📖 I — The English dictionary · page 37

iroquois — Everyday, meaning 1: (a name) The Iroquois are a group of Native American nations, also called the Haudenosaunee, from what is now New York State and parts of Canada.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (a name) Iroquois also names their languages and their league of nations.↗ Example: The Iroquois lived in long wooden longhouses.↗ · The Iroquois Confederacy joined six nations.↗ · We read about the Iroquois in social studies.↗ · The Iroquois grew corn, beans and squash, called the Three Sisters.↗ · Many Iroquois people live in New York State and Ontario today.↗ · The Haudenosaunee are also known as the Iroquois.↗

irradiate — Everyday, meaning 1: (science) To irradiate something is to send rays, such as X-rays, gamma rays or ultraviolet light, onto or through it.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To irradiate food is to treat it with rays to kill germs so it keeps longer.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (literary) To irradiate is to light something up brightly.↗ Example: Doctors irradiate tumours to destroy them.↗ · Some spices are irradiated to kill germs.↗ · The sun irradiates the Earth with light.↗ · The scientist irradiated the seeds to see if they changed.↗ · Sunlight irradiated the whole valley.↗ · Irradiated food is not radioactive.↗ · "My beams irradiated the naked walls that form the streets there.↗

irrational — Everyday, meaning 1: Not based on clear thinking or good reasons (an irrational fear).↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (maths) An irrational number cannot be written as a fraction of two whole numbers, and its decimals go on forever without repeating, like pi or the square root of 2.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Irrational can also describe a creature that cannot reason or think clearly.↗ Example: My fear of balloons popping is a bit irrational.↗ · It is irrational to be angry at the rain.↗ · Pi is an irrational number.↗ · The square root of 2 is irrational: its decimals never end or repeat.↗ · He made an irrational decision when he was tired.↗ · Some fears are irrational, but they still feel real.↗ · Jupiter, seeing that Mankind, the only rational creatures, were far outnumbered by the irrational beasts, bade him redress the balance by turning some of the latter into men.↗

irreconcilable — Everyday, meaning 1: Irreconcilable ideas, views or differences are so different that they can never be made to agree.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Irreconcilable people cannot become friends again after a quarrel.↗ Example: The two sides had irreconcilable views about the new road.↗ · The brothers were irreconcilable after their quarrel.↗ · Their irreconcilable differences ended the band.↗ · The witnesses gave irreconcilable stories — they can't both be true.↗ · The judge said the two facts were irreconcilable.↗ · The countries' aims were irreconcilable, and war followed.↗

irredeemable — Everyday, meaning 1: Irredeemable means so bad that it cannot be saved, fixed or made better.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (money) An irredeemable voucher or bond cannot be swapped back for money.↗ Example: The villain in the story seemed irredeemable.↗ · The burnt cake was irredeemable.↗ · Our teacher said no pupil is irredeemable.↗ · The gift card is irredeemable for cash.↗ · After the storm, the old shed was irredeemable.↗ · He made an irredeemable mistake.↗

irregular — Everyday, meaning 1: Irregular means not even or not the same shape or size all over.↗ e.g. "an irregular coastline".↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Irregular means not happening at equal times.↗ e.g. "an irregular heartbeat", "irregular meals".↗ Everyday, meaning 3: In grammar, irregular verbs and plurals do not follow the normal rule: go → went, child → children.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (formal) Irregular can mean not following the usual rules, not proper.↗ e.g. "irregular behaviour".↗ Example: A rectangle that is not a square is an irregular quadrilateral.↗ · Find the area of the irregular shape by counting squares.↗ · "Swim" is an irregular verb: swim, swam, swum.↗ · The plural of "mouse" is irregular: mice.↗ · The bus comes at irregular times.↗ · The country has an irregular coastline with many bays.↗ · The doctor heard an irregular heartbeat.↗ · The streets were rather irregular, it is true, but still this added to their picturesque appearance.↗

irregularities — Everyday, meaning 1: (euphemism, official) fraud, cheating or wrongdoing, especially with money, votes or exams.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (literal) things that are not even, regular or normal (an irregularity in a surface, in a heartbeat).↗ Example: News: Auditors found irregularities in the club's accounts.↗ · The election was cancelled after reports of irregularities.↗ · Exam board: We are investigating irregularities at one test centre.↗ · The doctor noticed an irregularity in his heartbeat.↗ · The table top had small irregularities in the wood.↗ · Chat: «financial irregularities» = someone took the money↗

