English dictionary — definitions & meanings

insubstantial

adj

Lacking substance; not real or strong.

insufferable

adj

So unpleasant or annoying that it is almost impossible to put up with.

insufficiency

noun

The lack of sufficiency: a shortage, the state of having or being not enough (of something).

insufficient

adj

Not enough for what is needed.

insufflate

verb

To breathe or blow into or on.

insular

adjective

Interested only in your own group or community and uninterested in ideas or people from outside it.

insularism

noun

Insular (withdrawn) behavior.

insularity

noun

The quality or property of being insular.

insulate

verb

To cover or surround something with material to stop heat, cold, sound, or electricity from passing through.

insulated

adj

Covered with material that blocks heat, cold, sound, or electricity.

insulation

noun

Material used to reduce the passage of heat, cold, sound, or electricity.

insulin

noun

A hormone that controls how the body uses and stores sugar from food.

insult

verb

To say or do something rude or disrespectful to someone.

insultation

noun

The act of insulting; abusive or insolent treatment; insult.

insulting

adj

Rude or offensive; showing disrespect.

insupportable

adj

That cannot be tolerated or endured.

insurance

noun

An arrangement where you pay a company regularly so it covers you financially if something bad happens.

insure

verb

To provide for compensation if some specified risk occurs. Often agreed by policy (contract) to offer financial compensation in case of an accident, theft or other undesirable event.

insured

adj

Covered by an insurance policy.

insurgence

noun

An uprising or rebellion; an insurrection.

insurgency

noun

An organized rebellion against a government or ruling authority.

insurgent

adj

Rising up in rebellion against authority.

insurmountable

adj

So difficult that it seems impossible to overcome.

insurrection

noun

A violent uprising by part of a population against its government.

insurrectionist

noun

A person who provokes or takes part in an insurrection.

int

contraction

A casual short form of "isn't" or "is not."

intact

adj

Whole and undamaged; not touched or spoiled in any way.

intake

noun

The amount of something (food, air, liquid) that a person or system takes in.

intangible

adj

Unable to be touched or physically grasped; not solid or concrete.

intastable

adj

Incapable of being tasted.

integer

noun

A whole number, either positive, negative, or zero, with no fractional or decimal part.

integral

adj

Essential to completeness; a necessary part of a whole.

integrate

verb

To combine separate parts so they work together as one system.

integrated

adj

Combined into a single, coordinated whole rather than kept as separate parts.

integrating

adj

In the process of combining into a single working whole.

integration

noun

The act of combining separate parts, systems, or groups so that they work together as a single whole.

integrity

noun

Firm adherence to honesty and strong moral principles.

intel

noun

Informal word for intelligence — secret or useful information gathered about a situation.

intellect

noun

The mental capacity for reasoning, understanding, and abstract thought.

intellection

noun

The mental activity or process of grasping with the intellect; apprehension by the mind; understanding.

intellectual

adj

Relating to the ability to think and reason, rather than to emotions or physical skill.

intellectualism

noun

The use or development of the intellect.

intellectualize

verb

To treat in an intellectual manner; to discuss or express intellectually.

intellectually

adv

In a way that relates to reasoning or mental ability.

intelligence

noun

The ability to learn, understand, and apply knowledge effectively.

intelligencer

noun

A bringer of intelligence (news, information); a spy or informant.

intelligent

adj

Having or showing a strong ability to learn, reason, and understand.

intelligently

adv

In a smart, well-reasoned way.

intelligentsia

noun

The intellectual elite of a society, particularly in Marxist doctrine.

intelligible

adj

Capable of being understood; clear to the mind.

intelligibly

adv

In an intelligible manner.

intemperance

noun

Lack of moderation or temperance; excess.

intemperately

adv

In an intemperate manner.

intempestive

adj

untimely, happening at an inappropriate moment

intend

verb

To have a plan or purpose in mind to do something.

intendant

noun

A government official historically responsible for managing administrative or financial affairs in a region.

intended

adj

Planned or meant to happen, rather than accidental.

intending

noun

The act of planning or meaning to do something; intention.

intense

adj

Extremely strong, forceful, or extreme in degree.

intensely

adv

To an extreme or very strong degree.

intensen

verb

To grow or become more intense; intensify

intensification

noun

The act or process of intensifying, or of making more intense.

intensify

verb

To become stronger or more extreme, or to make something so.

intensifying

noun

The act of becoming or making something stronger; intensification.

intensity

noun

The quality or degree of being strong, forceful, or extreme.

intensive

adj

Involving a lot of effort or activity concentrated in a short period; thorough.

intent

noun

A plan or purpose behind an action.

intention

noun

A plan or aim that guides what someone does.

intentional

adj

Done deliberately, on purpose, rather than by accident.

intentionally

adv

On purpose; deliberately.

intently

adv

With close, focused attention.

inter

verb

To bury a body in the ground or in a tomb.

interact

verb

To communicate or engage with someone, or to have an effect on each other.

interacting

adj

Currently engaging with or affecting one another.

interaction

noun

An occasion when two or more things or people affect or communicate with each other.

interactive

adj

Allowing back-and-forth engagement between a user and a system, or between people.

