English dictionary — definitions & meanings

interpersonal

adj

Relating to relationships or communication between people.

interplanetary

adj

Existing or occurring between planets.

interplay

noun

Interaction; reciprocal relationship.

Interpol

name

The International Criminal Police Organization, which helps police forces around the world cooperate on cross-border crime.

interpolate

verb

To introduce (something) between other things; especially to insert (possibly spurious) words into a text.

interpolation

noun

An abrupt change in elements, with continuation of the first idea.

interpose

verb

To insert something (or oneself) between other things.

interposition

noun

The act of interposing, or the state of being interposed; a being, placing, or coming between; mediation.

interpret

verb

To explain or work out the meaning of something, especially a language, gesture, sign, or piece of art.

interpretation

noun

The particular meaning that someone takes from something, especially where more than one reading is possible.

interpreted

adjective

Computing: describing a program that is run directly from its source code, line by line, rather than being compiled into a standalone executable first.

interpreter

noun

A person who translates spoken or signed language for others in real time.

interpreting

noun

The skill or profession of converting spoken or signed language from one language into another as it is being spoken.

interpunct

noun

The punctuation mark ⟨·⟩.

interracial

adjective

Involving or occurring between people of two or more different races.

interred

adjective

Buried, especially in a grave or tomb.

interregnum

noun

A period of time between the end of one monarch's reign and the accession of their successor.

interrelated

adj

Having a mutual or reciprocal relation or parallelism; correlative.

interrelation

noun

Mutual or reciprocal relation.

interrobang

noun

The nonstandard punctuation mark ⟨‽⟩ (a combination of ⟨?⟩ and ⟨!⟩), which may be used at the end of a sentence to express excitement or disbelief, or to indicate that it is a rhetorical question.

interrogable

adj

That can be interrogated; that can respond to a query.

interrogate

verb

To question someone closely and often forcefully, typically to get information out of them.

interrogatee

noun

Someone who undergoes an interrogation.

interrogating

noun

The act of questioning someone closely, especially to extract information.

interrogation

noun

The process of questioning someone closely, especially by police or authorities.

interrogative

adj

Asking or denoting a question.

interrogatively

adv

In an interrogative manner; by means of a question.

interrogator

noun

A person who questions someone closely, often in an official or aggressive setting.

interrogatory

noun

A formal question or set of questions submitted to opposing party to answer, generally governed by court rule.

interrupt

verb

To break in on someone who is speaking or on an ongoing action.

interruption

noun

An act of breaking in on something, or a pause caused by this.

intersect

verb

To cross or meet at a point, cutting across each other.

intersection

noun

A place where two or more roads or paths meet or cross.

intersectional

adj

Of or pertaining to an intersection, especially of multiple forms of discrimination (for example, the intersection of misogyny and racism which affects black women specifically).

intersex

adj

Of an individual, having any of a variety of inherent conditions (in a species with distinct sexes) in which one's sex characteristics differ from those of a typical male and female; for example, having sex characteristics relating to both male and female sexes.

intersidereal

adj

Between or among constellations or stars; interstellar.

interspace

noun

A space or interval between two things; an interstice

interstate

adjective

Involving or connecting two or more states.

interstellar

adjective

Occurring or existing between the stars.

intertwine

verb

To twine (things) together.

intertwined

adjective

Twisted or wound together.

interval

noun

A gap or space between two points, whether in time, distance, or a sequence.

intervene

verb

To become involved in a situation in order to change or stop what is happening.

intervening

adjective

Occurring or existing between two points in time or two events.

intervention

noun

The act of becoming involved in a situation in order to influence or change its outcome.

interventionism

noun

The political practice of intervening in a sovereign state's affairs.

interview

noun

A formal meeting in which someone is asked questions to assess them for a job or position.

interviewer

noun

A person who asks the questions in an interview.

intervocalic

adj

Existing or occurring between vowels.

interweave

verb

To combine (things) through weaving.

intestinal

adjective

Relating to the intestines.

intestine

noun

The long tube in the digestive system that food passes through after leaving the stomach, where nutrients are absorbed.

intimacy

noun

A feeling of closeness, warmth, and openness with another person.

intimate

adjective

Very close and familiar, especially emotionally.

intimately

adverb

In a close, familiar, or personal way.

intimation

noun

A hint; an indirect suggestion.

intimidate

verb

To frighten or pressure someone, often through threats, so they do what you want.

intimidated

adjective

Made to feel frightened, nervous, or overpowered.

intimidating

adjective

Causing fear, nervousness, or a sense of being overpowered.

intimidation

noun

The act of frightening or pressuring someone, especially through threats.

into

preposition

Moving toward the inside of something.

intolerable

adjective

Too unpleasant, painful, or extreme to be endured.

intolerance

noun

Unwillingness to accept beliefs, behaviour, or people that differ from one's own.

intolerant

adjective

Unwilling to accept views, behaviour, or people different from one's own.

intolerantly

adv

In an intolerant manner; without toleration.

intonation

noun

The rise and fall of the voice in speech, which conveys meaning, mood, or whether a sentence is a statement or a question.

intone

verb

To give tone or variety of tone to; to vocalize.

intort

verb

To twist in and out; to twine; to wreathe, wind, or wring.

intoxicant

noun

Something which intoxicates; an intoxicating agent.

intoxicate

verb

To stupefy by doping with chemical substances such as alcohol.

intoxicated

adjective

Under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the point of impairment.

