📖 I — The English dictionary · page 18

inedible — Everyday, meaning 1: Not fit or safe to eat, because it is poisonous, rotten or not food at all.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal) Tasting so bad that you cannot eat it: the burnt toast was inedible.↗ Example: Some wild mushrooms are inedible and even deadly.↗ · The burnt pizza was inedible.↗ · The peel of a banana is inedible for people, but goats eat it.↗ · Plastic fruit is inedible — it's just for show.↗ · The cake was so salty it was inedible.↗ · Never eat berries in the woods; many are inedible.↗

ineffable — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: Too great to be put into words or spoken.↗ Example: The ineffable Sephiroth give forth the Ten numbers.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · The ineffable Sephiroth give forth the Ten num- bers.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · Ten are the numbers of the ineffable Sephiroth, ten and not nine, ten and not eleven.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887)↗

ineffective — Everyday, meaning 1: Not working well or not giving the result you want: an ineffective medicine.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Not able to do a job well: an ineffective leader.↗ Example: The cream was ineffective against the bites.↗ · Shouting is an ineffective way to make friends.↗ · The old lock was ineffective, so someone got in.↗ · The test showed the plant food was ineffective.↗ · The team had an ineffective defence.↗ · Antibiotics are ineffective against colds.↗

inelegant — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: Not graceful or smooth; clumsy.↗

inert — Everyday, meaning 1: Not moving and without strength or life.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (science) Not reacting with other chemicals, as in inert gases like helium or neon.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Slow and not wanting to act.↗ Example: Helium is an inert gas.↗ · Neon is inert, so it is safe in signs.↗ · The cat lay inert in the sun.↗ · The robot stood inert until it was switched on.↗ · Gold is quite inert, so it doesn't rust.↗ · The crowd stayed inert and silent.↗

inertia — Everyday, meaning 1: (science) The way an object stays still or keeps moving at the same speed in a straight line until a force changes it.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Lack of energy or wish to move or change: laziness.↗ Example: When the bus stops suddenly, inertia keeps you moving forward.↗ · Seatbelts protect you against inertia in a crash.↗ · A heavy trolley has more inertia than a light one.↗ · Pull the tablecloth fast and inertia keeps the plates in place.↗ · After the holiday, inertia kept me on the sofa.↗ · Newton's first law is called the law of inertia.↗

inestimable — Everyday, meaning 1: Too great to be measured or counted.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal) Extremely valuable or important: of inestimable value.↗ Example: The ancient library was of inestimable value.↗ · Her help has been of inestimable value to our school.↗ · The invention of printing was of inestimable importance.↗ · The crown jewels are of inestimable worth.↗ · The damage from the fire was inestimable.↗ · Grandma's stories are of inestimable value to our family.↗ · Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl, inestimable stones, unvalued jewels-- all scattered in the bottom of the sea!↗

inevitability — Everyday, meaning 1: Inevitability is the fact that something is certain to happen and cannot be avoided.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: An inevitability is something that will surely happen.↗ Example: There was an inevitability about the result after the first goal.↗ · Growing older is an inevitability.↗ · The inevitability of winter means we must store food.↗ · The story built a sense of inevitability towards the shipwreck.↗ · Change is an inevitability in every school.↗ · Some people accept the inevitability of mistakes and learn from them.↗

inevitable — Everyday, meaning 1: Certain to happen; impossible to avoid or stop.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal) So usual or expected that everyone knows it will come: the inevitable rain on sports day.↗ Example: It was inevitable that the ice cream would melt in the sun.↗ · Getting older is inevitable.↗ · With no revision, failing the test was almost inevitable.↗ · On the long car trip came the inevitable question: «Are we there yet?»↗ · Change is inevitable, so learn to adapt.↗ · They delayed the inevitable by hiding the broken vase.↗ · Cronus was so enraged at being circumvented that war between the father and son became inevitable.↗