intercalation

noun

A period inserted into a calendar as in a leap year.

intercede

verb

To speak or act on someone else's behalf, often to resolve a conflict.

intercedent

adj

Interceding: Passing between; mediating

intercept

verb

To stop or catch something before it reaches its destination.

interception

noun

The act of stopping or catching something before it reaches its destination.

interceptor

noun

A fast military aircraft or missile designed to catch and destroy enemy aircraft or missiles.

intercession

noun

The act of intervening or mediating between two parties.

intercessionary

adj

Serving as, or relating to, intercession.

intercessor

noun

One who intercedes, particularly

intercessory

adj

Of or pertaining to intercession.

interchange

verb

To swap or exchange two things with each other.

interchangeable

adj

Able to be swapped for one another without making a real difference.

intercom

noun

A two-way communication system fitted through a building or vehicle, often used for buzzing people in or making announcements.

interconnected

adj

Linked together at several points, so that each part affects the others.

intercontinental

adj

Travelling or occurring between continents.

intercourse

noun

Sexual activity between people.

interdependence

noun

The condition of being interdependent.

interdependent

adj

Mutually dependent; reliant on one another.

interdict

noun

A papal decree prohibiting the administration of the sacraments from a political entity under the power of a single person (e.g., a king or an oligarchy with similar powers). Extreme unction/Anointing of the Sick is excepted.

interdiction

noun

The act of interdicting or something interdicted.

interdimensional

adj

Existing or travelling between different dimensions, especially in science fiction.

interest

noun

A feeling of wanting to know more about something or pay attention to it.

interested

adj

Showing curiosity or attention toward something.

interesting

adj

Holding someone's attention; engaging or thought-provoking.

interestingly

adv

Used to introduce a fact or detail worth noting.

interestingness

noun

The state or quality of being interesting.

interests

noun

The group of people or organizations with a stake in a particular matter, considered together.

interface

noun

The point where two systems, devices, or people meet and interact.

interfacing

noun

A layer of fabric inserted between other layers of a garment to provide stiffening

interfaith

adj

Involving members of different religions.

interfere

verb

To get involved in something in a way that disrupts or is unwelcome.

interference

noun

The act of interfering with, or disrupting, something.

interfering

adj

Prone to meddling in other people's business.

intergalactic

adj

Existing or taking place between galaxies.

interim

adj

Temporary or provisional, filling a gap until something permanent is arranged.

interior

adj

Located inside, rather than on the surface or at the edge.

interject

verb

To break into a conversation suddenly with a remark.

interjection

noun

An exclamation or filled pause; a word or phrase with no particular grammatical relation to a sentence, often an expression of emotion.

interlace

noun

A decorative element found especially in early medieval art

interlaced

adj

Synonym of gauntleted (“having overlapping parallel rail tracks”).

interlink

verb

To link together.

interlock

verb

To fit or lock securely together with another part.

interlocking

adj

Fitting or locking closely together.

interlope

verb

To intrude, meddle, or trespass in others' affairs.

interloper

noun

Someone who intrudes into a situation where they are not wanted or welcome.

interlude

noun

A pause or short episode that happens between two longer events.

intermediary

noun

A person or organization that acts as a go-between to help two sides reach an agreement.

intermediate

adj

Positioned between two extremes, or partway through a course of learning.

intermediation

noun

An act of coming between; an intervention.

intermediator

noun

An intermediate agent; a mediator.

interment

noun

The burial of a dead body in a grave or tomb, especially as a formal ceremony.

intermezzo

noun

A short piece of music or act in the interval of the main spectacle; a theatrical interlude.

interminable

adj

Seeming to go on forever, especially in a tedious or exhausting way.

interminably

adv

in an interminable manner; (seemingly) endlessly

intermingle

verb

To mix (things) together.

intermission

noun

A break between parts of a performance or event.

intermit

verb

To interrupt, to stop or cease temporarily or periodically; to suspend.

intermittent

adj

Happening at irregular intervals rather than continuously.

intermittent fasting

noun

An eating pattern that alternates set periods of eating with set periods of taking no food, such as eating only between midday and eight in the evening, or eating normally on some days and very little on others. It sets when food is eaten rather than what is eaten.

intermittently

adv

Stopping or starting at intervals.

intermix

verb

To mix together; to intermingle or blend.

intermixture

noun

A mass formed by mixture; a mass of ingredients mixed.

intern

noun

A student or recent graduate working temporarily, often unpaid or low-paid, to gain experience.

internal

adj

Located on the inside, rather than the outside.

internally

adv

On the inside, or within an organization rather than publicly.

international

adj

Involving or shared by two or more nations.

internationally

adv

In a way that involves more than one country.

interne

noun

Archaic spelling of intern.

internet

noun

The worldwide network of connected computers that people use to browse websites, send messages, and share information.

interning

noun

The act of working as an intern to gain experience in a field.

internist

noun

A physician who specialises in internal medicine.

internment

noun

The act of imprisoning or confining someone, usually without trial, often for political or wartime reasons.

internship

noun

A temporary position, often for a student, aimed at gaining work experience in a particular field.

interpenetrate

verb

To penetrate mutually or reciprocally.