//  --Can you walk in a straight line?//\n  15 used between a smaller number and a larger number to say how common or how likely something is:  --One in 10 homes now has cable TV.//  --Smokers have a one in three chance of dying from their habit.//\n  16 used before a plural number or amount to say how many people or things are involved, or how many there are in each group:  --Eggs are still sold in half dozens.//  --The children work in pairs.//  in their hundreds/thousands etc (=in very large numbers) //  --People flocked in their thousands to greet their new princess.//\n  17 used between a smaller number or amount and a larger one to say what a rate is:  --Income tax stands at 23 pence in the pound.//  --a hill with a gradient of one in six//\n  18 used to say what colour something is or what it is made of:  --Do you have the same pattern in blue?//  --a sculpture in white marble//\n  19 used to say what specific thing your statement is related to:  --Milk is very rich in calcium.//  --Clark had become more extreme in his opinions.//  --an increase in fuel prices//  --The street is about a mile in length.//\n  20 used to refer to the weather or the physical conditions somewhere:  --I’ve been standing in the rain for over an hour.//  --Would you prefer to sit in the shade?//\n  21 used to say what feeling you have when you do something:  --She looked at me in horror.//  --It was all done purely in fun.//\n  22 used before the name of someone or something when you are saying how they are regarded:  --You have a very good friend in Pat.//  --In Dwight D. Eisenhower the Republicans had found the ideal candidate.//\n  23 used to say what person or thing has the quality you are mentioning:  --There was a hint of spring in the air.//  --I don’t think Freddy had it in him to be a killer.//  --She’s everything I’d want in a wife (=she has every quality I would want a wife to have) .//\n  24 used to name the substance, food, drink etc that contains something:  --Vitamin D is found in butter.//\n  25 used to say how many parts something is divided into:  --a radio serial in four parts//  in two/halves/pieces etc //  --I tore the letter in two and threw the pieces in the fire.//\n  26 while doing something or while something is happening, and as a result of this:  --In all the confusion, it is quite possible that some people got tickets without paying.//  --In my excitement, I forgot all about the message.//  in doing sth//  --In trying to protect the queen, Howard had put his own life in danger.//\n  27  in that:  used after a statement to begin to explain in what way it is true//  --I’ve been lucky in that I have never had to worry about money.//\n  28  be in your 20s/30s/40s etc:  to be between the ages of 20 and 29, 30 and 39 etc//  --Matthews was already in his mid 40s.//    in all at all1 (11)//\nin 2 adv \n  1 into or inside a container, place, vehicle etc:  → out//  --Eric held the boat steady while the children got in.//  --He went to the ticket machine and put a coin in.//  --She dived in and swam out to the yacht.//\n  2 inside or into a building, especially your home or the place where you work:  → out//  --Come in and sit down.//  --I’m afraid Mr Stewart won’t be in until tomorrow morning.//  --We’re staying in this evening.//\n  3 if a train, boat, or plane is in, it has arrived at a station, airport etc:  --Our train’s not in yet.//  --When’s her flight due in?//\n  4 given or sent to a person or organization to be dealt with by them:  --All entries must be in by next week.//  --Letters have been pouring in from all over the country.//  --Have you handed your essay in yet?//\n  5 if you write, paint, or draw something in, you add it in the correct place:  --Fill in your name and address on the form provided.//  --The information is typed in by trained keyboarders.//\n  6 if a player or team is in during a game of cricket(2), they are batting:\n  7 if a ball is in during a game, it is inside the area where the game is being played:  → out//  --Agassi’s second serve was just in.//\n  8 if a politician or a political party is in, they have been elected:  --Labour recorded its highest vote ever, but the Tories got in again.//\n  9 towards the centre:   inward(s)//  --The map had started to curl in at the edges.//\n  10 when the tide is in, the sea by the shore is at its highest level:  → out//  --The tide was in, and the sea lapped against the harbour wall.//\n  11  be in for sth:  if someone is in for something unpleasant, it is going to happen to them//  --I’m afraid he’s in for a bit of a disappointment.//\n  12  be in for it:   informal if someone is in for it, they are going to be punished//  --If they find out what I’ve done, I’ll be in for it, won’t I?//\n  13  be/get in on sth:  to be or become involved in something that is happening//  --I think you ought to be in on this discussion, Ted.//\n  14  be in with sb:   informal to have a friendly relationship with someone//  --She’s in with the theatrical crowd.//  --You have to be well in with the directors (=be very friendly with them) if you want to get promotion here.//\n  15  be in at the beginning/start (of sth):  to be present or involved when something starts//  --I was lucky enough to be in at the start of the project.//    have (got) it in for sb at have2 (41)//\nin 3  BrE  in. AmE   plural  in  or  ins //  the written abbreviation of inch or inches//\nin 4 adj    informal fashionable//  → out//  --Red is definitely the in colour this year.//  --Long skirts are in at the moment.//  --I joined the club because it seemed the in thing to do.//\nin 5 n   the ins and outs of sth//  all the facts and details of something//  --The book guides you through the ins and outs of choosing and growing garden flowers.//


Words: in absentia
Meaning:
adv  law   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: ’in absence’]//  without being present//  --He was tried and convicted in absentia.//


Words: in extremis
Meaning:
adv  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’in the extremes’]//\n  1 in a very difficult situation when you need to do something very extreme:\n  2 at the moment of death:


Words: in flagrante
Meaning:
adv  formal   during the act of having sex, especially with someone else’s husband or wife - sometimes used humorously//  --They were caught in flagrante by Donna’s husband.//


Words: in loco parentis
Meaning:
adv  formal  or  law   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: ’in the place of a parent’]//  having the responsibilities of a parent for someone else’s child//  --As a teacher, you should regard yourself as being in loco parentis.//


Words: in memoriam
Meaning:
prep   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: ’in memory’]//  an expression meaning ’in memory of’, used especially on the stone above the place where a dead person is buried//


Words: in situ
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: ’in place’]//  if something remains in situ, it remains in its usual place//


Words: in toto
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin]//  as a whole//   totally//  --They accepted the plan in toto.//


Words: in vitro fertilization
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Latin; Origin: in vitro  ’in glass’]//  a process in which a human egg is fertilized outside a woman’s body//


Words: in-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: French; Origin: Latin]//  the opposite or lack of something//   not//    un-, il-, im-, ir-//  --insensitive (=not sensitive) //  --incautious (=not cautious) //  --inattention (=lack of attention) //


Words: in-between
Meaning:
adj   in the middle between two points, sizes, periods of time etc//  --She was at that in-between age, neither a girl nor a woman.//


Words: in-crowd
Meaning:
n   the in-crowd//  a small group of people in an organization who are fashionable, popular, or powerful, but who do not let many other people join them//  --I was never one of the in-crowd at school.//


Words: in-depth
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   thorough, complete, and considering all the details//  in-depth study/research/analysis etc //  --an in-depth study of patients’ needs//  --a series of in-depth interviews//


Words: in-group
Meaning:
n [C]   a small group of people involved in an organization or activity who like the same things and are friendly with each other, but do not want other people to join them//   clique//


Words: in-house adj
Meaning:
adv   working within a company or organization//  --We have an in-house training unit.//  --The keyboarding is done in-house.//


Words: in-laws
Meaning:
n [plural]  informal   your relatives by marriage, especially the father and mother of your husband or wife//    mother-in-law, father-in-law//  --We have to spend Christmas with the in-laws.//


Words: in-line skate
Meaning:
n [C]   a special boot for roller skating with a single row of wheels attached under it//   Rollerblade//


Words: in-word
Meaning:
n [C]   a word that is popular at a particular time, or among a particular group of people, but that does not usually continue to be popular for long//  --the latest in-word amongst teenagers//


Words: in-your-face
Meaning:
adj  also  in-yer-face BrE  informal   in-your-face behaviour is intended to be noticed and to shock or upset people//


Words: inability
Meaning:
n [singular, U]   the fact of being unable to do something//  inability to do sth//  --Alcoholism can result in an inability to cope.//  --the government’s inability to enforce the ceasefire//


Words: inaccessible
Meaning:
adj \n  1 difficult or impossible to reach:  → accessible//  --In winter, the villages are inaccessible by road.//  inaccessible to//  --A long flight of stairs made the center inaccessible to disabled visitors.//\n  2 difficult or impossible to understand or afford:  → accessible//  --Stockhausen’s music is thought to be difficult and inaccessible.//  -- inaccessibly adv //  -- inaccessibility/[hA366]n[hA353]kses[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: inaccuracy
Meaning:
n   plural  inaccuracies //\n  1 [C] a statement that is not completely correct:  --Jansen’s review contained several inaccuracies.//\n  2 [U] a lack of correctness:  --As a journalist you simply cannot tolerate inaccuracy.//


Words: inaccurate
Meaning:
adj   not completely correct//  → accurate//  --A lot of what has been written about him is inaccurate.//  inaccurate information/data etc //  --He was fined $300,000 for making inaccurate statements to Congress.//  -- inaccurately adv //


Words: inaction
Meaning:
n [U]   the fact that someone is not doing anything//  --Several newspapers have criticized the President for inaction.//


Words: inactive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not doing anything, not working, or not moving:  → active//  --The brain cells are inactive during sleep.//  --Young people are becoming politically inactive.//\n  2 not taking part in something that normally you would take part in:  --Graham’s knee injury means he will be inactive for Sunday’s game.//\n  3  technical an inactive substance does not react chemically with other substances:


Words: inactivity
Meaning:
n [U]   the state of not doing anything, not moving, or not working//  --Don’t suddenly take up violent exercise after years of inactivity.//  --The time spent between jobs should not be a period of inactivity .//


Words: inadequacy
Meaning:
n   plural  inadequacies //\n  1 [U] a feeling that you are not as good, clever, skilled etc as other people:  --Unemployment can cause feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.//\n  2 [U] the fact of not being good enough in quality, ability, size etc for a particular purpose:  inadequacy of//  --the inadequacy of local health care//\n  3 [C usually plural] a fault or weakness:  --I’m quite aware of my own inadequacies.//


Words: inadequate
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not good enough, big enough, skilled enough etc for a particular purpose:  → adequate//  --inadequate resources//  inadequate for//  --The parking facilities are inadequate for a busy shopping centre.//  totally/wholly/woefully/hopelessly etc inadequate //  --The building’s electrical system was completely inadequate.//  --The new air conditioning system proved inadequate .//\n  2 someone who feels inadequate thinks other people are better, more skilful, more intelligent etc than they are:  --The teacher made us feel inadequate and stupid if we made mistakes.//  -- inadequately adv //  --Colleges have been inadequately funded for years.//


Words: inadmissible
Meaning:
adj    law inadmissible information is not allowed to be used in a court of law//  --The evidence issued on 12 February was ruled inadmissible .//  -- inadmissibly adj //  -- inadmissibility/[hA366]n[hA353]dm[hA366]s[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: inadvertently
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: advertens, present participle of  advertere  ’to turn your mind to’]//  without realizing what you are doing//   accidentally//  --Viruses can be spread inadvertently by email users.//  --Robinson’s name was inadvertently omitted from the list.//  -- inadvertent adj //  --inadvertent exposure to chemicals//  -- inadvertence n  [U] //


Words: inadvisable
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   an action that is inadvisable is not sensible//   unwise//  --Changes in the patient’s condition may make surgery inadvisable.//  it is inadvisable to do sth//  --It is inadvisable to involve more than one contractor on a project.//


Words: inalienable
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: alienable  (17-21 centuries), from  French aliener  ’to give to someone else’, from  Latin alienus;   ALIEN1]//  an inalienable right, power etc cannot be taken from you//  --inalienable human rights//


Words: inane
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: inanis]//  very stupid or without much meaning//  --Most pop lyrics are pretty inane.//  --an inane remark//  -- inanely adv //  --Dave smiled inanely.//  -- inanity/[hA366]n[zB024]n[hA369]ti/ n  [U and C] //


Words: inapplicable
Meaning:
adj   rules, statements, questions etc that are inapplicable are not suitable, correct, or able to be used in a particular situation//  → applicable//  inapplicable to//  --Most of the new regulations are inapplicable to us.//


Words: inappropriate
Meaning:
adj   not suitable or right for a particular purpose or in a particular situation//  → appropriate//  wholly/totally/completely etc inappropriate //  --His comments were wholly inappropriate on such a solemn occasion.//  it is inappropriate (for sb) to do sth//  --It would be inappropriate for me to comment until we know more of the facts.//  inappropriate for//  --an inappropriate gift for a child//  inappropriate to//  --marketing techniques that are totally inappropriate to education//  inappropriate behaviour/response/language etc //  -- inappropriately adv //  --inappropriately dressed//  -- inappropriateness also inappropriacy //   n  [U] //


Words: inapt
Meaning:
adj  formal   an inapt phrase, statement etc is not right for a particular situation//    inept//  --a very inapt comment//  -- inaptly adv //  -- inaptness n  [U] //


Words: inarticulate
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not able to express your feelings clearly or easily:  → articulate//  --My meetings with him left me inarticulate with rage.//\n  2 speech that is inarticulate is not clearly expressed or pronounced:  → articulate//  --Making an inarticulate sound, he turned away.//  -- inarticulately adv //  -- inarticulateness also inarticulacy //   n  [U and C] //


Words: inasmuch as
Meaning:
conj  formal   used to explain the way in which, what you are saying is true//  --Ann is guilty, inasmuch as she knew what the others were planning.//


Words: inattention
Meaning:
n [U]   lack of attention//  --a moment of inattention//  inattention to//  --inattention to detail//


Words: inattentive
Meaning:
adj   not giving enough attention to someone or something//  → attentive//  --accidents caused by inattentive or reckless drivers//  -- inattentively adv //  -- inattentiveness n  [U] //


Words: inaudible
Meaning:
adj   too quiet to be heard//  → audible//  --The noise of the wind made her cries inaudible.//  -- inaudibly adv //  --’No,’ she whispered, almost inaudibly.//  -- inaudibility/[hA366]n[hA350][hA359]d[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti $ -[hA361][hA359]-/ n  [U] //