irregularity — Everyday, meaning 1: An irregularity is something that is not normal, even or regular: a bump, a gap or a change from the pattern.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal) Something wrong or against the rules, often in money or voting: «financial irregularities».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Being uneven or not following a pattern.↗ Example: The doctor noticed an irregularity in his heartbeat.↗ · Look for the irregularity in the number pattern.↗ · There were irregularities in the election.↗ · The irregularity of the coastline makes it hard to measure.↗ · Auditors found irregularities in the accounts.↗ · The tiles had small irregularities.↗

irrelevant — Everyday, meaning 1: Not connected with what is being talked about or done, so it does not matter here.↗ Example: The colour of the bus is irrelevant to how fast it goes.↗ · Cross out the irrelevant information in the question.↗ · Your age is irrelevant; anyone can join.↗ · Stick to the topic and leave out irrelevant details.↗ · Whether it rained is irrelevant to the answer.↗ · His excuse was completely irrelevant.↗

irreparable — Everyday, meaning 1: Irreparable means so badly damaged or harmed that it cannot be repaired or put right.↗ Example: The flood did irreparable damage to the old books.↗ · Cutting down the forest caused irreparable harm.↗ · The vase was irreparable after it fell.↗ · Telling the secret did irreparable damage to their friendship.↗ · Losing the old photos was an irreparable loss.↗ · The engine was irreparable, so they bought a new one.↗

irreparably — Everyday, meaning 1: In a way that cannot be repaired, mended or put right.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: So badly that it cannot be undone.↗ Example: The precious vase was irreparably broken.↗ · Pollution can irreparably damage a river.↗ · The old car was irreparably smashed.↗ · Their friendship was not irreparably hurt; they made up.↗ · Too much sun can irreparably harm your eyes.↗ · The storm irreparably damaged the ancient tree.↗

irresistible — Everyday, meaning 1: So charming or tempting that you cannot say no or hold back: an irresistible smell of cake.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Very hard to stop yourself wanting or doing.↗ Example: She had an irresistible smile.↗ · The cake smelt irresistible.↗ · I felt an irresistible urge to laugh.↗ · The puppy's big eyes were irresistible.↗

irrespective — Everyday, meaning 1: (formal) Without taking something into account; it makes no difference (irrespective of age = whatever the age).↗ Example: Everyone gets a medal, irrespective of where they finish.↗ · The rule applies to all players, irrespective of age (formal).↗ · Irrespective of the weather, the match will go ahead.↗ · Each ticket costs the same, irrespective of the seat.↗ · Irrespective of whether you agree, you must listen.↗ · Prizes are given irrespective of the school you come from.↗

irresponsible — Everyday, meaning 1: Irresponsible means not thinking about the results of what you do, or not taking care of things you should look after.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: An irresponsible action is careless and may put people or things in danger.↗ Example: It was irresponsible to leave the gate open, because the dog ran out.↗ · Riding a bike without a helmet on a busy road is irresponsible.↗ · The irresponsible campers left their fire burning.↗ · «That was very irresponsible of you,» said Mum.↗ · It is irresponsible to share your password with strangers.↗ · The pet owner was irresponsible and forgot to feed the fish.↗ · Driving too fast near a school is irresponsible.↗

irreversible — Everyday, meaning 1: Not able to be changed back to how it was before.↗ Example: Baking a cake is an irreversible change.↗ · Burning paper is irreversible.↗ · Melting chocolate is reversible but burning it is irreversible.↗ · Extinction is irreversible: the dodo is gone forever.↗ · Some hearing damage is irreversible, so turn the music down.↗ · The decision was irreversible.↗

irrevocable — Everyday, meaning 1: Not able to be changed, cancelled or taken back once it is done: an irrevocable decision.↗ Example: The judge's decision was irrevocable.↗ · Once the letter was posted, the choice felt irrevocable.↗ · Cutting down the old tree was an irrevocable mistake.↗ · The king made an irrevocable promise.↗ · Some damage to nature is irrevocable.↗ · He took the irrevocable step of leaving home.↗ · And thus, as the word of the mighty Zeus was irrevocable, Heracles became the subject and servant of his cousin Eurystheus.↗

irrevocably — Everyday, meaning 1: Irrevocably means in a way that can never be changed, cancelled or taken back.↗ Example: The invention of the internet irrevocably changed the world.↗ · Once the email was sent, it was irrevocably gone.↗ · The old village was irrevocably lost under the new lake.↗ · Their lives were irrevocably changed by the war.↗ · The decision is irrevocably made.↗ · Some species have been irrevocably wiped out.↗