inevitably — Everyday, meaning 1: In a way that cannot be avoided or stopped; as you would expect.↗ Example: Inevitably, it rained on sports day.↗ · The ice cream inevitably melted in the sun.↗ · Leaving homework till late inevitably leads to stress.↗ · We all grow older, inevitably.↗ · Inevitably, my little brother wanted the same toy.↗ · War inevitably brings suffering.↗ · The Erinyes or Furies were female divinities who personified the torturing pangs of an evil conscience, and the remorse which inevitably follows wrong-doing.↗

inexactitude — Everyday, meaning 1: (formal) Being not exact or not correct; a small mistake: inexactitude in the measurements.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal, euphemism, joking) «terminological inexactitude» = a lie; a polite, funny way of saying someone has not told the truth.↗ Example: The scientist pointed out an inexactitude in the results.↗ · Small inexactitudes in measuring made the shelves crooked.↗ · The politician was accused of a terminological inexactitude — in other words, a lie.↗ · Rounding causes some inexactitude.↗ · There was inexactitude in the old map.↗ · His story contained a few inexactitudes.↗

inexhaustible — Everyday, meaning 1: Inexhaustible means so large that it never runs out; there is always more.↗ Example: The magic bag held an inexhaustible supply of gold.↗ · Young children seem to have inexhaustible energy.↗ · The fairy's purse was inexhaustible.↗ · She had an inexhaustible store of jokes.↗

inexorable — Everyday, meaning 1: Inexorable means impossible to stop, change or move by begging.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old use) Inexorable describes a stern person who will not be persuaded to forgive.↗ Example: Time is inexorable and never goes back.↗ · The queen was inexorable and would not forgive the thief.↗ · The tide came in with inexorable force.↗ · Her teacher was inexorable about homework.↗

inexpensive — Everyday, meaning 1: Not costing a lot of money; cheap, but in a polite or positive way.↗ Example: We found an inexpensive present for Grandma.↗ · A picnic in the park is an inexpensive day out.↗ · These pencils are inexpensive but good.↗ · The café serves tasty, inexpensive food.↗ · Walking to school is free, and the bus is inexpensive.↗ · It is inexpensive to grow herbs on a windowsill.↗

inexperienced — Everyday, meaning 1: Inexperienced means not having much knowledge or skill in something because you have not done it much.↗ Example: The team was young and inexperienced.↗ · An inexperienced sailor should not go out in a storm.↗ · She was inexperienced at cooking but keen to learn.↗ · Inexperienced swimmers should stay in the shallow end.↗ · The inexperienced goalkeeper let in three goals.↗ · Everyone is inexperienced at first.↗ · He imagined that she was too young and inexperienced to care for him; but that was a mistake, for the truth was that another image already filled her heart.↗

inextricable — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: So tightly tangled together that it cannot be separated.↗ Example: Attention must be called to the essential peculiarity of Hebrew doctrines, the inextricable and necessary associa- (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗

infallible — Everyday, meaning 1: Never wrong; never making a mistake.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Always working or always succeeding: an infallible method.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (church) Catholics believe the Pope is infallible when he solemnly teaches on faith and morals; this is called papal infallibility.↗ Example: Nobody is infallible; everyone makes mistakes sometimes.↗ · Grandma has an infallible recipe for pancakes.↗ · The detective's memory was almost infallible.↗ · Even computers are not infallible.↗ · Catholics believe the Pope is infallible only in special solemn teachings, not in everything he says.↗ · There is no infallible way to win at games of chance.↗ · Laughing is an infallible sign of the highest degree of mental development.↗

infamy — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: Very bad reputation, lasting shame.↗ Example: Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.↗ (Writings PRO.25.10, JPS 1917)↗

infancy — Everyday, meaning 1: Infancy is the time when someone is a baby or very young child.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Infancy also means the very early stage of something new, like an idea or invention.↗ Example: Many children died in infancy in the 1800s.↗ · During infancy, babies learn to smile, sit and crawl.↗ · The internet was in its infancy when Mum was a child.↗ · His love of drawing started in infancy.↗ · The project is still in its infancy.↗ · Vaccines protect babies during infancy.↗ · "Ever since my infancy, I have dwelt in the cave of Chiron the Centaur.↗

