|
| ichthyology |
study of fish |
| icon |
n. painting, carving, etc of a holy person, itself regarded as sacred |
| iconoclastic |
attacking cherished beliefs |
| ideology |
n. ideas that form the basis of an economic or political theory or that are held by a particular group or person |
| idiom |
n. phrase or sentence whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt as a whole unit ; , give way, a change of heart, be hard put to it |
| idiosyncrasy |
n. person's particular way of thinking, behaving, etc that is clearly different from that of others |
| idiosyncratic |
a peculiarity of constitution or temperament:an individualizingcharacteristic or quality |
| idle |
adj. doing or having no work; not employed |
| idolatry |
n. worship of idols |
| idyll |
n. short piece of poetry or prose that describes a happy and peaceful scene or event, esp of country life |
| idyllic |
adj. like an idyll; peaceful and pleasant |
| igneous |
adj. (of rocks) formed by molten matter (esp from volcanoes) that has become solid |
| ignite |
v. catch fire |
| ignoble |
adj. not honourable in character or purpose; shameful |
| ignominious |
adj. shameful or humiliating; causing disgrace |
| ignominy |
shame or humiliation; disgrace |
| illicit |
adj. not allowed by law; illegal |
| illimitable |
infinite |
| illuminate |
v. provide with light |
| illusion |
n. false idea, belief or impression; delusion |
| illusive |
adjs. based on illusion; deceptive |
| illusory |
based on or producing illusion:DECEPTIVE |
| imbalance |
n. lack of balance or proportion; inequality |
| imbecility |
n. stupidity |
| imbibe |
v. drink (sth, esp alcohol) |
| imbroglio |
n. complicated, confused or embarrassing situation, esp a political or an emotional one , |
| imbue |
v. ~ sb/sth with sth fill or inspire sb/sth with (feelings, etc) |
| immaculate |
adj. perfectly clean and tidy; spotless |
| imminent |
adj. about to happen; likely to happen very soon |
| immobility |
n. state of being immobile |
| immolate |
v. kill (sb) as a sacrifice |
| immune |
adj. ~ that cannot be harmed by a disease or illness, either because of inoculation or through natural resistance |
| immure |
v. imprison (sb); shut in |
| immutable |
adj. that cannot be changed; that will never change |
| impair |
v. weaken or damage |
| impale |
v. ~ sb/sth pierce sb/sth with a sharp-pointed object |
| impalpable |
adj. that cannot be touched or felt physically |
| impart |
v. ~ sth (to sth) give (a quality) to sth |
| impartial |
adj. not favouring one person or thing more than another; fair or neutral |
| impassable |
adj. impossible to travel on or over |
| impasse |
n. difficult position or situation from which there is no way out; deadlock |
| impassioned |
adj. showingstrong deep feeling |
| impassive |
adj. showing no sign of feeling |
| impeach |
v. ~ sb accuse (a public official or politician) of committing a serious crime, esp one against the State |
| impeccable |
adj. free from mistakes; excellent or faultless |
| impecunious |
adj. having little or no money |
| impede |
v. hinder or obstruct the progress or movement of |
| impediment |
n. ~ person or thing that hinders or obstructs the progress or movement of sth |
| impel |
v. ~ sb (to sth) force or urge sb to do sth |
| impending |
adj. about to happen; imminent |
| impenetrable |
adj. ~ that cannot be entered, passed through, etc |
| impenitent |
adj. not sorry for or ashamed of one's misdoings; not penitent; |
| imperative |
adj. very urgent or important; needing immediateattention |
| imperceptible |
adj. that cannot be noticed or felt because so small, slight or gradual |
| imperial |
adj. of an empire or its ruler(s) |
| imperil |
v. (fml ) put (sb/sth) in danger; endanger |
| imperious |
adj. proud and arrogant; domineering; expecting obedience |
| impermeable |
adj. not allowing a liquid to pass through |
| impersonal |
adj. not influenced by, showing or involving human feelings |
| impertinent |
adj. ~ not respectful; rude |
| imperturbable |
adj. not easily troubled or worried; calm |
| impervious |
adj. ~ not allowing water, gas, etc to pass through |
| impetuous |
adj. acting or done quickly and with little thought or care; rash or impulsive |
| impetus |
n. ~ thing that encourages a process to develop more quickly |
| impiety |
n. lack of respect, esp for God and religion , |
| impinge |
v. ~ on/upon sth have an effect on sth |
| impious |
adj. showing a lack of respect, esp for God and religion; not pious , |
| implacable |
adj. that cannot be changed or satisfied |
| implausible |