Words: inaugural
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1 an inaugural speech is the first given by someone who is starting an important job:  --the President’s televsied inaugural address//  --the inaugural lecture of the new Professor of American Literature//\n  2 an inaugural event is the first in a planned series of similar events:  --Concorde’s inaugural flight//  --the inaugural match of Major League Soccer//  -- inaugural n  [C]  AmE //  --More than 200,000 people attended Carter’s inaugural.//


Words: inaugurate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  inaugurare, from  augurare (  AUGUR); because the ceremony involved looking at signs of what might happen in the future]//\n  1 to hold an official ceremony when someone starts doing an important job in government:  inaugurate sb as sth//  --On 8 January 1959 De Gaulle was inaugurated as First President of the Republic.//\n  2 to open a building or start an organization, event etc for the first time:  --The Turner Prize was inaugurated in 1984.//\n  3  formal if an event inaugurates an important change or period of time, it comes at the beginning of it:  --The International Trade Agreement inaugurated a period of high economic growth.//  -- inauguration/[hA366]n[hA350][hA359]gj[hA36A]re[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ [hA366]n[hA361][hA359]-/ n  [U and C] //  --President Hoover’s inauguration//


Words: Inauguration Day
Meaning:
the day an American President is  inaugurated, which is always on January 20. There is usually a  parade and the new President makes a speech about what he plans for the US.//


Words: inauspicious
Meaning:
adj  formal   seeming to show that success in the future is unlikely//  → auspicious//  --an inauspicious start //  -- inauspiciously adv //


Words: inborn
Meaning:
adj   an inborn quality or ability is one you have had naturally since birth//  --Mammals have an inborn fear of snakes.//  --Good taste is inborn and cannot be learned.//


Words: inbound
Meaning:
adj  AmE   an inbound flight or train is arriving at a place//  → outbound//  British Equivalent:  incoming//


Words: inbox
Meaning:
in box/[hA366]nb[hA361]ks $ -b[hA35A][hA359]ks/ n [C] \n  1 the place in a computer email program where new messages arrive:  --I had 130 emails in my inbox this morning.//\n  2  AmE a container on an office desk that is used to hold letters, documents etc that you must deal with:  British Equivalent:  in tray//


Words: inbred
Meaning:
adj \n  1 produced by inbreeding:\n  2 having developed as a natural part of your character:  --inbred ambition//


Words: inbreeding
Meaning:
n [U]   when children, animals, or plants are produced from closely related members of the same family//  --He was born with a rare bone disease, probably the result of aristocratic inbreeding.//


Words: inbuilt
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  BrE   an inbuilt quality, feature etc is part of the nature of someone or something//  --plants with inbuilt resistance to disease//  --History has an inbuilt tendency to repeat itself.//


Words: incalculable
Meaning:
adj  formal   too great to be calculated//  --Her contribution to our work is incalculable.//  incalculable importance/value/worth etc //  --treasures of incalculable value//  incalculable harm/damage/suffering etc //  --The outbreak of hostilities will cause incalculable misery.//


Words: incandescent
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  incandescere, from  candescere  ’to become hot’]//\n  1 very angry:  --The Prince was said to be incandescent with rage .//\n  2  technical producing a bright light when heated:  --the invention of the incandescent lamp//\n  3  literary very bright:  --incandescent flowers//  -- incandescence n  [U] //


Words: incantation
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Latin incantare  ’to use magic power on’, from  cantare  ’to sing’]//  special words that someone uses in magic, or the act of saying these words//  --a book of spells and incantations//


Words: incapable
Meaning:
adj   [not before noun] not able to do something//  → capable//  incapable of//  --He seemed incapable of understanding how she felt.//  --75% of the electorate believe his party is incapable of government.//  --The stroke rendered her incapable of speech.//  -- incapability/[hA366]nke[hA366]p[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’incapable to do something’. Say  incapable of doing something. //  ----------//


Words: incapacitate
Meaning:
v [T]  formal \n  1 to make you too ill or weak to live and work normally:  --Her mother has been incapacitated by a fall.//  --an incapacitating injury//\n  2 to stop a system, piece of equipment etc from working properly:  --A successful attack would incapacitate military training camps.//  -- incapacitation/[hA366]nk[hA353]p[zB024]s[hA369]te[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: incapacity
Meaning:
n [singular, U]  formal   lack of the ability to do things or to do something//  --temporary incapacity through illness//  mental/physical/intellectual etc incapacity //  --Evidence of his mental incapacity was never produced in court.//  incapacity to do sth//  --The main problem is the author’s incapacity to convey his ideas.//


Words: incarcerate
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  incarcerare, from  carcer  ’prison’]//  to put or keep someone in prison//   imprison//  --He spent nearly half his life incarcerated in prison.//  -- incarceration/[hA366]nk[hA35A][hA359]s[hA353]re[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -k[hA35A][hA359]r-/ n  [U] //


Words: incarnate
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , past participle of  incarnare, from  Latin caro  ’flesh’]//\n  1  be evil/beauty/greed etc incarnate:  to have an extreme amount of a particular quality//  --He is now respectability incarnate.//\n  2 having taken human form:  --Jesus, the incarnate son of God//  --The media cast him as the devil incarnate  (=someone very evil) .//\nincarnate 2   v [T]  formal \n  1 to represent a particular quality in a physical or human form:  --The crown incarnates national power.//\n  2 to make something appear in a human form:


Words: incarnation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] the state of living in the form of a particular person or animal. According to some religions, people have several different incarnations:    reincarnation//  --She believes she was an Egyptian queen in a previous incarnation .//\n  2 [C] a period of time when someone or something has a particular job, use etc:  --The building has gone through several incarnations, as a station, cafe, and most recently a club.//\n  3  the/an incarnation of sth:  someone who has a lot of a particular quality, or represents it//  --She was the incarnation of wisdom.//\n  4 [singular] the act of God coming to Earth in the human form of Christ, according to the Christian religion:


Words: incautious
Meaning:
adj   if you are incautious, you do not think about the possible bad results of your actions//  --incautious remarks//  --The wine had made her incautious.//  -- incautiously adv //


Words: incendiary
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: incendiarius, from  incendium  ’fire’]//\n  1 [only before noun] designed to cause a fire:  incendiary bomb/device //  --The explosion seems to have been caused by an incendiary device.//\n  2 an incendiary speech, piece of writing etc is intended to make people angry:  --a hip-hop album with incendiary lyrics//\nincendiary 2   plural  incendiaries  n [C] //  a bomb designed to cause a fire//


Words: incense
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: encens, from  Latin incensus, past participle of  incendere  ’to cause to start burning’]//  a substance which has a pleasant smell when you burn it//  --a church filled with the smell of incense//  --lighted incense sticks//\nincense 2   v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: incenser  ’to cause to start burning’, from  Latin incensus;   INCENSE1]//  to make someone very angry//  --Spectators were incensed by the referee’s decision.//


Words: incensed
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   very angry//   furious//  --Pat was so incensed he got up and hit Jack.//  incensed at//  --Fans were incensed at the decision to ban the song.//  incensed that//  --Passengers are incensed that rail companies make huge profits while service remains poor.//


Words: incentive
Meaning:
S3   n [U and C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: incentivum, from  Latin incinere  ’to set the tune’, from  canere  ’to sing’]//  something that encourages you to work harder, start a new activity etc//  --As an added incentive , there’s a bottle of champagne for the best team.//  create/provide/give sb an incentive //  --Awards provide an incentive for young people to improve their skills.//  incentive to do sth//  --Farmers lack any incentive to manage their land organically.//  economic/financial/tax etc incentives //  --a recycling drive backed with financial incentives//


Words: inception
Meaning:
n [singular]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: inceptio, from  incipere  ’to begin’]//  the start of an organization or institution//  --a CD collection covering the band from its inception in 1994//


Words: incessant
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Latin cessare  ’to delay’]//  continuing without stopping//   constant//  --The child’s incessant talking started to irritate her.//  --incessant rain//  -- incessantly adv //  --They quarreled incessantly.//


Words: incest
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: incestum, from  castus  ’pure’;   CHASTE]//  sex between people who are closely related in a family//  --Abortions would only be allowed in cases of rape or incest.//


Words: incestuous
Meaning:
adj \n  1 involving sexual activity between people who are closely related in a family:  --an incestuous relationship//\n  2 involving a small group of people who only spend time with or help each other, not people outside the group - used to show disapproval:  --an incestuous political community//


Words: inch
Meaning:
W3S2   n [C]   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Latin; Origin: uncia  ’one twelfth’]//\n  1  written abbreviation in :  a unit for measuring length, equal to 2.54 centimetres. There are 12 inches in a foot.//  --The curtains were an inch too short.//  --Rainfall here is under 15 inches a year.//  a one/two/three etc inch sth //  --a six inch nail//\n  2 a very small distance:  --Derek leaned closer, his face only inches from hers.//  --The bus missed us by inches .//  --On several occasions they came within inches of death.//\n  3  every inch:  a) completely or in every way//  --With her designer clothes and elegant hair, she looks every inch the celebrity.//  b) the whole of an area or distance//  every inch of//  --Every inch of space in the tiny shop was crammed with goods.//  --Italy deserved to win, though Greece made them fight every inch of the way .//\n  4  give sb an inch and they’ll take a yard/mile:  used to say that if you allow someone a little freedom or power, they will try to take more//\n  5  inch by inch:  moving very gradually and slowly//  --Inch by inch, he lowered himself from the roof.//\n  6  not give/budge an inch:  to refuse to change your decision or opinion, even though people are trying to persuade you to do this//  --Neither side is prepared to give an inch in the negotiations.//\n  7  beat/thrash etc sb to within an inch of their life:  to beat someone very hard and thoroughly//  --Another word out of you and I’ll beat you to within an inch of your life.//\ninch 2 v [I,T always + adverb/preposition]   to move very slowly in a particular direction, or to make something do this//  --I inched forward along the ground.//


Words: inchoate
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  inchoare  ’to begin’]//  inchoate ideas, plans, attitudes etc are only just starting to develop//


Words: incidence
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]  formal   the number of times something happens, especially crime, disease etc//    rate//  incidence of//  --Why did the incidence of heroin use continue to climb?//  high/low etc incidence //  --Smokers had the highest incidence of colds.//


Words: incident
Meaning:
W2   n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: Latin, present participle of  incidere  ’to fall into’]//\n  1 an event, especially one that is unusual, important, or violent:  --A spokesman said it was an isolated incident .//  --Am I at risk because of some incident in my sexual past?//  shooting/stabbing incident //  --Many shooting incidents go unreported.//  without incident//  --The plane landed without incident.//\n  2 a serious disagreement between two countries:  --You could have caused a major diplomatic incident .//


Words: incident room
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a room in a police station or other place where police work on solving a particular serious crime//


Words: incidental
Meaning:
adj \n  1 happening or existing in connection with something else that is more important:  --Increased motivation is more than an incidental benefit of reward schemes.//  incidental to//  --companies that carry out investment business that is incidental to their main activity//\n  2 [not before noun] naturally happening as a result of something:  incidental to//  --Drinking too much is almost incidental to bartending.//\nincidental 2 n [C usually plural]   something that you have to do, buy etc which you had not planned to//  --Carry extra cash for taxis, tips and other incidentals.//


Words: incidentally
Meaning:
S3   adv \n  1 [sentence adverb] used to add more information to what you have just said, or to introduce a new subject that you have just thought of:   by the way//  --Incidentally, where were you born?//  --The wine, incidentally, goes very well with a mature cheese.//\n  2 in a way that was not planned, but as a result of something else:  --Quite incidentally, I got some useful information at the party.//


Words: incinerate
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: , past participle of  incinerare, from  Latin cinis  ’ashes’]//  to burn something completely in order to destroy it//  --All the infected clothing was incinerated.//  -- incineration/[hA366]ns[hA366]n[hA353]re[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  --an incineration plant//


Words: incipient
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  incipere;   INCEPTION]//  starting to happen or exist//  --a sign of incipient madness//


Words: incise
Meaning:
v [T always + preposition]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: inciser, from  Latin incisus, past participle of  incidere  ’to cut in’]//  to cut a pattern, word etc into something, using a sharp instrument//  --an inscription incised in stone//


Words: incisive
Meaning:
adj   showing intelligence and a clear understanding of something//  incisive remarks/criticism etc //  --Her questions were well-formulated and incisive.//  --The error was obvious to an incisive mind like his.//  -- incisively adv //  -- incisiveness n  [U] //


Words: incite
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: inciter, from  Latin citare  ’to cause to start moving’]//  to deliberately encourage people to fight, argue etc//  --They were charged with inciting racial hatred.//  incite sb to do sth//  --a person who incites others to commit an offence//  incite sb to sth//  --There was no evidence that he had incited members of the group to violence.//  -- incitement n  [U and C] //  --incitement to murder//


Words: inclination
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a feeling that makes you want to do something:  --My natural inclination was to say no.//  inclination to do sth//  --Neither of my children showed the slightest inclination to follow me into journalism.//  --Teachers simply do not have the time or the inclination to investigate these matters.//\n  2 [U and C] a tendency to think or behave in a particular way:  inclination to do sth//  --an inclination to see everything in political terms//  inclination to/towards//  --She’s troubled by her son’s inclination toward atheism.//  by inclination//  --Bart was a romantic by inclination.//\n  3 [C] a movement made down towards the ground:  --She greeted Maggie with an inclination of the head.//\n  4 [U and C]  formal a slope or the angle at which something slopes:


Words: incline
Meaning:
v [not in progressive]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: incliner, from  Latin clinare  ’to lean’]//\n  1 [T]  formal if a situation, fact etc inclines you to do or think something, it influences you towards a particular action or opinion:  incline sb to do sth//  --The accident inclined him to reconsider his career.//\n  2 [I]  formal to think that a particular belief or opinion is most likely to be correct:  incline to do sth//  --I incline to accept the official version of events.//  incline to/towards//  --I incline to the opinion that this principle extends to cases of religious discrimination.//\n  3 [I and T] to slope at a particular angle, or to make something do this:  --The telescope is inclined at an angle of 43 degrees.//\n  4  incline your head:  to bend your neck so that your head is lowered//\nincline 2   n [C]   a slope//  --a steep incline//