infant — Everyday, meaning 1: An infant is a baby or a very young child, especially one who cannot yet walk or talk well.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (UK) Infants are the youngest children in primary school, about ages four to seven; an infant school is for them.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Infant can describe something new that has just begun: an infant company.↗ Example: The infant slept in her cot.↗ · Infants need milk many times a day.↗ · My little brother is in the infants.↗ · Always strap an infant into a car seat.↗ · Infant school comes before junior school.↗ · The infant smiled for the first time.↗ · The infant was away with a nurse.↗ · Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants that never saw light.↗ (Writings JOB.3.16, JPS 1917)↗ · Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.'↗ (Prophets 1SA.15.3, JPS 1917)↗ · Samaria shall bear her guilt, for she hath rebelled against her God; they shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.↗ (Prophets HOS.14.1, JPS 1917)↗

infantry — Everyday, meaning 1: Soldiers who fight on foot, as opposed to soldiers on horses, in tanks, ships or planes.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The part of an army made up of these soldiers.↗ Example: Roman infantry fought in tight rows with shields.↗ · The infantry marched for days to reach the battle.↗ · My great-grandad served in the infantry in the Second World War.↗ · In the past, cavalry rode horses while the infantry walked.↗ · An infantry soldier carries a heavy pack.↗ · Archers and infantry stood together at the Battle of Hastings.↗ · I am only a baggage camel of the 39th Native Infantry, and I am not as brave as you are, my lords.”↗

infect — Everyday, meaning 1: To give someone a disease by passing germs to them.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: For germs to get into a cut or part of the body and make it sore and ill.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: For a computer virus to get into a computer.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To spread a feeling to others, as in «Her laughter infected everyone».↗ Example: Wash your hands so you don't infect others.↗ · Clean the cut so it doesn't get infected.↗ · The virus infected half the class.↗ · A computer virus infected Dad's laptop.↗ · Her giggles infected the whole room.↗ · Mosquitoes can infect people with malaria.↗

infected — Everyday, meaning 1: Having harmful germs (bacteria, viruses or fungi) growing in it, like an infected cut that is red, swollen and sore.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Caught an illness from germs: she was infected with flu.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Of a computer, having a harmful program (a virus) in it.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Filled with a feeling that spreads: infected by her laughter.↗ Example: Keep the cut clean so it doesn't get infected.↗ · His knee was red and swollen because it was infected.↗ · The doctor said my ear was infected.↗ · Mosquitoes can carry germs that infect people.↗ · Cover your cough so others are not infected.↗ · The computer was infected by a virus.↗ · The whole class was infected by her giggles.↗ · An infected tooth can be very painful.↗

infection — Everyday, meaning 1: An infection is an illness caused by germs (bacteria, viruses or fungi) getting into your body.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Infection is the spreading of germs from one person or thing to another.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: An infected cut or wound has germs in it, making it red, swollen, hot or full of pus.↗ Example: Clean the cut to stop infection.↗ · She had an ear infection and a high temperature.↗ · Antibiotics can treat some infections.↗ · Germs spread infection from hand to mouth.↗ · The doctor said the wound was infected.↗ · Washing hands lowers the risk of infection.↗

infectious — Everyday, meaning 1: An infectious disease can be passed from one person or animal to another, through germs in the air, water, food or touch.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: An infectious person has an illness that others can catch.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Infectious can describe a feeling or laugh that spreads quickly to other people.↗ Example: Chickenpox is very infectious, so Lily stayed home.↗ · Wash your hands to stop infectious diseases spreading.↗ · He is still infectious, so he can't come to the party.↗ · Her laugh was so infectious that the whole class giggled.↗ · Allergies are not infectious; you can't catch them.↗ · The vet checked the dog for infectious illnesses.↗ · The little boy laughed, and Uncle Remus supplemented this indorsement of his descriptive powers with a most infectious chuckle.↗

infer — Everyday, meaning 1: To work out something that is not said directly, using clues and what you already know.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal) To reach a conclusion from facts or reasoning.↗ Example: From her red eyes, we can infer that she had been crying.↗ · What can you infer about the weather from the picture?↗ · Detectives infer who did it from clues.↗ · I inferred that Mum was cross because she slammed the door.↗ · Scientists infer what dinosaurs ate from their teeth.↗