adj. unlikely to be true; not convincing |
| implement |
n. tool or instrument |
| implicate |
v. ~ sb show that sb is involved in sth, esp a crime |
| implication |
n. ~ thing that is suggested or implied; thingnot openly stated |
| implicit |
adj. ~ implied, but not expressed directly; not explicit |
| implode |
v. burst or collapse inwards |
| implore |
v. ask or beg earnestly; beseech |
| imply |
v. suggest (sth) indirectly rather than state it directly; hint |
| impolitic |
adj. not wise; not politic |
| imponderable |
adj. of which the effect or importance cannot be measured or estimated |
| import |
v. ~ sth ~ sth (into...) bring (goods, ideas, etc) from a foreign country into one's own country |
| importunate |
adj. persistent, esp in making requests or demands |
| importune |
v. ~ sb (for sth) ask sb persistently (for sth), usu in an annoying manner; beg or demand insistently |
| imposture |
n. (action of) deliberately deceiving by pretending to be sb else |
| impotent |
adj. unable to take effective action; powerless or helpless |
| impoverish |
v. make poor |
| imprecation |
n. oath or curse |
| impregnable |
adj. so strong and well-constructed that it cannot be entered orcaptured |
| impregnate |
v. ~ sth cause (one substance) to be filled in every part with another substance; saturate sth |
| impromptu |
adj. adv without preparation, rehearsal or thought in advance |
| impropriety |
n. indecent or unsuitable behaviour; dishonest practice |
| improvident |
adj. not preparing for future needs; wasteful |
| improvise |
v. compose or play (music), speak or act without previous preparation |
| imprudent |
adj. not wise or discreet; not prudent |
| impudence |
n. being impudent; impudent behaviour or speech |
| impugn |
v. express doubts about (sth) |
| impuissance |
n. lack of power or effectiveness; weakness |
| impunity |
n. with impunity with freedom from punishment or injury |
| impute |
v. ~ sth to sb/sthput the responsibility for sth on sb/sth; attributesth to sb/sth ; |
| inadvertently |
adv. by accident; unintentionally |
| inalienable |
adj. that cannot be taken away |
| inamorata |
masc. inamorato |
| inane |
adj. without meaning; silly or stupid |
| inanimate |
adj. not alive, esp in the way that humans and animals are |
| inarticulate |
adj. unable to express one's words, ideas or feelings clearly |
| inaugurate |
v. ~ sb introduce (a new public official or leader) at a special ceremony |
| incandescent |
adj. glowing or shining when heated |
| incantation |
n. series of words used as a magic spell or charm |
| incapacitate |
v. ~ sb make sb unable (to do sth); weaken or disable sb |
| incarcerate |
v. ~ sb (fml ) put sb in prison |
| incarnate |
adj. in the physical form of a human being |
| incarnation |
n. person that prominently displays a particular quality |
| incendiary |
adj. designed to set buildings, etc on fire |
| incense |
n. substance that produces a pleasant smell when burnt, used esp in religious ceremonies |
| incentive |
n. ~ thing that encourages sb to do sth; stimulus |
| inception |
n. start or beginning of sth |
| incessant |
adj. not stopping; continual |
| inchoate |
adj. just begun and therefore not fully formed or developed |
| incidence |
n. ~ of sth extent to which sth happens or has an effect |
| incident |
n. event or happening,often of minor importance |
| incidental |
adj. small and relatively unimportant; minor |
| incinerate |
v. destroy completely by burning; burn to ashes ; |
| incipient |
adj. in its early stages; beginning to happen |
| incisive |
adj. clear and precise; direct or sharp |
| incite |
v. ~ sb urge or persuade sb to do sth by making him very angry or excited |
| inclement |
adj. cold and stormy; bad |
| incline |
v. ~ towards sth lean or slope in the direction of sth |
| inclined |
adj. ~ wanting to behave in a particular way; disposed |
| inclusive |
adj. ~ including sth; including much or all |
| incognito |
adj. , adv with one's true identity hidden; in disguise |
| incoherent |
adj. not clear or logical |
| incommodious |
adj. uncomfortable, usu because too small; inconvenient; |
| incompatible |
adj. ~ not able to live or work happily with sb |
| incongruity |
n. state of being incongruous |
| inconsequential |
adj. trivial or irrelevant; not important |
| inconsistency |
n. quality of being inconsistent |
| incontinent |
adj. unable to control the bladder or bowels in passing waste matter from the body |
| incontrovertible |
adj. so obvious and certain that it cannot be disputed or denied |
| incorporate |