Words: inclined
Meaning:
S3   adj \n  1  be inclined to agree/think/believe etc:  to hold a particular opinion, but not very strongly//  --Arthur has some strange ideas, but on this occasion I’m inclined to agree with him.//\n  2  be inclined to do sth/inclined to sth:  to be likely to do something or behave in a particular way//  --Commandos are inclined to shoot first and ask questions later.//  --He was inclined to self-pity.//\n  3  be/feel inclined (to do sth):  to want to do something, but without having a strong desire//  --It was Sunday morning, and she was not inclined to get up yet.//  --You can visit our chatrooms, if you feel so inclined .//\n  4  artistically/musically/mathematically etc inclined:  naturally interested in or good at art, music etc//  --For the artistically inclined, the street markets are full of interest.//\n  5 sloping or leaning in a particular direction:


Words: include
Meaning:
W1S2   v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: includere, from  claudere  ’to close’]//\n  1 [not in progressive] if one thing includes another, the second thing is part of the first:  --Does the price include postage?//  --His job includes looking after under-21 teams.//  --The curriculum includes courses in computing.//\n  2 to make someone or something part of a larger group or set:  → exclude//  --The team is stronger now they’ve included Roscoe.//  include sth in/on sth//  --Service is included in the bill.//  --Would you include a Walkman on your list of essentials?//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: include, consist of, comprise, be composed of, be made up of //  Use  include  to mention only  some  of the things that something has as its parts : The price includes lunch. //  If you want to mention  all  the parts that something has in it, use  consist of, comprise, be composed of,  or  be made up of : The Romance family of languages consists of French, Spanish, Italian, and several other languages. |  The house comprises two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room. | The jury was composed of nine whites, one Hispanic, and two Asian Americans. |  an organization made up of 600,000 small business owners //  !!  Do not say that something ’is consisted of’ certain things or that it ’consists’ them. Say it  consists of  them. //  !!  Do not say that something ’comprises of’ certain things, even though you might hear English speakers say this. Most careful users consider this to be incorrect so you should avoid using it. //  !!  Do not say that something ’is composed by’ or ’is composed with’ certain things. Say it  is composed of  them.  //  ----------//


Words: included
Meaning:
adj [only after noun]   including someone or something//  --Everyone has to go to the dentist, you included.//


Words: including
Meaning:
W1S2   prep   used to introduce something or someone that is part of a larger group or amount you have just mentioned//  → excluding//  --The price is [hA124]25.50, including postage and packing.//  --You’ll need a variety of skills, including leadership and negotiating.//


Words: inclusion
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the act of including someone or something in a larger group or set, or the fact of being included in one:  inclusion in//  --His inclusion in the team has caused controversy.//  --photos chosen for inclusion in the magazine//  inclusion of//  --The inclusion of early recordings on the CD is a bonus.//\n  2 [C] someone or something that has been included in a larger group:  --With the recent inclusions there will be 28 delegates in all.//


Words: inclusive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 an inclusive price or cost includes everything:  → exclusive//  all-inclusive/fully inclusive //  --The fully inclusive fare for the trip is [hA124]22.//  inclusive of//  --The rent is [hA124]120 a week, inclusive of heating.//\n  2 including a wide variety of people, things etc:  → exclusive//  --Not everyone shares his vision of an inclusive America.//\n  3  (from) April to June inclusive/15 to 20 inclusive etc:  used to refer to a range of months, numbers etc, including the ones that start and end the range//  ----------//  HINT sense 3 //  In American English, it is more usual to use the word ’through’: Monday through Friday //  ----------//


Words: incognito
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: Latin incognitus  ’unknown’]//  if a famous person does something incognito, they do it without letting people know who they are//  --That night, Lenin travelled incognito to the party headquarters.//


Words: incoherent
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not expressed or organized clearly, and therefore difficult to understand:  --an incoherent, over-long action movie//  --He called the policy ’incoherent and ill-thought out’.//\n  2 speaking in a way that cannot be understood, because you are drunk, feeling a strong emotion etc:  --Ben, drunk and incoherent, slumped in a chair.//  -- incoherently adv //  --She began to mutter incoherently.//  -- incoherence n  [U] //


Words: income
Meaning:
W1S2   n [U and C]   the money that you earn from your work or that you receive from  investments, the government etc//  --People  on a high income  should pay more tax. //  -- low-income  families//  --His  annual income  is [hA124]250,000.//  --workers with a  family income  of less than $30,000 //  -- Older people may have more  disposable income  because their houses are paid for. //  income from//  --income from savings and pensions//  -- Welfare is their only  source of income . //  -- You should be insured against  loss of income . //  -- He  supplements  his  income  with a part-time bar job.  //   see usage note  pay2 //  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  on a ... income (=earning a particular amount) //  high/low income  //  high-income/low-income //  annual income //  family/household income //  disposable income  (=your income after tax and necessary bills have been paid) //  taxable income  (=the part of your income on which you pay tax) //  net income (=your income after you have paid taxes) //  gross income (=your income before you have paid taxes) //  investment income  (=income from investments) //  source of income //  loss of income //  supplement your income (with something)  (=increase your income by doing something) //  ----------//


Words: income support
Meaning:
n [U]   money that is given by the government in Britain to people who have no income or a very low income//


Words: incomer
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   someone who comes to live in a place//  --We’ve lived here for 17 years, but they still see us as incomers.//


Words: incoming
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1 arriving at or coming to a place:  → outgoing//  --incoming flights//  --Incoming calls were monitored.//  --the incoming tide//\n  2 an incoming president, government etc has just been elected or chosen:  → outgoing//  --It is hoped that the incoming administration will inject some life into Capitol Hill.//


Words: incommunicado
Meaning:
adv, adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Spanish; Origin: incomunicado, past participle of  incomunicar  ’to make it impossible to communicate’]//  if you are incommunicado, you are in a place where other people cannot speak to you//  --He is reportedly being held incommunicado at a military prison.//


Words: incomparable
Meaning:
adj   extremely good, beautiful etc, and much better than others//  --an incomparable view of San Marco//  --a wine of incomparable flavour//  -- incomparably adv //


Words: incompatible
Meaning:
adj \n  1 two people who are incompatible have such different characters, beliefs etc that they cannot have a friendly relationship:  → compatible//  --I don’t know why they ever got married. They’re totally incompatible.//\n  2 two things that are incompatible cannot exist or be accepted together:  incompatible with//  --Business interests are incompatible with public office.//  --Politeness and truth are often mutually incompatible .//\n  3 two things that are incompatible are of different types and so cannot be used together:  → compatible//  incompatible with//  --The laser printer is incompatible with the new computer.//  --incompatible blood groups//  -- incompatibility/[hA366]nk[hA353]mp[zB024]t[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //  --sexual incompatibility//


Words: incompetence
Meaning:
n [U]   lack of the ability or skill to do a job properly//  → competence//  managerial/professional etc incompetence //  --allegations of professional incompetence//  --The report blamed police incompetence for the tragedy.//


Words: incompetent
Meaning:
adj   not having the ability or skill to do a job properly//  → competent//  --an incompetent teacher//  --weak, incompetent leadership//  incompetent to do sth//  --The Prime Minister is incompetent to govern the country.//  -- incompetent n  [C] //  -- incompetently adv //


Words: incomplete
Meaning:
adj   not having everything that should be there, or not completely finished//  → complete//  --Unfortunately I do not have the information because our records are incomplete.//  --an incomplete process//  --TV ads implied that a woman was incomplete without a man.//  -- incompletely adv //  -- incompleteness n  [U] //\nincomplete 2 n [C]  AmE   a  grade given to school or college students when they have not completed all the work for a course//


Words: incomprehensible
Meaning:
adj   difficult or impossible to understand//  --legal documents full of incomprehensible jargon//  --I find your attitude quite incomprehensible.//  incomprehensible to//  --His accent made his speech incomprehensible to me.//  -- incomprehensibly adv //  -- incomprehensibility/[hA366]nk[hA361]mpr[hA366]hens[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti $ -k[hA35A][hA359]m-/ n  [U] //


Words: incomprehension
Meaning:
n [U]   the state of not being able to understand something//  --He spread his hands in a gesture of incomprehension.//


Words: inconceivable
Meaning:
adj   too strange or unusual to be thought real or possible//  --A few years ago a car fuelled by solar energy would have been inconceivable.//  -- It is inconceivable that a man in such a powerful position could act so unwisely.//  -- inconceivably adv //


Words: inconclusive
Meaning:
adj   not leading to a clear decision or result//  → conclusive//  --The evidence against the two men was inconclusive.//  --A coalition government was formed after inconclusive elections.//  -- inconclusively adv //  -- inconclusiveness n  [U] //


Words: incongruity
Meaning:
n   plural  incongruities //  [U and C] the fact that something is strange, unusual, or unsuitable in a particular situation//  --The incongruity of her situation struck Gina with unpleasant force.//  incongruity between//  --He didn’t see the slightest incongruity between the idealism of his plays and his own morals.//


Words: incongruous
Meaning:
adj   strange, unexpected, or unsuitable in a particular situation//  --The new theatre looks utterly incongruous in its setting.//  -- incongruously adv //


Words: inconsequential
Meaning:
adj   not important//   insignificant//  --inconsequential but amusing chatter//  -- inconsequentially adv //


Words: inconsiderable
Meaning:
adj   not inconsiderable//   formal used to emphasize that something is large or important//   considerable//  --He has built up a not inconsiderable business empire.//


Words: inconsiderate
Meaning:
adj   not caring about the feelings, needs, or comfort of other people//   thoughtless//  → considerate//  --inconsiderate motorists//  it was inconsiderate (of sb) to do sth//  --It was very inconsiderate of you to keep us waiting.//  -- inconsiderately adv //


Words: inconsistency
Meaning:
n   plural  inconsistencies //\n  1 [U] when someone keeps changing their behaviour, reactions etc so that other people become confused:  → consistency//\n  2 [U and C] a situation in which two statements are different and cannot both be true:   contradiction//  --There were several glaring inconsistencies  (=very noticeable differences) in his report.//  inconsistency between//  --Defence counsel looks for inconsistency between witness statements.//


Words: inconsistent
Meaning:
adj \n  1 two statements that are inconsistent cannot both be true:   contradictory//  → consistent//  --The accounts of the witnesses are inconsistent.//  inconsistent with//  --His results are inconsistent with the data we produced.//\n  2 not right according to a particular set of principles or standards:  → consistent//  inconsistent with//  --His conduct was inconsistent with what is expected of a Congressman.//\n  3 inconsistent behaviour, work etc changes too often from good to bad:  → consistent//  --The team’s performance has been highly inconsistent this season.//


Words: inconsolable
Meaning:
adj   so sad that it is impossible for anyone to comfort you//  --The boy was inconsolable after the death of his dog.//  -- inconsolably adv //  --She wept inconsolably.//


Words: inconspicuous
Meaning:
adj   not easily seen or noticed//  → conspicuous//  --an inconspicuous little restaurant//  --She stood by the wall, trying to look inconspicuous .//  -- inconspicuously adv //


Words: incontestable
Meaning:
adj   clearly true and impossible to disagree with//   indisputable//  --We had incontestable proof of her innocence.//


Words: incontinent
Meaning:
adj   unable to control the passing of liquid or solid waste from your body//  -- incontinence n  [U] //


Words: incontrovertible
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: controvertible  ’that can be argued about’ (17-21 centuries), from  controvert  ’to dispute’ (17-21 centuries), from  controversy]//  definitely true and impossible to be proved false//   indisputable//  --CCTV provided incontrovertible evidence that he was at the scene of the crime.//  -- incontrovertibly adv //


Words: inconvenience
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] problems caused by something which annoy or affect you:  --We apologise for the delay and any inconvenience caused.//  the inconvenience of (doing) sth//  --the inconvenience of having to find another buyer//\n  2 [C] someone or something that causes problems for you:  --a minor inconvenience//  inconvenience to//  --His early arrival was clearly an inconvenience to his host.//\ninconvenience 2 v [T]   to cause problems for someone//  --I don’t want to inconvenience you any further.//


Words: inconvenient
Meaning:
adj   causing problems, often in a way that is annoying//  → convenient//  --Monday’s a bit inconvenient for me. How about Wednesday?//  --Am I calling at an inconvenient time?//  -- inconveniently adv //


Words: incorporate
Meaning:
W3   v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , past participle of  incorporare, from  Latin corpus  ’body’]//  to include something as part of a group, system, plan etc//  incorporate sth into/in sth//  --We’ve incorporated many environmentally-friendly features into the design of the building.//  --Our original proposals were not incorporated in the new legislation.//  -- incorporation/[hA366]nk[hA350][hA359]p[hA353]re[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -[hA350][hA359]r-/ n  [U] //  --the incorporation of the college into the university//


Words: incorporated
Meaning:
adj Inc   used after the name of a company in the US to show that it has become a corporation//    limited//


Words: incorporeal
Meaning:
adj  formal   not existing in any physical form//  --Plato demonstrated the incorporeal nature of the soul.//


Words: incorrect
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not correct or true:  --The information you gave us was incorrect.//\n  2 not following the rules of polite or fair behaviour:   impolite//  --It would be incorrect of me to comment.//  -- incorrectly adv //  --Sorry, you answered incorrectly.//


Words: incorrigible
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: incorrigibilis, from  Latin corrigere  ’to correct’]//  someone who is incorrigible is bad in a way that cannot be changed or improved - often used humorously//  an incorrigible liar/rogue //  --Peter, you are an incorrigible flirt!//  -- incorrigibly adv //