irrigate — Everyday, meaning 1: To irrigate land or crops is to bring water to them through pipes, channels or sprinklers so plants can grow.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (medical) To irrigate a wound or eye is to wash it out with a steady flow of water or liquid.↗ Example: Farmers irrigate their fields in dry summers.↗ · The ancient Egyptians irrigated land with water from the Nile.↗ · Sprinklers irrigate the school field.↗ · The nurse irrigated the cut with salt water.↗ · Irrigate your eye with clean water if sand gets in it.↗ · Canals were dug to irrigate the desert.↗ · Irrigated crops grow even when it does not rain.↗

irrigation — Everyday, meaning 1: Supplying water to land and crops through pipes, channels or sprinklers so plants can grow.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (medicine) Washing out a wound or part of the body with liquid.↗ Example: Irrigation brings water from the river to the fields.↗ · Drip irrigation saves water.↗ · Ancient Egyptians used the Nile for irrigation.↗ · The farm has a big irrigation system.↗ · Without irrigation, the crops would dry up.↗ · The nurse used saline for wound irrigation.↗

irritable — Everyday, meaning 1: Easily annoyed or made angry; grumpy.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (medicine) Sore or sensitive, as in «irritable skin».↗ Example: I get irritable when I'm hungry.↗ · The baby was irritable because she was teething.↗ · Dad is irritable before his morning coffee.↗ · Lack of sleep can make you irritable.↗ · The irritable old dog growled.↗ · Hot weather made everyone irritable.↗ · “If,” said one irritable guard, “if we buzzed a spear at the persistent stranger, or if one slung at him with a jagged pebble!”↗

irritant — Everyday, meaning 1: A substance that makes your skin, eyes, nose or throat sore, red or itchy.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Something or someone that annoys you.↗ Example: Bleach is an irritant, so wear gloves.↗ · Pollen is an irritant for people with hay fever.↗ · The label had a warning symbol for irritants.↗ · Smoke is an irritant to the eyes.↗ · The buzzing fly was a constant irritant.↗ · If an irritant gets in your eye, rinse it with clean water.↗

irritate — Everyday, meaning 1: To irritate someone is to annoy them or make them a bit angry, often by doing something again and again.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To irritate part of the body, such as skin or eyes, is to make it sore, itchy or red.↗ Example: It really irritates me when people chew loudly.↗ · My brother hummed just to irritate me.↗ · Smoke from the bonfire irritated my eyes.↗ · This wool jumper irritates my skin.↗ · The teacher was irritated by the constant tapping.↗ · Some cleaning sprays can irritate your lungs, so open a window.↗ · Stinging nettles irritate your skin and make little bumps.↗ · “Don’t irritate him unnecessarily,” had been Wendy’s instructions in the hold; so Tootles stepped forward politely.↗ · man's secret and method, they began to irritate liim with their words, and tinally left liim, t;iking his science with them and became builders like him.↗ (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))↗

irritating — Everyday, meaning 1: Irritating means annoying, making you feel cross or impatient.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (body) Irritating means making a part of the body sore, itchy or red: an irritating rash, irritating smoke.↗ Example: My brother has an irritating habit of clicking his pen.↗ · The buzzing fly was so irritating.↗ · Smoke is irritating to the eyes.↗ · This wool jumper is irritating my neck.↗ · It is irritating when the bus is late again.↗ · Stop irritating the cat, or it will scratch you.↗ · The advert has an irritating little song.↗ · “You are a very irritating person,” said the Rocket, “and very ill-bred.↗

ishmael — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A man's name; in the Bible, Abraham's first son, born to Hagar.↗ It is also the name of other men, such as one of the sons of Pashhur.↗ Example: and Basemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebaioth.↗ (Torah GEN.36.3, JPS 1917)↗ · In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.↗ (Torah GEN.17.26, JPS 1917)↗ · And Abraham said unto God: 'Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!'↗ (Torah GEN.17.18, JPS 1917)↗ · These are the sons of Ishmael.↗ (Writings 1CH.1.31, JPS 1917)↗ · The sons of Abraham: Isaac, and Ishmael.↗ (Writings 1CH.1.28, JPS 1917)↗ · And of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.↗ (Writings EZR.10.22, JPS 1917)↗

islam — Everyday, meaning 1: (religion) Islam is the religion of Muslims, who believe in one God (Allah in Arabic) and that Muhammad was God's last prophet; their holy book is the Qur'an.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Islam can also mean the Muslim world and its people and culture.↗ Example: Islam is one of the world's largest religions.↗ · My friend Yusuf follows Islam and fasts in Ramadan.↗ · We learned about the Five Pillars of Islam.↗ · In Islam, Friday prayers at the mosque are important.↗ · Islam teaches giving to people in need.↗ · The word "Islam" means submission to God, and is linked to the word for peace.↗