v. ~ sth (in/into sth) make sth part of a whole; include |
| incorporeal |
adj. without a body or material form |
| incorrigible |
adj. that cannot be corrected or improved |
| incredulity |
a tendency to disbelief |
| incredulous |
adj. not willing or able to believe; showing disbelief |
| increment |
n. increase, esp in money paid as a salary; added amount |
| incriminate |
v. make appear to be guilty of wrongdoing |
| incrustation |
n. formation of a hard outer covering; encrusting ; |
| incubate |
v. keep (eggs) warm, usu by sitting on them, until they hatch |
| incubus |
n. male evil spirit formerly supposed to have sex with a sleeping woman |
| inculcate |
v. ~ sth ~ sb with sth (fml ) fix (ideas, principles, etc) firmly in sb's mind, esp by repetition |
| incumbent |
adj. ~ on/upon sb necessary as part of sb's duty |
| incur |
v. cause oneself to suffer (sth bad); bring upon oneself |
| incursion |
n. ~ (into/on/upon sth) sudden attack on or invasion of a place (not usu made in order to occupy it permanently) |
| indecision |
n. ~ state of being unable to decide; hesitation |
| indecisive |
adj. not final or conclusive |
| indefatigable |
adj. never giving up or stopping in spite of tiredness or difficulty; tireless |
| indelible |
adj. that cannot be rubbed out or removed |
| indemnify |
v. ~ sb (from/against sth) (law or commerce ) promise to compensate sb for any harm he may suffer |
| indentation |
n. indenting or being indented |
| indenture |
v. ~ sb contract sb to work as an apprentice |
| indeterminate |
adj. not fixed or exact; vague; indefinite |
| indicative |
adj. stating a fact or asking questions of fact |
| indices |
pl of index |
| indict |
v. ~ sb (law ) accuse sb officially (of sth); charge sb |
| indifferent |
adj. ~ having no interest in sb/sth; neither for nor against sb/sth; not caring about sb/sth |
| indigence |
n. poverty |
| indigenous |
adj. ~ (fml ) belonging naturally (to a place); native |
| indigent |
adj. poor |
| indignation |
n. ~ (at/over/about sth) anger caused by sth thought to be unjust, unfair, etc |
| indignity |
n. rude or unworthy treatment causing shame or loss of respect |
| indiscriminate |
adj. ~ (in sth) acting without careful judgement |
| indisputable |
adj. that cannot be disputed or denied |
| indissoluble |
adj. that cannot be dissolved or broken up; firm and lasting |
| indite |
write; compose |
| indoctrinate |
v. ~ sb (usu derog ) cause sb to have (a particular set of beliefs), esp by teaching which excludes any other points of view |
| indolence |
laziness |
| indolent |
adj. lazy; inactive ; |
| indomitable |
adj. that cannot be subdued or defeated; unyielding |
| indubitable |
adj. that cannot be doubted; without doubt ; |
| induce |
v. persuade or influence (sb) to do sth |
| induct |
v. ~ sb install sb formally or with ceremony in a position or an office; admit sb as a member of sth |
| inductive |
adj. based on induction |
| indulge |
v. ~ oneself/sb (with sth) allow oneself/sb to have whatever one/he likes or wants |
| indulgent |
adj. inclined to indulge |
| industrious |
adj. hard-working; diligent ; |
| inebriate |
adj. n habitually drunk (person) |
| inebriated |
adj. drunk; intoxicated |
| inebriety |
habitual intoxication |
| ineffable |
adj. too great to be described in words |
| ineffectual |
adj. lacking confidence and unable to get things done; without effect |
| ineluctable |
adj. that cannot be escaped from |
| inept |
adj. ~ (at sth/doing sth) completely unskilful (at sth) |
| inequity |
n. injustice or unfairness |
| inerrancy |
(christianity) exemption from error |
| inert |
adj. without power to move or act |
| inertia |
n. lack of vigour; lethargy |
| inestimable |
adj. too great, precious, etc to be estimated |
| inevitable |
adj. that cannot be avoided; that is sure to happen |
| inexorable |
adj. continuing unstoppably; relentless |
| inextricable |
adj. so closely linked that separation is impossible |
| infallible |
adj. incapable of making mistakes or doing wrong |
| infamous |
adj. ~ well-known as being wicked or immoral; notorious |
| infantile |
adj. of infants or infancy |
| infer |
v. ~ sth (from sth) reach (an opinion) from facts or reasoning; conclude sth |
| infernal |
adj. of hell |
| infest |
To be present in such numbers as to be a source of annoyance, trouble, or danger. |
| infidel |
n. person with no belief in a religion, esp in what is considered to be the true religion , |
| infiltrate |
v. ~ (into sth) (of liquids, gases, etc) pass slowly by filtering; penetrate |
| infinitesimal |
adj. extremelysmall |
| infirmity |