Words: incorruptible
Meaning:
adj \n  1 someone who is incorruptible cannot be persuaded to do wrong or illegal things:  --A good judge must be incorruptible.//\n  2  formal material that is incorruptible will never decay and cannot be destroyed:  -- incorruptibility/[hA366]nk[hA353]r[hA356]pt[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: increase
Meaning:
W1S2   v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: encreistre, from  Latin increscere, from  crescere  ’to grow’]//  [I and T] if you increase something, or if it increases, it becomes bigger in amount, number, or degree//  → decrease, reduce//  --The population increased dramatically in the first half of the century.//  --political tensions that might increase the likelihood of war//  --Visits to the site have increased threefold since May.//  increase in value/price/importance etc //  --Investments are certain to increase in value.//  increase (sth) by sth//  --Food prices increased by 10% in less than a year.//  increase (sth) from/to sth//  --The salary is [hA124]18,600 a year, increasing to [hA124]23,000.//  -- increasing adj //  --the increasing difficulty of finding trained staff//  --European leaders watched events unfold with increasing alarm.//  -- increased adj //  --Quality improvements produced increased demand for our goods.//  --an increased incidence of childhood leukaemia//\nincrease 2   n [U and C]   a rise in amount, number, or degree//  → decrease//  increase in//  -- an increase in the crime rate //  -- Recent  tax increases  have affected the poor more than the rich. //  -- the  dramatic increase  in the population aged over 65 //  --There has been a marked increase in the use of firearms.//  --Cases of tuberculosis are  on the increase .//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  tax increase //  wage/pay/salary increase //  price increase //  fare increase //  substantial/large increase //  huge/massive increase (=a very large increase) //  dramatic/sharp increase  (=a sudden large increase) //  significant/marked increase  (=a definite and noticeable increase) //  slight/small/modest increase //  gradual increase //  threefold/fourfold/fivefold etc increase  (=an increase by three, four etc times) //  be on the increase  (=be increasing) //  ----------//


Words: increasingly
Meaning:
W2   adv   more and more all the time//  --Marketing techniques are becoming increasingly sophisticated.//  --Increasingly, young people distrust all forms of government.//


Words: incredible
Meaning:
adj \n  1 extremely good, large, or great:   unbelievable//  --The view is just incredible.//  --There was blood everywhere and the pain was incredible.//\n  2 too strange to be believed or very difficult to believe:   unbelievable//  -- It’s incredible that he survived the fall.//  -- It’s incredible how much Tom has changed since he met Sally.//  --I find it almost incredible that no-one noticed these errors.//


Words: Incredible Hulk
Meaning:
the   a character in a US  comic (=a magazine with stories told in pictures) , television programmes, and films. The Incredible Hulk is a man who changes into a very large green creature who has great strength, usually when he becomes angry about someone else’s cruel or evil behaviour.//


Words: incredibly
Meaning:
S3   adv \n  1 [+adjective/adverb]  informal extremely:  --Nicotine is incredibly addictive.//\n  2 [sentence adverb] in a way that is hard to believe:  --The knife had pierced his heart, but incredibly he was still alive.//


Words: incredulity
Meaning:
n [U]   a feeling that you cannot believe something//   disbelief//  --When she told her family she was gay, they reacted with a mixture of shock and incredulity.//


Words: incredulous
Meaning:
adj   unable or unwilling to believe something//  --’You sold the car?’ she asked, incredulous.//  incredulous look/expression/voice etc //  --She shot him an incredulous look.//  -- incredulously adv //


Words: increment
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: incrementum, from  increscere;   INCREASE1]//\n  1 a regular increase in the amount of money someone is paid:  --a salary of [hA124]18,000, with annual increments of 2.5%//\n  2  formal the amount by which a number, value, or amount increases:


Words: incremental
Meaning:
adj  formal \n  1 [usually before noun] increasing in amount or value gradually and by a regular amount:  --incremental pay scales//\n  2 happening gradually over time:  --Mr Kennedy said that progress on reforms would be incremental.//  --a process of incremental change//  -- incrementally adv //  --You need to make changes in your diet incrementally.//


Words: incriminate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , past participle of  incriminare, from  Latin crimen;   CRIME]//  to make someone seem guilty of a crime//  incriminate yourself//  --He refused to answer questions for fear he might incriminate himself.//  -- incriminating adj //  --incriminating evidence//  -- incrimination/[hA366]nkr[hA366]m[hA369]ne[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: incubate
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  incubare  ’to lie on’, from  cubare  ’to lie’]//\n  1 if a bird incubates its eggs, or if the eggs incubate, they are kept warm until they hatch (=the birds inside are born) :\n  2  technical if a disease incubates, or if you incubate it, it develops in your body until you show physical signs of it:  -- incubation/[hA366][hA26E]kj[hA36A]be[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  --Hepatitis has a long incubation period.//


Words: incubator
Meaning:
n [C]   1 a piece of hospital equipment into which very small or weak babies are put to keep them alive and warm//\n  2 a heated container for keeping eggs warm until they hatch (=the young birds are born) :\n  3 an organization which helps new businesses to develop by giving them office space, services, and equipment, and providing them with business and technical advice:  --a high-tech incubator on the East coast//


Words: incubus
Meaning:
n   plural  incubuses  or  incubi /-ba[hA366]/ [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Latin incubare;   INCUBATE]//\n  1 someone or something that causes a lot of worries or problems:  --Joyce regarded his US citizenship as a moral and political incubus.//\n  2 a male devil that in the past was believed to have sex with a sleeping woman:    succubus//


Words: inculcate
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  inculcare  ’to tread on’, from  calx  ’heel’]//  to fix ideas, principles etc in someone’s mind//  inculcate sth in/into sb//  --I try to inculcate a sense of responsibility in my children.//  --Not all schools manage to successfully inculcate a love of learning.//  -- inculcation/[hA366][hA26E]k[hA356]lke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: incumbency
Meaning:
n   plural  incumbencies  [C usually singular, U]  formal //  the state of holding an official position, especially in politics, or the time when someone holds an official position//


Words: incumbent
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  incumbere  ’to lie down on’]//  someone who has been elected to an official position, especially in politics, and who is doing that job at the present time//  --In the June elections, Morris easily defeated the incumbent, Tom Smith.//\nincumbent 2 adj  formal \n  1  it is incumbent upon/on sb to do sth:  if it is incumbent upon you to do something, it is your duty or responsibility to do it//  --It is incumbent upon parents to control what their children watch on TV.//\n  2  the incumbent president/priest/government etc:  the president etc at the present time//


Words: incur
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  incurred present participle  incurring  [T]  formal //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: incurrere  ’to run into’, from  currere  ’to run’]//\n  1 if you incur a cost, debt, or a fine, you have to pay money because of something you have done, or you do not make money:  incur expenses/costs/losses/debts etc //  --If the council loses the appeal, it will incur all the legal costs.//  --the heavy losses incurred by airlines since September 11th//\n  2 if you incur something unpleasant, it happens to you because of something you have done:  incur sb’s displeasure/wrath/disapproval etc //  --She wondered what she’d done to incur his displeasure this time.//


Words: incurable
Meaning:
adj \n  1 impossible to cure:  → curable//  incurable disease/illness/condition //  --She has a rare, incurable disease.//\n  2 impossible to change:  --My mother is an incurable optimist.//  -- incurably adv //  --incurably romantic//


Words: incursion
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, from  incurrere;   INCUR]//\n  1 a sudden attack into an area that belongs to other people:  incursion into//  --a combined British and French incursion into China in 1857//\n  2 the sudden arrival of something or someone into a place or activity where they do not belong or have not been before, used especially to say that they are not welcome:  incursion into//  --The media was criticized for its thoughtless incursion into the domestic grief of the family.//  --the Japanese incursion into the U.S. domestic electronics market//


Words: indebted
Meaning:
adj \n  1  be (deeply/greatly) indebted to sb:  to be very grateful to someone for the help they have given you//  --We are deeply indebted to Dr Allen and the rest of the hospital staff.//\n  2 owing money to someone:  --the 17 most heavily indebted nations//  -- indebtedness n  [U] //


Words: indecency
Meaning:
n   plural  indecencies //\n  1 [U]  law behaviour that is sexually offensive, especially indecent exposure:\n  2 [C]  formal an action that is shocking or offensive:


Words: indecent
Meaning:
adj \n  1 something that is indecent is shocking and offensive, usually because it involves sex or shows parts of the body that are usually covered:  --He was found guilty of possessing indecent photographs of young boys.//  --You can’t go out in that dress - it’s positively indecent!//\n  2 completely unacceptable:  --The funeral formalities were performed with almost indecent haste .//  -- indecently adv //  --an indecently short skirt//


Words: indecent assault
Meaning:
n [U and C]  law   the crime of making a sexual attack on someone, touching or threatening to touch them, but not raping them (=forcing them to have sex) //


Words: indecent exposure
Meaning:
n [U]  law   the criminal offence of deliberately showing your sex organs in a place where this is likely to offend people//


Words: indecision
Meaning:
n [U]   the state of being unable to decide what to do//  --There were weeks of indecision about who would go and when.//


Words: indecisive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 unable to make clear decisions or choices:  → decisive//  --a weak and indecisive leader//\n  2 not having a clear result:   inconclusive//  --a confused, indecisive battle//  -- indecisively adv //  -- indecisiveness n  [U] //


Words: indeed
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: in +  deed]//\n  1 [sentence adverb] used to emphasize a statement or answer:  --The blood tests prove that Vince is indeed the father.//  --’Would it help if you had an assistant?’ ’It would indeed.’//\n  2 [sentence adverb]  formal used to introduce an additional statement that emphasizes or supports what you have just said:  --I didn’t mind at all. Indeed, I was pleased.//\n  3  especially BrE used with ’very’ and an adjective or adverb to emphasize a statement or description:  --Most of the essays were very good indeed.//  --Thank you very much indeed.//\n  4  spoken  especially BrE used to show that you are surprised or annoyed by something that someone has just told you:  --’He said he was too busy to see you.’ ’Did he, indeed?’//\n  5  why/how/who etc indeed?:   spoken used when someone has asked you a question, to show that you do not know the answer and you do not think there can be a satisfactory answer//  --’Why would John have left without saying a word?’ ’Why indeed?’//  --’How can anyone justify such shameful behaviour?’ ’How indeed?’//


Words: indefatigable
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Early  French indefatigable, from  Latin indefatigabilis, from  fatigare;   FATIGUE]//  determined and never giving up//  --an indefatigable campaigner for human rights//  -- indefatigably adv //


Words: indefensible
Meaning:
adj \n  1 too bad to be excused or defended:  --The law is morally indefensible and in need of reform.//\n  2 impossible or very difficult to defend from military attack:  -- indefensibly adv //


Words: indefinable
Meaning:
adj   an indefinable feeling, quality etc is difficult to describe or explain//  --She felt an indefinable sadness.//  -- indefinably adv //


Words: indefinite
Meaning:
adj \n  1 an indefinite action or period of time has no definite end arranged for it:  --The next day the union voted to begin an indefinite strike.//  --The picture has been loaned for an indefinite period to the National Gallery.//\n  2 not clear or exact:   vague//  --Teachers find the report’s terminology so indefinite that it is confusing.//


Words: indefinite pronoun
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   a word such as ’some’, ’any’, or ’either’ that is used instead of a noun, but does not say exactly which person or thing is meant//


Words: indefinitely
Meaning:
adv \n  1 for a period of time for which no definite end has been arranged:  --The project has been postponed indefinitely.//\n  2 without giving clear or exact details:


Words: indelible
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: indelibilis, from  Latin indelebilis, from  delere;   DELETE]//\n  1 impossible to remove or forget:   permanent//  --Her words left an indelible impression on me for years to come.//\n  2  indelible ink/pencil/marker etc:  ink etc that makes a permanent mark which cannot be removed//  -- indelibly adv //  --a moment indelibly imprinted on my mind//


Words: indelicate
Meaning:
adj  formal   likely to embarrass or shock people//   rude//  --an indelicate comment//  -- indelicacy n  [U] //


Words: indemnify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  indemnified present participle  indemnifying third person singular  indemnifies  [T]  law //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: indemnis  ’unharmed’, from  damnum  ’damage’]//\n  1 [+ against/for] to promise to pay someone if something they own is damaged or lost:\n  2 [+ for] to pay someone money because of loss, injury, or damage that they have suffered:  -- indemnification/[hA366]ndemn[hA369]f[hA369]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: indemnity
Meaning:
n   plural  indemnities  law //\n  1 [U] protection against loss or damage, especially in the form of a promise to pay for any losses or damage:  --insurance providing indemnity against future liabilities//\n  2 [C] a payment for the loss of money, goods etc:


Words: indent
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: endenter, from  dent  ’tooth’]//  to start a line of writing further towards the middle of the page than other lines//  --Use the Tab key to indent the first line of the paragraph.//\nindent 2   n [C]  especially  BrE \n  1 an official order for goods or equipment:  indent for//  --He cancelled the indent for silk scarves.//\n  2 an indentation:


Words: indentation
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  also  indent:  a space at the beginning of a line of writing//\n  2  also  indent:  a cut into the surface or edge of something//  --Gently make a small indentation in the center of each cookie.//


Words: indented
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Partly from   INDENT; partly from  indent  ’to press inward’ (14-21 centuries), from  dent]//  an indented edge or surface has cuts or marks in it//  --our deeply indented coastline//


Words: indenture
Meaning:
n   plural  indentures  [U and C] //  a formal contract, especially in the past, between an apprentice and his  master (=employer) , or the act of arranging this//  -- indentured adj //  --indentured servants//


Words: independence
Meaning:
W2   n [U] \n  1 political freedom from control by the government of another country:  independence from//  --Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960.//  --Lithuania was the first of the Soviet republics to declare independence  (=officially state its independence) .//\n  2 the time when a country becomes politically independent:  --The country has made great advances since independence.//\n  3 the freedom and ability to make your own decisions in life, without having to ask other people for permission, help, or money:  --ways of helping old people maintain their independence//  --Having a job gives you financial independence .//