intoxicating

adjective

Capable of causing drunkenness; alcoholic.

intoxication

noun

The state of being drunk or under the influence of a substance.

intracranial

adjective

Located or occurring within the skull.

intractable

adj

Not tractable; not able to be managed, controlled, governed or directed.

intramuscular

adj

Inside a muscle or the muscles.

intraneous

adj

Internal, that is within.

intransient

adj

Not transient; not passing away; permanent.

intransigence

noun

Unwillingness to change one's views or to agree.

intransigent

adj

Unwilling to compromise or moderate a position; unreasonable; stubborn.

intraracial

adj

Within a single race (group of people); of or by members of the same race.

intrauterine

adj

Located or taking place inside the uterus.

intravenous

adj

Given or existing inside a vein, rather than through the mouth or muscle.

intreasure

verb

To store or hoard (something valuable)

intrepid

adj

Fearless and bold in the face of danger.

intrepidity

noun

The quality of being intrepid; bravery.

intrepidness

noun

The quality of being intrepid; bravery.

intricacies

noun

The small, complicated details of something that make it hard to understand or do well.

intricacy

noun

The state or quality of being intricate or entangled.

intricate

adj

Made up of many small, finely detailed parts; complex.

intricateness

noun

The state or quality of being intricate; intricacy.

intrigue

noun

A secret plot or scheme, often involving deception.

intrigued

adjective

Very interested in something because it seems curious, mysterious or unexpected, and wanting to know more about it.

intriguer

noun

One who intrigues; one who forms plots, or pursues an object by secret means.

intriguery

noun

The practice of intrigue.

intriguing

adj

Interesting in a way that makes you want to know more; mysterious.

intriguingly

adv

In an intriguing manner; with intrigue; with artifice or secret machinations.

intrinsic

adj

Belonging to something by its very nature; essential and built-in, not added from outside.

intrinsically

adv

In an intrinsic manner; internally; essentially.

intro

noun

A short opening section that leads into something bigger, such as a song, show, or conversation.

introduce

verb

To make people known to each other for the first time.

introduced

adj

Brought in from elsewhere rather than naturally occurring in a place.

introduction

noun

The act of making people known to each other.

introductory

adj

Serving as an introduction; giving a basic overview before the main content.

intromission

noun

The state of being allowed to enter; admittance

introspect

verb

To engage in introspection.

introspection

noun

The act of examining your own thoughts, feelings and motives.

introspective

adj

Examining one's own perceptions and sensory experiences; contemplative or thoughtful about oneself.

introvert

noun

A person who is energised by quiet and solitude, and who tends to find extended social contact draining rather than refreshing.

introvert and extrovert

noun

A pair of personality types describing where a person's energy is directed: an introvert is drawn inward and is recharged by quiet and solitude, while an extrovert is drawn outward and is recharged by company and activity.

introverted

adj

Quiet and reflective by nature, preferring one's own thoughts or small groups over large social gatherings.

intrude

verb

To enter or interrupt somewhere without invitation or welcome.

intruded

adj

Entered or pushed in without welcome; intrusive.

intruder

noun

A person who enters a place without permission.

intruding

noun

The act of entering somewhere uninvited.

intrusion

noun

An unwelcome entry into a place, situation, or someone's private life.

intrusive

adj

Tending to intrude; unwelcome or disruptive.

intubate

verb

To insert a breathing tube into someone's airway, usually to help them breathe.

intubation

noun

The medical procedure of inserting a tube into a patient's airway to keep it open or assist breathing.

intuition

noun

An immediate understanding or feeling about something without conscious reasoning.

intuitive

adj

Easy to understand or use without needing to think it through.

intumescence

noun

The process of swelling up or the condition of being swollen.

inturgescence

noun

A swelling (the act of swelling, or state of being swelled).

Inuit

noun

A member of an Indigenous people of Arctic Canada, Alaska, and Greenland.

inundate

verb

To give someone far more of something than they can deal with, usually requests, messages or work.

inundated

adj

Overwhelmed by a large amount of something, often work or requests.

inundation

noun

The act of inundating; an overflow; a flood; a rising and spreading of water over grounds.

inured

adj

Accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.

inutile

adj

useless; unprofitable.

inutility

noun

Uselessness.

inutterable

adj

Unutterable; inexpressible.

invade

verb

To enter a country or territory by force in order to take control of it.

invader

noun

A person or force that invades a place.

invalid

adj

Not legally or officially acceptable; not valid.

invalidate

verb

To make invalid (especially in to contract law)

invalidation

noun

The act of invalidating, or the state of being invalidated

invalidity

noun

The state of being invalid; lack of validity.

invalidness

noun

invalidity; the state of being invalid

invaluable

adj

So valuable that its worth can't be measured; extremely useful or precious.

invariable

adj

Not variable; unalterable; uniform; always having the same value.

invariably

adv

Always; without exception.

invasion

noun

A military attack in which armed forces enter another territory to conquer or control it.

invasive

adj

Tending to spread aggressively and cause harm, especially of species, diseases, or medical procedures.

invective

noun

Fierce, insulting language used to attack someone or something.

inveigh

verb

To complain loudly, to give voice to one's censure or criticism

inveigle

verb

To convert, convince, or win over with flattery or wiles.

invent

verb

To create or design something new that didn't exist before.

invented

adj

Made up; not real or factual.

invention

noun

Something newly created or designed.

inventive

adj

Good at coming up with new ideas or solutions; creative.