n. weakness |
| inflated |
adj. filled with air, gas, etc |
| influx |
n. ~ arrival of people or things, esp suddenly and in large numbers or quantities |
| infraction |
n. breaking of a rule, law, etc , |
| infringe |
v. break (a rule, an agreement, etc) |
| ingenious |
adj. ~ (at sth/doing sth) (of a person) clever at finding new or simple solutions for complex problems |
| ingenue |
n. simple innocent girl, esp as portrayed in plays, films, etc |
| ingenuous |
adj. not attempting to deceive or conceal; open; innocent |
| ingrained |
adj. deeply fixed; thorough |
| ingrate |
ungrateful person |
| ingratiate |
to become popular with |
| inherent |
adj. ~ existing as a natural or permanent feature or quality of sb/sth |
| inhibit |
v. ~ sb prevent sb from doing sth that should be natural or easy to do |
| inhibited |
adj. (of people) unable to relax or express one's feelings in a natural and spontaneous way |
| inimical |
adj. ~ (fml ) unfriendly; hostile |
| inimitable |
adj. impossible to imitate; too good, clever, etc to imitate |
| iniquitous |
adj. very wicked or unjust |
| initiate |
v. put (a scheme, etc) into operation; cause (sth) to begin |
| injurious |
adj. ~ (to sb/sth) causing or likely to cause injury; harmful |
| inkling |
n. ~ slight knowledge (of sth secret or not previously known); hint |
| innate |
adj. in one's nature; possessed from birth |
| innocuous |
adj. causing no harm |
| innovation |
n. innovating |
| innuendo |
n. (derog ) indirect reference (usu suggesting sth bad or discreditable about sb) |
| inopportune |
adj. not appropriate or convenient |
| inordinate |
adj. beyond proper or normal limits; excessive |
| inquisitive |
adj. fond of inquiring into other people's affairs |
| inquisitor |
n. investigator, esp an officer of the Inquisition |
| inroad |
n. ~ (into sth) sudden attack on another's territory; raid |
| insalubrious |
adj. unhealthy |
| insatiable |
adj. ~ that cannot be satisfied; very greedy |
| inscrutable |
adj. that cannot be understood or known; mysterious |
| insensate |
adj. without the power to feel or experience |
| insensible |
adj. unconscious as the result of injury, illness, etc |
| insidious |
adj. spreading or acting gradually and unnoticed but with harmful effects |
| insightful |
adj. showing insight |
| insinuate |
v. ~ sth suggest sth (to sb) unpleasantly and indirectly |
| insipid |
adj. having almost no taste or flavour |
| insolence |
n. ~ being insolent |
| insolvent |
adj. unable to pay debts; bankrupt ; |
| insomnia |
n. inability to sleep |
| insouciant |
lighthearted unconcern:NONCHALANCE |
| instigate |
v. cause to begin or happen; initiate |
| institute |
n. society or organization for a special (usu social, professional or educational) purpose |
| institution |
the act of instituting |
| institutionalize |
to subject to the deleterious effects of confinement in an institution |
| insubordinate |
adj. disobedient; rebellious ; |
| insubordination |
n. being insubordinate |
| insubstantial |
adj. not solid or real; imaginary |
| insularity |
n. state of being insular |
| insuperable |
adj. (of difficulties) that cannot be overcome |
| insurgent |
adj. in revolt; rebellious |
| insurmountable |
adj. (of obstacles, difficulties, etc) that cannot be overcome |
| insurrection |
n. sudden,usu violent, action taken by the population to try to remove the government |
| intangible |
adj. that cannot be clearly or definitely understood or grasped; indefinable |
| integral |
adj. ~ necessary for completeness |
| integrate |
v. ~ sth (into sth); ~ A and B/~ A with B combine sth in such a way that it becomes fully a part of sth else |
| integrity |
n. quality of being honest and morally upright |
| intellect |
n. power of the mind to reason and acquire knowledge |
| intelligentsia |
n. the intelligentsia those people within a community who areof high intelligence and concern themselves with mattersof culture, learning, etc; intellectuals as a class ; |
| inter |
v. (fml ) put (a corpse) in a grave or tomb; bury |
| interdict |
v. (esp law ) prohibit (an action); forbid the use of (sth) ; |
| interim |
n. in the interimduring the time that comes between; meantime |
| interjection |
n. word or phrase used as an exclamation (eg Oh!, Hurray! or For goodness sake!) , !!! |
| interloper |
n. person who is present in a place where he does not belong, interferes in sth which is not his affair, etc; intruder |
| intermediary |
n. ~ person who acts as a means of communication between two or more others |
| interminable |
adj. going on too long, and usu therefore annoying or boring |