Words: Independence Day
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 the day every year on which a country celebrates its independence from another country that controlled it in the past:\n  2 this day in the U.S., celebrated on 4th July:


Words: Independence Hall
Meaning:
a building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where the American  Declaration of Independence was signed. Many tourists visit it.//


Words: Independent
Meaning:
n [C]   a politician who does not belong to a political party//\nIndependent: the  trademark   a serious British newspaper which generally supports liberal political idea.. The same company produces a similar paper on Sundays, called the  Independent on Sunday.//


Words: independent
Meaning:
W2   adj   ----------//\n   1 not owned/controlled by something:\n   2 fair:\n   3 country:\n   4 person:\n   5 independent study/learning:\n   6 woman/man etc of independent means:\n   7 separate:\n   8 politician:  ----------//\n  1 NOT OWNED/CONTROLLED BY SOMETHING:   [usually before noun] an independent organization is not owned or controlled by, or does not receive money from, another organization or the government//  --There are plans to split the corporation into a number of smaller independent companies.//  --an independent charity//  --small independent bookshops//  independent of//  --We need a central bank that is independent of the government.//  independent school  especially BrE  (=one not owned or paid for by the government) //  --schools in the independent sector//  independent television/radio/broadcasting etc  BrE  (=not owned or paid for by the government) //  --independent television companies//  independent film (=one not made or produced by a large film production company) //\n  2 FAIR:   [usually before noun] an independent organization or person is not involved in a particular situation, and can therefore be trusted to be fair in judging it//  --an independent panel of scientists//  --An independent body  (=group of people who work together) has been set up to monitor government spending.//  --There were no independent witnesses to the shooting.//  independent inquiry/advice/opinion etc (=carried out by or given by an independent person or organization) //  --Human rights groups have called for an independent inquiry into the killings.//  --the results of an independent study//\n  3 COUNTRY:  an independent country is not governed or controlled by another country//  --India became independent in 1947.//\n  4 PERSON:  a) confident and able to do things by yourself in your own way, without needing help or advice from other people//  → dependent//  --Now that my sons are becoming more independent, I have more time for myself.//  --a strong-willed, independent young woman//  --He’s now helping other people with spinal injuries to lead an independent life.//  independent of//  --By this age, the child becomes relatively independent of his mother.//  b) having enough money to live without having to ask for help from other people//  --It was always very important to me to be financially independent .//  independent of//  --Robert aimed to be independent of his parents by the time he was twenty.//\n  5  independent study/learning:  when you study on your own rather than being taught by a teacher//  --The tapes can be used in class or for independent study.//\n  6  woman/man etc of independent means:  someone who has their own income from property, investments etc, so that they do not have to work or depend on anyone else//\n  7 SEPARATE:  if one thing is independent of another, the two are not connected, or the second thing does not influence the first//  independent of//  --reports from two separate sources entirely independent of one another//  --Three independent studies all arrived at the same conclusion.//\n  8 POLITICIAN:   [usually before noun] an independent politician does not belong to a particular party//  -- Independent candidates won three seats.//  -- independently adv //  --The two departments operate independently of each other.//  --She had elderly parents who could no longer live independently.//


Words: independent clause
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   a clause which can make a sentence by itself, for example ’she went home’ in the sentence ’She went home because she was tired.’//   main clause//


Words: indescribable
Meaning:
adj   something that is indescribable is so terrible, so good, so strange etc that you cannot describe it, or it is too difficult to describe//  --a feeling of indescribable joy//  -- indescribably adv //  --an indescribably awful smell//


Words: indestructible
Meaning:
adj   too strong to be destroyed//  --her indestructible optimism//  --Gold is virtually indestructible.//  -- indestructibility/[hA366]nd[hA366]str[hA356]kt[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: indeterminable
Meaning:
adj   impossible to find out or calculate exactly//  --water of indeterminable depth//  -- indeterminably adv //


Words: indeterminate
Meaning:
adj   impossible to know about definitely or exactly//  --a girl of indeterminate age//  -- indeterminately adv //  -- indeterminacy n  [U] //


Words: index
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’first finger, guide’, from  indicare;   INDICATE]//\n  1 :  plural  indexes an alphabetical list of names, subjects etc at the back of a book, with the numbers of the pages where they can be found//\n  2 :  plural  indexes a set of cards or a database containing information, usually arranged in alphabetical order and used especially in a library//\n  3 :  plural  indices /[hA366]nd[hA369]si[hA359]z/a standard by which the level of something can be judged or measured//  index of//  --The changing size of an infant’s head is considered an index of brain growth.//\n  4 :  plural  indices /[hA366]nd[hA369]si[hA359]z/ or  indexes  technical a system by which prices, costs etc can be compared to those of a previous date//\nindex 2 v [T]  [usually passive] \n  1 if documents, information etc are indexed, an index is made for them:  --The reports are indexed by subject and location.//\n  2 to arrange for the level of wages, pensions etc to increase or decrease according to the level of prices:  index to//   BrE //  --demands that wages be indexed to the rise in prices//  index for//   AmE //  --an amount indexed for inflation//  -- indexation/[hA366]ndekse[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: index-linked
Meaning:
adj  BrE  technical   index-linked wages, pensions etc, increase or decrease according to the rise or fall of prices//


Words: India
Meaning:
a large country in South Asia. Population: 1,030,000,000 (2001). Capital: New Delhi. India was ruled by the British from 1757 until 1947, and is now the largest  democracy in the world. The official languages are Hindi and English, and most people belong to the  Hindu religion, although there are also large populations of Muslims and Sikhs.//  -- Indian n  adj //


Words: Indian
Meaning:
n   [Sense: 1,3; Date: 1200-1300; Origin: India;]//  [Sense: 2; Origin:  From Christopher Columbus’s mistaken belief that America was part of Asia]//\n  1 [C] someone from India:\n  2 [C] a member of one of the races that lived in North, South, and Central America before the Europeans arrived:   Native American//\n  3 [singular]  BrE  informal a meal of Indian food, or a restaurant that sells Indian food:  --Do you fancy going out for an Indian?//\nIndian 2 adj \n  1 relating to India or its people:\n  2 relating to the Indians of North, South, and Central America:


Words: Indian Guide
Meaning:
also  Y-Indian Guide    a member of a club for young boys and their fathers run by the YMCA in the US. The YWCA runs a similar programme for young girls and their mothers called Indian Maidens.//


Words: Indian Mutiny
Meaning:
the   violent action taken by Indian soldiers in 1857 against their British officers, which led to an attempt by the people of north and central India to take back power from the British. The mutiny failed, and the British established control again in 1858.//


Words: Indian summer
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a period of warm weather in autumn:\n  2 a happy or successful time, especially near the end of your life or career:


Words: Indian Territory
Meaning:
an area of land west of the Mississippi River in the US, mainly in the state of Oklahoma, to which many Native Americans were forced to move in the middle of the 19th century. The land was later taken back from them by the US government.//    Trail of Tears, the//


Words: Indian Wars
Meaning:
the   the wars in the US between white Europeans and Native Americans in the 18th and 19th centuries. The fighting increased after 1830, when the government began to force Native American tribes to leave their land and live on reservations (=special areas of land kept separate for Native Americans) . By 1880, most of the fighting had ended.//


Words: Indianapolis
Meaning:
the capital city of the US state of Indiana. An important car race called the Indianapolis 500 takes place there every year.//


Words: indicate
Meaning:
W1   v   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  indicare, from  dicare  ’to say publicly or officially’]//\n  1 [T] to show that a particular situation exists, or that something is likely to be true:  indicate (that)//  --Research indicates that over 81% of teachers are dissatisfied with their salary.//  --Long skid marks on the pavement indicated the driver had attempted to brake.//  --The study indicates a strong connection between poverty and crime.//\n  2 [T] to say or do something to make your wishes, intentions etc clear:  --The Russians have already indicated their willingness to cooperate.//  --Professor Johnson has indicated his intention to retire at the end of next year.//  indicate (that)//  --Ralph patted the sofa to indicate that she should join him.//  --Please indicate your preference on the booking form.//\n  3 [T] to direct someone’s attention to something or someone, for example by pointing:  --’That’s her,’ said Toby, indicating a girl on the other side of the room.//\n  4 [T] to represent something:  --Sales targets are indicated on the graph by a vertical dotted line.//\n  5 [I and T]  BrE to show the direction in which you intend to turn in a vehicle, using lights or your hands:   signal//  --Don’t forget to indicate before you pull out.//


Words: indication
Meaning:
W3   n [U and C]   a sign, remark, event etc that shows what is happening, what someone is thinking or feeling, or what is true//  indication of//  --Dark green leaves are a good indication of healthy roots.//  --He gave no indication of his own feelings at all.//  --Could you give me some indication as to when I am likely to receive a reply?//  indication (that)//  --Taking a career history along with you will be a clear indication that you are well organized.//  --Indications are that the situation hasn’t improved much.//  --There is every indication  (=there are very clear signs) that it is true.//


Words: indicative
Meaning:
n [U and C]  technical   the form of a verb that is used to make statements. For example, in the sentences ’Penny passed her test’, and ’Michael likes cake’, the verbs ’passed’ and ’like’ are in the indicative.//\nindicative 2 adj \n  1  be indicative of sth:  to be a clear sign that a particular situation exists or that something is likely to be true//  --This behaviour is indicative of her whole attitude, I’m afraid.//\n  2  technical an indicative verb form is used for making statements:


Words: indicator
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 something that can be regarded as a sign of something else:  --All the main economic indicators suggest that trade is improving.//  fog lamp, headlight, indicator, mirror//\n  2  BrE one of the lights on a car that flash to show which way the car is turning:  American Equivalent:  turn signal//\n  3 a pointer on a machine that shows the temperature, pressure, speed etc:


Words: indict
Meaning:
v [I and T]  law  especially AmE   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: enditer, from  Old French,  ’to write down’, from  Latin indicere  ’to say publicly or officially’, from  dicere  ’to say’; influenced by  Medieval Latin indictare  ’to indict’]//  to officially charge someone with a criminal offence//  indict sb for sth//  --He was indicted for vehicular homicide in 1987.//


Words: indictment
Meaning:
n \n  1  be an indictment of sth:  to be a very clear sign that a system, method etc is very bad or very wrong//  --The fact that these children cannot read is a damning indictment of our education system.//\n  2 [C]  law  especially AmE an official written statement charging someone with a criminal offence:\n  3 [U]  law  especially AmE the act of officially charging someone with a criminal offence:


Words: indie
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   used to refer to popular music that is performed by new bands or singers, and produced by small independent companies//  --indie music//  --an indie band//\nindie 2 n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: independent]//  a small independent company, especially one that produces popular music//


Words: indifference
Meaning:
n [U]   lack of interest or concern//  indifference to//  --his apparent indifference to material luxuries//  --Whether you stay or leave is a matter of total indifference to me (=I do not care) .//


Words: indifferent
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin indifferens  ’making no difference’, from  differre;   DIFFER]//\n  1 not at all interested in someone or something:  indifferent to//  --Sarah was absolutely indifferent to him, and it hurt.//\n  2 not particularly good:   mediocre//  --an indifferent cook//  -- indifferently adv //


Words: indigenous
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: indigenus, from  Latin indigena  ’someone born in a place’]//  indigenous people or things have always been in the place where they are, rather than being brought there from somewhere else//   native//  indigenous to//  --Blueberries are indigenous to America.//  --the many indigenous cultures which existed in Siberia//


Words: indigent
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, present participle of  indigere  ’to need’]//  very poor//


Words: indigestible
Meaning:
adj \n  1 food that is indigestible cannot easily be broken down in the stomach into substances that the body can use:\n  2 information that is indigestible is not easy to understand:  --indigestible statistics//


Words: indigestion
Meaning:
n [U]   pain that you get when your stomach cannot break down food that you have eaten//    heartburn//  --Spicy food always gives me indigestion.//


Words: indignant
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  indignari, from  indignus  ’unworthy’]//  angry and surprised because you feel insulted or unfairly treated//  indignant at/about//  --Liz was indignant at the way her child had been treated.//  --I got an indignant reply from Mr Norris.//  -- indignantly adv //  --’Of course I didn’t tell her!’ Sasha said indignantly.//


Words: indignation
Meaning:
n [U]   feelings of anger and surprise because you feel insulted or unfairly treated//  --To his indignation, Charles found that his name was not on the list.//  with/in indignation//  --Lou’s voice quivered with indignation.//  indignation at/about/over//  --Her indignation at such rough treatment was understandable.//  --He stormed into her office, full of righteous indignation .//


Words: indignity
Meaning:
n   plural  indignities  [U and C] //  a situation that makes you feel very ashamed and not respected//  --The prisoners were subjected to all sorts of indignities.//  the indignity of (doing) sth//  --Two of the diplomats suffered the indignity of being arrested.//  the final/ultimate/crowning etc indignity //


Words: indigo
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: Latin indicum, from  Greek indikos  ’Indian’]//  a dark purple-blue colour//  -- indigo adj //


Words: indirect
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not directly caused by something:  → direct//  --Losing weight is an indirect result of smoking cigarettes.//  --The indirect effects of climate change may be profound.//\n  2 an indirect way to a place is not the straightest way:  → direct//  --They took an indirect route, avoiding the town centre.//\n  3 not saying or showing something in a clear definite way:  → direct//  --George’s comments were an indirect way of blaming me.//  -- indirectly adv //  --Perhaps I was indirectly responsible for the misunderstanding.//


Words: indirect cost
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]  technical   money that a business must spend, not directly on its products or services, but on other things such as buildings or wages//


Words: indirect object
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   an object of a verb that refers to the person that something is given to, said to, made for etc. For example, in the sentence ’I asked him a question’, the indirect object is ’him’.//


Words: indirect speech
Meaning:
BrE indirect discourse  AmE  also reported speech  n [U]  technical   a way of reporting what someone said without repeating their exact words. For example, in the sentence ’Julia said that she didn’t want to go’, the clause ’that she didn’t want to go’ is indirect speech. Her actual words were ’I don’t want to go’.//


Words: indirect tax
Meaning:
n [C]   a tax which is added to the cost of goods and services//    direct tax//  -- indirect taxation n  [U] //


Words: indiscipline
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   a lack of control in the behaviour of a group of people, with the result that they behave badly//  → discipline//  --Indiscipline among the troops eventually led to a riot.//


Words: indiscreet
Meaning:
adj   careless about what you say or do, especially by talking about things which should be kept secret//  → discreet//  --It was very indiscreet of Colin to tell them about our plan.//


Words: indiscretion
Meaning:
n   [U and C] an action or remark that shows a lack of good judgment, especially one that is morally unacceptable//  --Earl describes his past links with the racist group as a youthful indiscretion .//  --rumours of the former president’s sexual indiscretions//


Words: indiscriminate
Meaning:
adj   an indiscriminate action is done without thinking about what harm it might cause//  indiscriminate attacks/killing/violence/bombing etc //  --terrorists responsible for indiscriminate killing//  --the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers//  --Even so-called ’tactical’ nuclear weapons are indiscriminate in their effect.//  -- indiscriminately adv //  --Soldiers fired indiscriminately into the crowd.//


Words: indispensable
Meaning:
adj   someone or something that is indispensable is so important or useful that it is impossible to manage without them//   essential//  indispensable to//  --This book is indispensable to anyone interested in space exploration.//  indispensable for/in (doing) sth//  --Meat is not indispensable for maintaining a healthy diet.//  --Mobile phones have become an indispensable part of our lives.//


Words: indisposed
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]  formal \n  1 ill and therefore unable to be present:  --Mrs Rawlins is temporarily indisposed.//\n  2  indisposed to do sth:  not willing to do something//


Words: indisputable
Meaning:
adj   an indisputable fact must be accepted because it is definitely true//  --The evidence was indisputable.//  -- indisputably adv //  --This novel is indisputably his finest work.//


Words: indissoluble
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: indissolubilis, from  dissolvere;   DISSOLVE]//  an indissoluble relationship cannot be destroyed//  --the indissoluble link between language and culture//  -- indissolubly adv //


Words: indistinct
Meaning:
adj   an indistinct sound, image, or memory cannot be seen, heard, or remembered clearly//  → distinct//  --She muttered something indistinct.//  --My memory of what happened next is indistinct.//  -- indistinctly adv //


Words: indistinguishable
Meaning:
adj   things that are indistinguishable are so similar that you cannot see any difference between them//  indistinguishable from//  --an artificial material that is almost indistinguishable from real silk//


Words: individual
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: individualis, from  Latin individuus  ’undividable’, from  dividere;   DIVIDE1]//\n  1 [only before noun] considered separately from other people or things in the same group:  -- Each individual leaf on the tree is different.//  --the needs of the individual customer//\n  2 [only before noun] belonging to or intended for one person rather than a group:  --Children get more individual attention in small classes.//  --You can have the bathroom designed to suit your individual needs .//  --individual portions of jam//\n  3 an individual style, way of doing things etc is different from anyone else’s - usually used to show approval:   distinctive//  --a tennis player with a highly individual style//  --a very individual way of dressing//\nindividual 2 W1 n [C] \n  1 a person, considered separately from the rest of the group or society that they live in:  --the rights of the individual//  --Each individual receives two genes, one inherited from each parent.//  --Most churches were built with donations from private individuals  (=ordinary people, rather than the government or companies) .//\n  2 a person of a particular kind, especially one who is unusual in some way:  --a strange-looking individual//


Words: individualism
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the belief that the rights and freedom of individual people are the most important rights in a society:  --Capitalism encourages competition and individualism.//\n  2 the behaviour or attitude of someone who does things in their own way without being influenced by other people:


Words: individualist
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who does things in their own way and has different opinions from most other people//  --Geoff was too much of an individualist to be team captain.//  -- individualistic/[hA366]nd[hA369]v[hA366]d[hA360]u[hA353]l[hA366]st[hA366]k[hA36B]/ also individualist //   adj //  --She has a highly individualistic approach to painting.//


Words: individuality
Meaning:
n [U]   the qualities that make someone or something different from other things or people//  --We like our staff to show their individuality rather than wear a uniform.//


Words: individualized
Meaning:
also  individualised BrE   adj   designed to fit the special needs of a particular person or thing//  --an individualized training program//  -- individualize v  [T] //


Words: individually
Meaning:
adv   separately, not together in a group//  --The bridegroom thanked them all individually.//  --individually wrapped portions of cheese//


Words: individuate
Meaning:
v  formal \n  1 [T] to make someone or something clearly different from others of the same kind:  --The characters in the play are beautifully individuated.//\n  2 [I]  AmE to have an idea of yourself as an independent person, separate from other people:


Words: indivisible
Meaning:
adj   something that is indivisible cannot be separated or divided into parts//  → divisible//  -- indivisibly adv //


Words: Indo-European
Meaning:
adj   the Indo-European group of languages includes English, French, Hindi, Russian, and most of the other languages of Europe and northern India//


Words: Indochina
Meaning:
a name given in the past to part of southeast Asia by Europeans. During the 19th century, Indochina included Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Laos, but in the 20th century Indochina came to mean the countries ruled by France: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. These three countries were also called French Indochina.//


Words: indoctrinate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Old French; Origin: endoctriner, from  doctrine;   DOCTRINE]//  to train someone to accept a particular set of beliefs, especially political or religious ones, and not consider any others//  --People were indoctrinated not to question their leaders.//  -- indoctrination/[hA366]nd[hA361]ktr[hA369]ne[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ [hA366]nd[hA35A][hA359]k-/ n  [U] //  --The military in particular were subjected to intense political indoctrination.//


Words: indolent
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: indolens  ’not feeling pain’, from  Latin dolere  ’to feel pain’]//  lazy//  -- indolence n  [U] //


Words: indomitable
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: indomitabilis, from  Latin domitare  ’to control the behavior of’]//  having great determination or courage//  --an indomitable old lady//  indomitable spirit/will/courage etc //  --Alice was a woman of indomitable spirit.//


Words: Indonesia
Meaning:
a country in the southeast Indian Ocean consisting of more than 13,000 islands, the largest of which are Java, Sumatra, most of Borneo, Sulawesi, and Bali. Population: 228,438,000 (2001). Capital: Jakarta. In population, it is the fourth largest country in the world, and its official religion is Islam.//  -- Indonesian n  adj //


Words: indoor
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   used or happening inside a building//  → outdoor//  --an indoor swimming pool//  --the world indoor athletics championship//  --Too much central heating can harm indoor plants.//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not confuse indoor and indoors. Indoor is an adjective and indoors is an adverb: I stayed indoors (NOT I stayed indoor).| indoor sports (NOT indoors sports) //  ----------//


Words: indoors
Meaning:
adv   into or inside a building//  → outdoors//  --Let’s go indoors and have something to eat.//  --It rained all day so we had to stay indoors.//


Words: indrawn
Meaning:
adj   indrawn breath//   written air that someone breathes in a way that can be heard, especially because they are shocked//  --She heard Mitch’s swiftly indrawn breath.//


Words: indubitably
Meaning:
adv  formal   certainly or without doubt//  --Mr Sachs is indubitably charming.//  -- indubitable adj //


Words: induce
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: inducere, from  ducere  ’to lead’]//\n  1  formal to persuade someone to do something, especially something that does not seem wise:  induce sb to do sth//  --Nothing would induce me to vote for him again.//\n  2  medical to make a woman give birth to her baby, by giving her a special drug:  --She had to be induced because the baby was four weeks late.//  --The doctor decided to induce labour .//\n  3  formal to cause a particular physical condition:  --Patients with eating disorders may use drugs to induce vomiting.//  drug-induced/stress-induced etc //  --a drug-induced coma//


Words: inducement
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a reason for doing something, especially something that you will get as a result//  inducement to do sth//  --Businesses were offered inducements to move to the area.//  -- financial inducements to attract good job candidates//


Words: induct
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  inducere;   INDUCE]//\n  1 to officially give someone a job or position of authority, especially at a special ceremony:  induct sb to/into sth//  --18 new junior ministers were inducted into the government.//\n  2  AmE to officially introduce someone into a group or organization, especially the army:\n  3 to officially introduce someone into an important place of honour at a special ceremony:  induct sb into sth//  --Barry was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987.//


Words: induction
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] the introduction of someone into a new job, company, official position etc, or the ceremony at which this is done:  induction course/programme/period etc //  --a two-day induction course//  --Mrs Simpson is responsible for the induction of new library staff.//\n  2 [U and C]  medical the process of making a woman give birth to her baby by giving her a special drug:\n  3 [U]  technical the production of electricity in one object by another that already has electrical or magnetic power:\n  4 [U]  technical a process of thought that uses known facts to produce general rules or principles:    deduction//


Words: inductive
Meaning:
adj  technical \n  1 using known facts to produce general principles:  --inductive reasoning//\n  2 connected with electrical or magnetic induction:


Words: indulge
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: indulgere]//\n  1 [I and T] to let yourself do or have something that you enjoy, especially something that is considered bad for you:  indulge in//  --Most of us were too busy to indulge in heavy lunchtime drinking.//  --Eva had never been one to indulge in self-pity.//  indulge yourself//  --Even if you’re dieting, you can indulge yourself (=eat what you want) once in a while.//  --Ray has enough money to indulge his taste for expensive wines.//\n  2 [T] to let someone have or do whatever they want, even if it is bad for them:  --His mother spoiled him, indulging his every whim.//\n  3 [I] to take part in an activity, especially an illegal one:  indulge in//  --Women do not indulge in crime to the same extent as men.//


Words: indulgence
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the habit of allowing yourself to do or have whatever you want, or allowing someone else to do or have whatever they want:    self-indulgence at self-indulgent//\n  2 [C] something that you do or have for pleasure, not because you need it:  --An occasional glass of wine was his only indulgence.//\n  3 [U]  formal willingness to ignore someone’s faults or weaknesses:  --a spirit of indulgence and forgiveness//\n  4 [C] a promise of freedom from punishment by God, sold by priests in the Middle Ages:


Words: indulgent
Meaning:
adj   willing to allow someone, especially a child, to do or have whatever they want, even if this is not good for them//  --expensive toys bought by their indulgent grandparents//  -- indulgently adv //


Words: industrial
Meaning:
W1   adj \n  1 relating to industry or the people working in it:  industrial production/output //  --Industrial production has risen by 0.5% since November.//  industrial development/growth //  --rapid post-war industrial development//  industrial conflict/dispute/unrest (=disagreement between workers and their employers) //  --Last year 1.3 million workers took part in industrial disputes.//  industrial accident/injury (=happening at work) //\n  2 having many industries:  industrial countries/nations/states //  --a meeting of the world’s major industrial nations//  industrial area/zone //  --pollution in industrial areas//  --By 1900 Britain was a mainly industrial society .//\n  3 of the type used in industry:  --cleaning products that are for industrial use only (=not to be used at home) //  -- industrially adv //


Words: industrial action
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   an action such as a strike (=stopping work)  taken by workers involved in a disagreement with their employer//


Words: industrial estate
Meaning:
BrE industrial park  AmE   a piece of land, often on the edge of a town, where there are factories and businesses//


Words: Industrial Revolution
Meaning:
n   the Industrial Revolution//  the period in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe and the USA when machines were invented and the first factories were established//


Words: industrial-strength
Meaning:
adj   an industrial-strength substance is very strong - often used humorously//  --They served us industrial-strength coffee.//


Words: industrialization
Meaning:
also  industrialisation BrE   n [U]   when a country or place develops a lot of industry//  -- industrialize/[hA366]nd[hA356]stri[hA353]la[hA366]z/ v  [I and T] //


Words: industry
Meaning:
n   plural  industries //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: industrie  ’skill, work involving skill’, from  Latin industria  ’willingness to work hard’]//\n  1 [U] :  a) the large-scale production of goods or of substances such as coal and steel//  --a decline in manufacturing industry //  heavy/light industry (=the production of large or small goods) //  --Heavy industry was concentrated in the north of the country.//  --This type of software is widely used in industry.//  b) the people who work in industry//  --an agreement that will be welcomed by both sides of industry (=employers and workers) //\n  2 [C] businesses that produce a particular type of thing or provide a particular service:  coal/car/textile etc industry //  --I work in the oil industry.//  tourist/travel/leisure/catering etc industry //  --Italy’s thriving tourist industry//  --new jobs in service industries  (=businesses such as banking and tourism) //\n  3 [U]  formal the fact of working hard:  --Gould is a man of great industry.//\n  4 [singular] an area of work which has grown too large - used to show disapproval:  --another book from the Shakespeare industry//


Words: inedible
Meaning:
adj   if something is inedible, you cannot eat it because it tastes bad or is poisonous//  → edible//  --The meat was so burnt that it was inedible.//


Words: ineffable
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: Latin ineffabilis, from  effari  ’to speak out’]//  too great to be described in words//  --ineffable joy//  -- ineffably adv //


Words: ineffective
Meaning:
adj   something that is ineffective does not achieve what it is intended to achieve//  → effective//  ineffective in doing sth//  --The chemical was almost totally ineffective in killing the weeds.//  ineffective against//  --Various drugs have proved ineffective against the virus.//  --an ineffective marketing campaign//  -- ineffectively adv //  -- ineffectiveness n  [U] //  --the ineffectiveness of most diets//


Words: ineffectual
Meaning:
adj   not having the ability, confidence, or personal authority to get things done//  --an ineffectual leader//  --She remembered her ineffectual efforts to comfort him.//  -- ineffectually adv //


Words: inefficient
Meaning:
adj   not using time, money, energy etc in the best way//  → efficient//  --an inefficient use of resources//  --Local government was inefficient.//  -- inefficiently adv //  -- inefficiency n  [U and C] //  --problems due to the inefficiency of management//


Words: inelegant
Meaning:
adj   not graceful or attractive//  → elegant//  --an inelegant expression//  -- inelegantly adv //  -- inelegance n  [U] //