| intermittent |
adj. continually stopping and then starting again; not constant |
| internecine |
adj. causing destruction to both sides |
| interpolate |
v. ~ sth (fml ) make (a remark, etc) which interrupts a conversation, speech, etc |
| interregnum |
n. period when a state has no normal or lawful ruler, esp at the end of a sovereign's reign and before the appointment of a successor |
| interrogate |
v. ~ sb question sb aggressively or closely and for a long time |
| intersperse |
v. ~ B among/between/in/throughout A; ~ A with B vary sth by placing other things at irregular intervals among it |
| interstice |
n. ~ (of/between/in sth) (fml ) very small gap or crack |
| intervene |
v. (of time) come or be between |
| intimate |
adj. ~ having or being a very close and friendly relationship |
| intimidate |
v. ~ sb frighten sb (in order to make him do sth) |
| intolerant |
adj. not tolerant |
| intoxicate |
To make drunk. |
| intractable |
adj. not easily controlled or dealt with; hard to manage |
| intransigence |
state of stubborn; unwillingness to compromise |
| intrepid |
adj. fearless; brave |
| intrigue |
v. ~ (against sb) make and carry out secret plans or plots to do sth bad |
| intrinsic |
adj. belonging naturally; existing within, not coming from outside |
| intrinsically |
adv: He is not intrinsically bad |
| introspective |
adj. inclined to introspect |
| introvert |
n. person who is more interested in his own thoughts and feelings than in things outside himself, and is often shy and unwilling to speak or join in activities with others |
| intrude |
v. ~ on/upon sb/sth; ~ (oneself/sth) into sth (esp fml ) put (oneself/sth) into a place or situation where one/it is unwelcome or unsuitable |
| intuition |
n. (power of) understanding things (eg a situation, sb's feelings) immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning or study |
| inundate |
v. ~ sth(fml ) cover sth with water by overflowing; flood |
| inured |
accustomed to/adapted |
| invalid |
adj. not properly based or able to be upheld by reasoning |
| invalidate |
v. make invalid |
| invective |
n. violent attack in words; abusive language |
| inveigh |
v. ~ against sb/sth attack sb or sth violently in words |
| inveigle |
v. ~ sb into sth/doing sth persuade sb to go somewhere or do sth by using flattery and deception |
| inverse |
adj. reversed in position, direction or relation |
| invert |
v. put upside down or in the opposite order, position or arrangement |
| inveterate |
adj. (of bad feelings, habits, etc) that have lasted a long time and seem likely to continue |
| invidious |
adj. likely to cause resentment or unpopularity |
| invincible |
adj. too strong to be overcome or defeated |
| inviolable |
adj. that must not be violated or dishonoured |
| invocation |
=> invoke |
| invoke |
v. use (sth) as a reason for one's action |
| invulnerable |
adj. ~ that cannot be wounded, hurt or damaged by attack |
| iota |
n. the Greek letter I, i I, i |
| irascible |
adj. (of a person) easily made angry |
| irate |
adj. angry |
| iridescent |
adj. showing colours like those of the rainbow |
| irksome |
adj. tiresome; annoying |
| ironic |
adj. using or expressing irony; full of irony |
| irony |
n. expression of one's meaning by saying the direct opposite of one's thoughts in order to be emphatic, amusing, sarcastic, etc |
| irreconcilable |
adj. ~ (with sb/sth) (of people) that cannot be reconciled |
| irrefutable |
adj. that cannot be proved false |
| irrelevant |
adj. ~ not connected (with sth); not relevant (to sth) |
| irremediable |
adj. that cannot be remedied or corrected |
| irreparable |
adj. that cannot be put right, restored or repaired |
| irrepressible |
adj. that cannot be held back or controlled |
| irreproachable |
adj. freefrom blame or fault |
| irresolute |
adj. feeling or showing uncertainty; hesitating ; |
| irretrievable |
adj. that cannot be retrieved or remedied |
| irreverence |
The quality showing or expressing a deficiency of veneration, especially for sacred things. |
| irreverent |
adj. feeling or showing no respect for sacred things |
| irrevocable |
adj. that cannot be changed or revoked; final |
| isotope |
n. one of two or more forms of a chemical element with different atomic weight and different nuclear properties but the same chemical properties |
| isthmus |
n. narrow strip of land joining two larger areas of land that would otherwise be separated by water |
| itinerant |
adj. travelling from place to place |
| itinerary |
n. plan for, or record of, a journey; route |