Words: ineligible
Meaning:
adj   not allowed to have or do something because of a law or rule//  → eligible//  ineligible for//  --Temporary workers are ineligible for the pension scheme.//  ineligible to do sth//  --People under 18 are ineligible to vote.//  -- ineligibility/[hA366]nel[hA369]d[hA360][hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: ineluctable
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ineluctabilis, from  eluctari  ’to struggle out of’]//  impossible to avoid//  -- ineluctably adv //


Words: inept
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: inepte, from  Latin ineptus, from  aptus;   APT]//  not good at doing something//  → capable, skilful//  --inept leadership//  --He was criticized for his inept handling of the problem.//  politically/socially inept //  --Blake was intellectually able but politically inept.//  -- ineptly adv //    inapt//


Words: inequality
Meaning:
n   plural  inequalities  [U and C] //  an unfair situation, in which some groups in society have more money, opportunities, power etc than others//  → equality//  inequality in//  --There are inequalities in wealth distribution.//  inequality of//  --inequality of opportunity//  inequality between//  --inequalities between men and women//  social/gender/racial etc inequality //  --a policy that aims to redress racial inequalities//


Words: inequitable
Meaning:
adj  formal   not equally fair to everyone//  --an inequitable distribution of wealth//  -- inequitably adv //


Words: inequity
Meaning:
n   plural  inequities  [U and C]  formal //  lack of fairness, or something that is unfair//  → equity//  inequity of//  --the inequities of the legal system//  inequity in//  --There are huge inequities in the distribution of research funding.//  racial/social inequity //  --a report on racial inequity in the UK//


Words: inert
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: iners  ’unskilled, doing nothing’, from  ars  ’skill, art’]//\n  1  technical not producing a chemical reaction when combined with other substances:  --inert gases//\n  2  literary not moving, or not having the strength or power to move:  --He lay, inert, in his bed.//\n  3 not willing to do anything:  --The government was perceived to be inert and inefficient.//  -- inertness n  [U] //


Words: inertia
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: iners;   INERT]//\n  1 when no one wants to do anything to change a situation:  --political inertia//\n  2  technical the force that keeps an object in the same position or keeps it moving until it is moved or stopped by another force:\n  3 a lack of energy and a feeling that you do not want to do anything:  -- inertial adj //


Words: inescapable
Meaning:
adj   an inescapable fact or situation is one that you cannot avoid or ignore//  --She didn’t want to confront the inescapable fact that she would have to sell the house.//  --The inescapable conclusion is that he was murdered by someone in his own family.//  -- inescapably adv //


Words: inessential
Meaning:
adj  formal   not needed//   unnecessary//  → essential//  --inessential details//  -- inessentials n  [plural] //


Words: inevitability
Meaning:
n [singular, U]   the fact that something is certain to happen, or something that is certain to happen//  inevitability of//  --the inevitability of death//


Words: inevitable
Meaning:
W3   adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: inevitabilis, from  evitare  ’to avoid’]//\n  1 certain to happen and impossible to avoid:  --A further escalation of the crisis now seems inevitable.//  it is inevitable (that)//  --It’s inevitable that doctors will make the occasional mistake.//  inevitable consequence/result //  --Disease was an inevitable consequence of poor living conditions.//\n  2  the inevitable:  a situation that is certain to happen//  --One day the inevitable happened and I got a speeding ticket.//


Words: inevitably
Meaning:
W3   adv   used for saying that something is certain to happen and cannot be avoided//  --The decision will inevitably lead to political tensions.//  [sentence adverb] //  --Inevitably, the situation did not please everyone.//


Words: inexcusable
Meaning:
adj   inexcusable behaviour is too bad to be excused//  --an inexcusable act of aggression//  -- inexcusably adv //


Words: inexhaustible
Meaning:
adj   something that is inexhaustible exists in such large amounts that it can never be finished or used up//  --She has an inexhaustible supply of funny stories.//  --a man of inexhaustible energy//


Words: inexorable
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: inexorabilis, from  exorare  ’to persuade’]//  an inexorable process cannot be stopped//  --the inexorable decline of Britain’s manufacturing industry//  --the seemingly inexorable rise in crime//  -- inexorably adv //  -- inexorability/[hA366]neks[hA368]r[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: inexpensive
Meaning:
adj   cheap - use this to show approval//  → expensive//  --a good selection of inexpensive wines//  --Painting is a relatively inexpensive way to enhance your home.//  -- inexpensively adv //


Words: inexpert
Meaning:
adj  formal   not having the skill to do something//  → expert//  --an inexperienced and inexpert teacher//  -- inexpertly adv //


Words: inexplicable
Meaning:
adj   too unusual or strange to be explained or understood//   incomprehensible, strange//  --inexplicable behaviour//  -- For some inexplicable reason, he felt depressed.//  -- inexplicably adv //


Words: inexpressible
Meaning:
adj  formal   an inexpressible feeling is too strong to be described in words//  --inexpressible gratitude//  -- inexpressibly adv //


Words: inextricable
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: inextricabilis, from  extricare;   EXTRICATE]//  two or more things that are inextricable are closely related and affect each other//  --the inextricable connection between language and culture//


Words: inextricably
Meaning:
adv   be inextricably linked/bound up/mixed etc//  if two or more things are inextricably linked etc, they are very closely related and affect each other//  --Physical health is inextricably linked to mental health.//  --Economic and social history are inextricably bound up with each other.//


Words: infallible
Meaning:
adj \n  1 always right and never making mistakes:  → fallible//  --No expert is infallible.//  --an infallible memory//\n  2 something that is infallible always works or has the intended effect:  --He had an infallible cure for a hangover.//  -- infallibly adv //  -- infallibility/[hA366]nf[zB024]l[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: infamous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: infamis, from  fama;   FAME]//  well known for being bad or evil//  --an infamous killer//  --Los Angeles’ infamous smog//  infamous for//  --This area is infamous for drugs and prostitution.//  -- infamously adv //


Words: infancy
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the period of a child’s life before they can walk or talk:  in infancy//  --In the past, many children died in infancy.//\n  2 the time when something is just starting to be developed:  --The research stretched from the infancy of radio broadcasting through to today.//  --Genetic engineering is still in its infancy. //


Words: infant
Meaning:
W3   n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: enfant, from  Latin infans, from  infans  ’unable to speak’, from  fari  ’to speak’]//\n  1 [C]  formal a baby or very young child:  --An infant’s skin is very sensitive.//    Sudden Infant Death Syndrome//\n  2  infants [plural] children in school in Britain between the ages of four and eight:\ninfant 2 adj [only before noun] \n  1  infant school/teacher/class etc:  a school, teacher etc for children aged between four and eight in Britain//\n  2 intended for babies or very young children:  --infant formula milk//\n  3 an infant company, organization etc has just started to exist or be developed:  --infant industries//


Words: infant mortality rate
Meaning:
n [C]   the number of deaths of babies under one year old, expressed as the number out of every 1000 babies born alive in a year//


Words: infantile
Meaning:
adj \n  1 infantile behaviour seems silly in an adult because it is typical of a child:   childish//  --infantile jokes//\n  2 [only before noun]  technical relating to or affecting babies and very young children:  --infantile development//


Words: infantry
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: infanterie, from  Old Italian infanteria, from  infante  ’boy, soldier’, from  Latin infans;   INFANT1]//  soldiers who fight on foot//  --an infantry regiment//    cavalry//


Words: infatuated
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  infatuare, from  fatuus;   FATUOUS]//  having strong feelings of love for someone or a strong interest in something that makes you unable to think in a sensible way//  infatuated with//  --John had become infatuated with the French teacher.//  --My mother’s infatuated with dieting.//


Words: infatuation
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a strong feeling of love for someone or interest in something, especially a feeling that is unreasonable and does not continue for a long time//  infatuation with//  --the current infatuation with ’70s style//  --Shaw’s infatuation with the actress is evident in his writing.//


Words: infect
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  inficere  ’to dip in, stain’]//\n  1 to give someone a disease:  --People with the virus may feel perfectly well, but they can still infect others.//  infect with//  --the number of people infected with HIV//\n  2 [usually passive] to make something contain something harmful that gives people a disease:  infect with//  --Eggs known to be infected with salmonella were allowed to go on sale.//\n  3 if a feeling or interest that you have infects other people, it makes them begin to feel the same way or have the same interest:  --Lucy’s enthusiasm soon infected the rest of the class.//\n  4 if a virus infects your computer or disks, it changes or destroys the information in them:


Words: infected
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a part of your body or a wound that is infected has harmful bacteria in it which prevent it from healing:    disinfect//  --an infected finger//  --Clean the wound so it doesn’t get infected .//\n  2 food, water etc that is infected contains bacteria that spread disease:\n  3 if a computer or disk is infected, the information in or on it has been changed or destroyed by a computer virus:


Words: infection
Meaning:
W3   n \n  1 [C] a disease that affects a particular part of your body and is caused by bacteria or a virus:  --an ear infection//  mild/slight/severe infection //  --a slight infection in the bladder//\n  2 [U] when someone is infected by a disease:  --Always sterilize the needle to prevent infection.//


Words: infectious
Meaning:
adj \n  1 an infectious illness can be passed from one person to another, especially through the air you breathe:  --infectious diseases//  --Flu is highly infectious. //\n  2 someone who is infectious has an illness and could pass it to other people:\n  3 infectious feelings or laughter spread quickly from one person to another:  --an infectious smile //  -- infectious enthusiasm //  -- infectiously adv //


Words: infer
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  inferred present participle  inferring  [T] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: inferre, from  ferre  ’to carry’]//  to form an opinion that something is probably true because of information that you have//  infer sth from sth//  --A lot can be inferred from these statistics.//  infer that//  --From the evidence we can infer that the victim knew her killer.//


Words: inference
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] something that you think is true, based on information that you have:  draw/make inferences (about/from sth) //  --What inferences have you drawn from this evidence?//\n  2 [U] when someone infers something:  by inference//  --He was portrayed as a hero and,by inference, Thompson as the villain.//  -- inferential/[hA366]nf[hA353]ren[hA35D][hA368]l[hA36B]/ adj //  --inferential evidence//  -- inferentially adv //


Words: inferior
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: ’lower’, from  inferus  ’below’]//\n  1 not good, or not as good as someone or something else:  → superior//  --I felt very inferior among all those academics.//  --wine of inferior quality//  --inferior goods//  inferior to//  --I always felt slightly inferior to her.//  --Their performance was inferior to that of other teams.//\n  2  formal lower in rank:  → superior//  --an inferior court of law//  --He refused to accept a job of inferior status.//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’inferior than’ something. Say inferior to something. //  ----------//\ninferior 2 n [C]   someone who has a lower position or rank than you in an organization//  → superior//


Words: inferiority
Meaning:
n [U]   when someone or something is not good or not as good as someone or something else//  → superiority//  --moral inferiority//  sense/feeling of inferiority //  --He had a deep-rooted feeling of inferiority.//


Words: inferiority complex
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   a continuous feeling that you are much less important, clever etc than other people//


Words: infernal
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Late Latin infernalis, from  infernus  ’hell’]//\n  1 [only before noun]  old-fashioned used to express anger or annoyance about something:  --I wish the children would stop that infernal noise.//\n  2  literary relating to hell and evil:  -- infernally adv //


Words: inferno
Meaning:
n   plural  infernos  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Italian; Origin: ’hell’, from  Late Latin infernus;   INFERNAL]//\n  1 an extremely large and dangerous fire - used especially in news reports:  raging/blazing inferno //  --Within minutes the house had become a raging inferno.//\n  2  literary when someone has very strong feelings that are difficult to control:  --She was desperately trying to calm the inferno raging within her.//


Words: infertile
Meaning:
adj \n  1 unable to have babies:  --infertile couples//\n  2 infertile land or soil is not good enough to grow plants in:


Words: infertility
Meaning:
n [U]   when someone is unable to have a baby//  --There are many possible causes of infertility in women.//  --infertility treatments//


Words: infest
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: infester, from  Latin, from  infestus  ’angry and unfriendly’]//\n  1 if insects, rats etc infest a place, there are a lot of them and they usually cause damage:  be infested with sth//  --The kitchen was infested with cockroaches.//  shark-infested/rat-infested etc //  --shark-infested waters//\n  2 if things or people you do not want infest a place, there are too many of them:  --an area infested with holiday homes//  -- infestation/[hA366]nfeste[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: infidel
Meaning:
n [C]  literary  not polite   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: infid[hA169]le, from  Latin, from  fidelis  ’faithful’]//  an offensive word for someone who has a different religion from you//


Words: infidelity
Meaning:
n   plural  infidelities  [U and C] //  when someone has sex with a person who is not their wife, husband, or partner//  --marital infidelity//


Words: infield
Meaning:
n [singular] \n  1 the part of a cricket field nearest to the player who hits the ball:  → outfield//\n  2 the part of a baseball field inside the four bases:  → outfield//\n  3 the group of players in this part of the cricket or baseball field:  -- infielder n  [C] //


Words: infighting
Meaning:
n [U]   when members of the same group or organization argue, or compete with each other in an unfriendly way//  --political infighting//


Words: infill
Meaning:
n [U]  especially BrE \n  1 something that is used to fill a space:  --infill panels//\n  2 the process of filling a space, especially by building new houses:  --infill developments//  -- infill v  [I and T] //


Words: infiltrate
Meaning:
v \n  1 [>I always + adv/prep, T] to secretly join an organization or enter a place in order to find out information about it or harm it:  --Police attempts to infiltrate neo-Nazi groups were largely unsuccessful.//  infiltrate into//  --Rebel forces have been infiltrating into the country.//\n  2 [T] to secretly put people into an organization or place in order to find out information or to harm it:  infiltrate sb into sth//  --They repeatedly tried to infiltrate assassins into the palace.//\n  3 [T] to become a part of something - used especially to show disapproval:  --Commercialism has been infiltrating universities for the past decade.//  -- infiltrator n  [C] //  -- infiltration/[hA366]nf[hA366]ltre[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: infinite
Meaning:
adj \n  1 very great in amount or degree:  --a woman of infinite patience//  an infinite number/variety of sth //  --There was an infinite variety of drinks to choose from.//\n  2 without limits in space or time:  → finite//  --The universe is infinite.//    in sb’s (infinite) wisdom at wisdom(4),  non-finite//


Words: infinitely
Meaning:
adverb]   very much - used especially when comparing things//  --This school is infinitely better than the last one I went to.//  --Being on your own is infinitely preferable to being in an unhappy relationship.//  --someone with infinitely more experience//


Words: infinitesimal
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: infinitesimus  ’infinite in rank’, from  Latin infinitus]//  extremely small//  --infinitesimal changes in temperature//  -- infinitesimally adv //  --infinitesimally small//


Words: infinitive
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: infinitivus, from  Latin infinitus; because the verb is not limited by person or number]//  in grammar, the basic form of a verb, used with ’to’ in English. In the sentence ’I want to watch television.’ ’to watch’ is an infinitive//    split infinitive//


Words: infinity
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] a space or distance without limits or an end:  --the infinity of space//\n  2 [singular, U] a number that is too large to be calculated:  --In the equation below, as E goes to zero, n approaches infinity.//  infinity of//  --There is an infinity of possible solutions.//


Words: infirm
Meaning:
adj \n  1 weak or ill for a long time, especially because you are old:  --Her grandmother is elderly and infirm.//\n  2  the infirm:  people who are weak or ill for a long time, especially because they are old//  --The hotel is on a hill, which is not ideal for the infirm.//


Words: infirmary
Meaning:
n   plural  infirmaries  [C] //\n  1 a hospital - often used in the names of hospitals in Britain:\n  2 a room in a school or other institution where people can get medical treatment:


Words: inflame
Meaning:
v [T]   to make someone’s feelings of anger, excitement etc much stronger//  --The shooting inflamed ethnic tensions.//


Words: inflamed
Meaning:
adj   a part of your body that is inflamed is red and swollen, because it is injured or infected//  --an inflamed eye//


Words: inflammable
Meaning:
adj \n  1  formal inflammable materials or substances will start to burn very easily:   flammable//  → nonflammable//  --Petrol is highly inflammable. //\n  2 easily becoming angry or violent, or making people angry or violent:  --inflammable language//


Words: inflammation
Meaning:
n [U and C]   swelling and pain in part of your body, which is often red and feels hot//  inflammation of//  --inflammation of the colon//


Words: inflammatory
Meaning:
adj \n  1 an inflammatory speech, piece of writing etc is likely to make people feel angry:  --inflammatory remarks//\n  2  technical an inflammatory disease or medical condition causes inflammation:  --inflammatory bowel disease//


Words: inflatable
Meaning:
adj   an inflatable object has to be filled with air before you can use it//  --an inflatable mattress//\ninflatable 2 n [C]   an object that has to be filled with air before you can use it, especially a boat or toy//


Words: inflate
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  inflare, from  flare  ’to blow’]//\n  1 [I and T] to fill something with air or gas so it becomes larger, or to become filled with air or gas:  --It took us half an hour to inflate the dinghy.//  --Her life jacket failed to inflate.//\n  2 [T] to make something seem more important or impressive than it really is:  --The success further inflated his self-confidence.//  be grossly/vastly/hugely inflated //  --The numbers of people involved have been grossly inflated by the media.//\n  3 [I and T]  technical to increase in price or make something increase in price:  --Hotels often inflate prices at particular times of the year.//  --Costs were inflating.//


Words: inflated
Meaning:
adj \n  1 inflated prices, amounts etc are high and unreasonable:  grossly/vastly/hugely inflated //  --company directors on grossly inflated salaries//\n  2 inflated ideas, opinions etc about someone or something make them seem better, more important etc than they really are:  --He has a very inflated opinion of himself.//\n  3 filled with air or gas:


Words: inflation
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 a continuing increase in prices, or the rate at which prices increase:  inflation rate/rate of inflation //  --The annual rate of inflation fell.//  -- Inflation is now running at over 16%.//  --countries with high inflation //\n  2 the process of filling something with air:


Words: inflationary
Meaning:
adj   relating to or causing price increases//  --inflationary pressures in the economy//  --A new round of wage increases could trigger an inflationary spiral  (=a continuing rise in both wages and prices) .//


Words: inflect
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: inflectere, from  flectere  ’to bend’]//  [I]  technical if a word inflects, its form changes according to its meaning or use//


Words: inflected
Meaning:
adj    technical an inflected language contains many words which change their form according to their meaning or use//


Words: inflection
Meaning:
inflexion/[hA366]nflek[hA35D][hA368]n/ n \n  1 [U]  technical the way in which a word changes its form to show a difference in its meaning or use:\n  2 [C]  technical one of the forms of a word that changes in this way, or one of the parts that is added to it:\n  3 [U and C] the way the sound of your voice goes up and down when you are speaking:  -- inflectional adj //


Words: inflexible
Meaning:
adj \n  1 unwilling to make even the slightest change in your attitudes, plans etc:  → flexible//  --inflexible attitudes towards change//\n  2 inflexible rules, arrangements etc are impossible to change:  → flexible//  --This approach is too inflexible and too costly.//\n  3 inflexible material is stiff and will not bend:  → flexible//  -- inflexibly adv //  -- inflexibility/[hA366]nfleks[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: inflict
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  infligere, from  fligere  ’to hit’]//\n  1 [T] to make someone suffer something unpleasant:  inflict sth on/upon sb//  --The strikes inflicted serious damage on the economy.//  --Detectives warned that the men could inflict serious injury.//\n  2  inflict yourself/sb on sb:  to visit or be with someone when they do not want you - used humorously//  --Was it really fair to her friends to inflict her nephew on them?//  -- infliction/[hA366]nfl[hA366]k[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  --the deliberate infliction of pain//


Words: inflow
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] the movement of people, money, goods etc into a place:  → outflow//  inflow of//  --an inflow of funds from abroad//\n  2 [singular, U] the flow of water into a place:  → outflow//


Words: influence
Meaning:
W1S2   n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Medieval Latin influentia, from  Latin fluere  ’to flow’]//\n  1 [U and C] the power to affect the way someone or something develops, behaves, or thinks without using direct force or orders:  --There is no doubt that Bohr’s influence was immense.//  influence on/over//  --the unions’ influence over local politics//  under sb’s influence/under the influence of sb/sth//  --They had come under the influence of a strange religious sect.//  have/exert/exercise influence //  --The Council had considerable influence over many government decisions.//  --They were accused of interfering with voters or exerting undue influence  (=too much influence) .//\n  2 [C] someone or something that has an influence on other people or things:  bad/good/positive etc influence (on sb) //  --Gayle’s mother said I was a bad influence on her daughter.//  --For centuries the country remained untouched by outside influences .//\n  3  under the influence (of alcohol/drink/drugs etc):  drunk or feeling the effects of a drug//\ninfluence 2 v [T]   to affect the way someone or something develops, behaves, thinks etc without directly forcing or ordering them//  --Marx was strongly influenced by the historian Niebuhr.//  influence a decision/outcome/choice etc //  --Several factors are likely to influence this decision.//  influence sb to do sth//  --What influenced you to take up nursing?//


Words: influential
Meaning:
adj   having a lot of influence and therefore changing the way people think and behave//  --He had influential friends.//  influential in//  --Dewey was influential in shaping economic policy.//  --a highly influential art magazine//


Words: influenza
Meaning:
n [U]  medical   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: Medieval Latin influentia;   INFLUENCE1]//  an infectious disease that is like a very bad cold//   flu//


Words: influx
Meaning:
n [C]   the arrival of large numbers of people or large amounts of money, goods etc, especially suddenly//  influx of//  --a sudden influx of cash//  massive/great/huge etc influx //  --a large influx of tourists in the summer//


Words: infomercial
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: information +  commercial]//  a long television advertisement that provides a lot of information and seems like a normal programme//


Words: inform
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: enformer, from  Latin informare  ’to give shape to’, from  forma;   FORM1]//\n  1 to formally or officially tell someone about something or give them information:  inform sb about/of sth//  --Please inform us of any change of address as soon as possible.//  inform sb (that)//  --We regret to inform you that your application has been rejected.//  --They decided to inform the police.//\n  2  formal to influence someone’s attitude or opinion:  --Her experience as a refugee informs the content of her latest novel.//  inform on/against [inform on/against sb] phr v//  to tell the police or an enemy information about someone that will harm them//  --He denied that he had ever informed on his neighbours.//


Words: informal
Meaning:
W3   adj \n  1 relaxed and friendly without being restricted by rules of correct behaviour:  → formal//  --The atmosphere at work is fairly informal.//  --The two groups met for informal talks.//\n  2 an informal style of writing or speaking is suitable for ordinary conversations or letters to friends:  → formal//\n  3 informal clothes are suitable for wearing at home or in ordinary situations:   casual//  → formal//  -- informally adv //  -- informality/[hA366]nf[hA350][hA359]m[zB024]l[hA369]ti $ -f[hA350][hA359]r-/ n  [U] //


Words: informant
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who secretly gives the police, the army etc information about someone else:   informer//  --One of the witnesses was a paid informant for the FBI.//\n  2  technical someone who gives information about their language, social customs etc to someone who is studying them:


Words: information
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 facts or details that tell you something about a situation, person, event etc:  --I need more information.//  information that//  --We have received information that Grant may have left the country.//  information about/on//  --The book contains information about a wide variety of subjects.//  --The guide will provide you with information about the area.//  further/additional/more etc information //  --For further information, call the number below.//  gather/collect information //  --The survey didn’t collect any information about temporary workers.//  --The book is packed with useful information .//  --She sent me detailed information about the project.//  --I’ve one or two useful pieces of information to pass on to you.//  my/our etc information is (=used to say what you know about a situation) //  --My information is that Gary wants to stay with the club.//\n  2  AmE the telephone service which provides telephone numbers to people who ask for them:  British Equivalent:  directory enquiries//\n  3  for your information:   spoken used when you are telling someone that they are wrong about a particular fact//  --For your information, I’ve worked as a journalist for six years.//\n  4  for information only:  written on copies of letters and documents that are sent to someone who needs to know about them but does not have to deal with them//    inside information at inside3 (2)//  -- informational adj //  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Information is an uncountable noun. Do not say ’informations’ or ’an information’. //  ----------//


Words: information overload
Meaning:
n [U]   when someone gets too much information at one time, for example on the Internet, and becomes tired and unable to think very carefully about any of it//  --The greater the amount of data, the greater the risk of information overload.//


Words: information technology
Meaning:
n [U]   IT the study or use of electronic processes for gathering and storing information and making it available using computers//


Words: informative
Meaning:
adj   providing many useful facts or ideas//  --an informative and entertaining book//  -- informatively adv //


Words: informed
Meaning:
adj \n  1 having a lot of knowledge or information about a particular subject or situation:  --Informed sources said it was likely that the President would make a televised statement.//  well-informed/ill-informed //  --I became reasonably well-informed about the subject.//\n  2  informed decision/choice/judgement etc:  a decision etc that is based on knowledge of a subject or situation//  --Good information is essential if people are to make informed choices about services.//\n  3  keep sb informed:  to give someone the latest news and details about a situation//  --Please keep me fully informed of any developments.//


Words: informer
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who secretly tells the police, the army etc about criminal activities, especially for money//


Words: infotainment
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: information +  entertainment]//  television programmes that deal with important subjects in a way that people can enjoy//


Words: infra-
Meaning:
prefix  technical   [Language: Latin; Origin: infra  ’below’]//  below something in a range//  --the infra-red end of the spectrum//    ultra-(2)//


Words: infraction
Meaning:
n [U and C]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: infractio, from  infringere;   INFRINGE]//  an act of breaking a rule or law//  infraction of//  --minor infractions of the rules//


Words: infrastructure
Meaning:
n [U and C]   the basic systems and structures that a country or organization needs in order to work properly, for example roads, railways, banks etc//  --Some countries lack a suitable economic infrastructure.//  --a $65 billion investment package in education, health care and infrastructure//  -- infrastructural adj //


Words: infrequent
Meaning:
adj   not happening often//   rare//  → frequent//  --They would make infrequent visits to the house.//  -- infrequency n  [U] //


Words: infrequently
Meaning:
adv \n  1 not often:   rarely//  → frequently//  --Jeremy does play cricket, but very infrequently.//\n  2  not infrequently:   formal fairly often//  --The censors changed some names and dialogue and, not infrequently, banned controversial films completely.//


Words: infringe
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: infringere, from  frangere  ’to break’]//  to do something that is against a law or someone’s legal rights//  --A backup copy of a computer program does not infringe copyright.//  -- infringement n  [U and C] //  --the infringement of human rights//  infringe on/upon [infringe on/upon sth] phr v//  to limit someone’s freedom in some way//  --Some students argued that the rule infringed on their right to free speech.//


Words: infuriate
Meaning:
v [T]   to make someone extremely angry//  --Her actions infuriated her mother.//  -- It infuriated him that Beth was with another man.//


Words: infuriating
Meaning:
adj   very annoying//  --The infuriating thing is that he is always right.//  -- infuriatingly adv //  --an infuriatingly tricky crossword puzzle//


Words: infuse
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: infuser, from  Latin infundere, from  fundere  ’to pour’]//\n  1 [T]  formal to fill something or someone with a particular feeling or quality:  be infused with sth//  --Her books are infused with humour and wisdom.//  infuse sth into sth//  --These new designers are infusing fresh interest into the New York fashion scene.//\n  2 [I and T] if you infuse tea or herbs, or if they infuse, you leave them in very hot water while their taste passes into the water:


Words: infusion
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] the act of putting a new feeling or quality into something:  infusion of//  --Further education badly needs the infusion of more resources.//\n  2 [U and C]  medical the act of putting medicine slowly into someone’s body, or the medicines themselves:  --intravenous infusions of cardiac drugs//\n  3 [C] a drink made with herbs in hot water that is usually taken as a medicine:


