English dictionary — definitions & meanings

inventiveness

noun

The quality of being inventive; the faculty of inventing.

inventor

noun

A person who creates or designs something new.

inventory

noun

The full stock of goods a business or location currently has.

inveracity

noun

A lack of veracity

Inverness

name

A city in the Scottish Highlands, regarded as the region's administrative centre.

inverse

adj

Opposite in effect, order, or position.

inversely proportional

adjective

Related in such a way that when one quantity increases, the other decreases by the same factor, so that multiplying the two together always gives the same number.

inversion

noun

The act of turning something upside down, inside out, or into reverse order.

inversionism

noun

Homosexuality, regarded as sexual inversion.

invert

verb

To turn (something) upside down or inside out; to place in a contrary order or direction; to make (something) the opposite of it.

invertebrate

noun

An animal without vertebrae (i.e., without a backbone).

inverted

adj

Turned upside down or reversed in order, direction, or position.

invest

verb

To put money into something, such as a business, property, or shares, in the hope of making a profit.

invested

adj

Emotionally involved in something or genuinely caring about its outcome.

investigate

verb

To look into something carefully in order to find out the facts.

investigation

noun

A careful and systematic inquiry into the facts of a matter.

investigative

adj

Relating to or involving investigation, especially into wrongdoing.

investigator

noun

A person whose job is to investigate something, such as a crime or accident.

investing

noun

The practice of putting money into assets such as stocks, property, or a business to earn a return.

investiture

noun

The act of investing, as with possession or power; formal bestowal or presentation of a possessory or prescriptive right.

investment

noun

Money put into something, such as a business or property, with the goal of making a profit.

investor

noun

A person or organization that puts money into something, such as a business or the stock market, to earn a profit.

inveterate

adj

Firmly established from having been around for a long time; of long standing.

invidious

adj

Causing ill will, envy, or offense.

invigilate

verb

To oversee a test or exam.

invigorate

verb

To impart vigor, strength, or vitality to.

invigorated

adj

Feeling full of energy or strength; refreshed and revitalized

invigorating

adj

Making someone feel stronger, healthier, and more energetic.

invincible

adj

Impossible to defeat or overcome; too strong or powerful to beat.

inviolable

adj

Not violable; not to be infringed.

invisibility

noun

The state or quality of not being able to be seen.

invisible

adj

Not able to be seen, either because it is hidden or because it does not reflect light.

invisibly

adv

In a way that can not be seen; in an invisible manner.

invitation

noun

A request for someone to attend an event or take part in something.

invitational

adj

Restricted to participants who have specifically been invited.

invite

verb

To ask someone to come to an event or take part in something.

invited

adj

Having been asked to attend an event or take part in something.

inviting

adj

Attractive or tempting, making you want to come closer or take part.

invocate

verb

To implore or invoke.

invocation

noun

The act or form of calling for the assistance or presence of some superior being, especially prayer offered to a divine being.

invocational

adj

Of or relating to an act of invocation.

invocatory

adj

Containing or characterized by invocation; invoking.

invoice

noun

A document sent by a seller to a buyer listing goods or services provided and the amount owed.

invoicing

noun

The issuing of an invoice.

invoke

verb

To call on something, such as a rule, law, or higher power, for support or justification.

involuntarily

adv

Without conscious control or intention.

involuntary

adj

Done without conscious control or against one's will.

involute

adj

Difficult to understand; complicated.

involution

noun

Entanglement; a spiralling inwards; intricacy.

involutional

adj

of or pertaining to involution

involve

verb

To include something as a necessary part.

involved

adj

Taking part in or connected to something, especially a situation, activity, or relationship.

involvement

noun

The fact or state of taking part in or being connected to something.

invulnerability

noun

The state of being invulnerable.

invulnerable

adj

Impossible to harm, damage, or injure.

invulnerably

adv

In an invulnerable manner.

inward

adj

Located on or facing the inside; internal.

inwardly

adv

In an inward manner; to or toward the inside or to oneself.

inwardness

noun

The characteristic of being inward or directed towards the inside.

inwards

adv

Toward the inside or center.

inwomb

verb

To place or cause to be contained in the womb; to make pregnant; to conceive.

inwork

noun

Indoor work; work done inside the home.

inwrought

adj

Having a design that has been worked or woven in.

io

noun

A large yellow North American moth known for the eye-like spots on its hindwings.

iodate

noun

The anion IO₃⁻; any salt of iodic acid.

iode

noun

Synonym of iodine.

iodic

adj

of, or relating to iodine or its compounds, especially those in which it has a valency of five

iodide

noun

A binary compound of iodine and another element or radical.

iodine

noun

A chemical element, symbol I, used in medicine, photography, and as a nutrient needed by the thyroid gland.

iodise

verb

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of iodize.

iodize

verb

To treat or react with iodine.

iodous

adj

Of, pertaining to, or containing iodine

ion

noun

An atom or molecule that has gained or lost electrons, giving it an electric charge.

Iona

name

A small island in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland, historically an important center of Celtic Christianity; also used as a female given name.

ione

name

A city in Amador County, California, United States.

Iong

name

A surname of Portuguese origin.

ionic

adj

Relating to or made up of ions.

Ions

name

A surname originating from a Northumberland variant of John plus the patronymic suffix "-s."

ios

name

An island of the Cyclades, Greece.

iota

noun

The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet.

IOU

noun

An informal written note acknowledging a debt, from the phrase "I owe you."

Iowa

noun

A Native American people originally from the region that is now the U.S. state of Iowa, or a member of this people.

Ip

name

A Cantonese surname, romanized from the Chinese 葉/叶.

IP address

noun

A number assigned to a device so that other devices on a network can find it and send data to it, in the same way a postal address tells a courier where to deliver a parcel.

iPad

noun

Apple's tablet computer, a flat touchscreen device used for browsing, media, and light work without a keyboard.

iPhone

noun

Apple's line of smartphones, known for their touchscreen and integration with Apple's other devices.

IPO

noun

Short for initial public offering — the first time a company sells shares to the general public on a stock exchange.

iPod

noun

Apple's portable digital music player, popular in the 2000s for letting people carry thousands of songs in their pocket.

Ipswich

name

A port town and county town of Suffolk, England, also the name of a city in Queensland, Australia.

IQ

noun

Short for intelligence quotient, a score from a standardized test meant to measure reasoning ability relative to the average.

Iqbal

name

A male given name and surname of Arabic origin.

Ira

name

A male given name of Hebrew origin, mostly used in America, meaning "watchful."

irade

noun

A decree issued by a Muslim ruler.

Iran

name

A country in the Middle East, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, with Tehran as its capital.

Iranian

adj

Relating to Iran, its people, or its culture.

iranic

adj

Pertaining to the Iranic languages or their speakers.

Iraq

name

A country in the Middle East, officially the Republic of Iraq, with Baghdad as its capital and largest city.

Iraqi

adj

Relating to Iraq, its people, or its culture.

irascible

adjective

Easily made angry; quick-tempered by nature.

irate

adj

Extremely angry, especially in a way that's directed at someone or something specific.

ire

noun

Intense anger; wrath, especially the kind provoked by a specific offense.

Ireland

name

An island in northwestern Europe, and the country occupying most of it (distinct from Northern Ireland, part of the UK).

Irene

noun

In Greek mythology, the goddess who personified peace.

Irfan

name

A male given name of Arabic origin, common especially in Pakistan.

iridescence

noun

The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color.

iridescent

adj

Producing a display of lustrous, rainbow-like colors; prismatic.

iridin

noun

A toxic isoflavone, the 7-glucoside of irigenin.

iridium

noun

A hard, brittle, silvery-white metallic element (atomic number 77) in the platinum group, the most corrosion-resistant metal known.

iridize

verb

To point or tip with iridium.

Irina

name

A female given name of Russian origin, related to the English name Irene.

iris

noun

The coloured ring of muscle around the pupil of the eye that controls how much light gets in.

Irish

adj

Relating to Ireland, its people, or its culture.

Irish twins

noun

Two siblings born to the same mother within about twelve months of each other, so that they are close in age but not actually twins.

Irishman

noun

A man from Ireland.

irk

verb

to irritate; annoy; bother

IRL

abbreviation

In real life; in the physical world rather than online, in a game, or on social media.

Irma

name

A female given name of Germanic origin.

iron

noun

A common, silvery-grey metal that rusts and is attracted to magnets; the main ingredient of steel.

ironclad

adj

So solid or certain that it cannot reasonably be disputed or broken.

ironed

adj

Pressed smooth with a hot iron; free of wrinkles.

ironic

adj

Involving irony — meaning, or resulting in, the opposite of what was expected or intended.

ironical

adj

Characterized by or constituting (any kind of) irony.

ironically

adv

In a way that involves irony; used to point out the ironic aspect of something being described.

ironing

noun

The act of pressing clothes with a hot iron to remove wrinkles.

ironmongery

noun

Tools and hardware that can be bought in an ironmonger's shop.

irons

noun

Metal shackles used to restrain someone's wrists or ankles.

ironside

noun

A trooper in the Parliamentarian cavalry formed by English political leader Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century, during the English Civil War.

irony

noun

A situation or statement in which the actual outcome or meaning is the opposite of what was expected.

irradiance

noun

The act of irradiating; emission of rays of light.

irradiate

adj

Made brilliant or bright; irradiated, illuminated.

irradiated

adj

Exposed to radiation, such as X-rays, gamma rays, or other forms deliberately applied for imaging or sterilization.

irrational

adj

Not based on logic or reason; unfounded or nonsensical.

irrationally

adv

In a way that doesn't follow logic or reason.

irreclaimable

adj

Incapable of being reclaimed; not reclaimable.

irreconcilable

adj

Unable to be reconciled; opposed; uncompromising.

irrecondite

adj

Not recondite; well-known.

irrefragable

adj

Which cannot be refuted; clearly right, incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable.

irrefutable

adj

Impossible to deny or disprove; certain beyond argument.

irregardless

adj

Irrespective, regardless.

irregular

adj

Not following a regular pattern, schedule, or set of rules.

irregularity

noun

Something that deviates from what's normal, expected, or standard, or the state of being irregular.

irregularly

adv

In an irregular manner; without rule, method, or order.

irrelation

noun

The state of being irrelative or unrelated; a lack of connection or relation.

irrelationship

noun

Quality of irrelation; lack of relationship.

irrelative

adj

Having no relations to each other; unrelated.

irrelevance

noun

Lack of relationship with the topic at hand; lack of importance.

irrelevant

adj

Not connected to or useful for the matter at hand.

irreligion

noun

The state of being irreligious; irreligious sentiment or thought.

irreligious

adj

Having no relation to religion.

irremediable

adj

Unable to be remedied, cured, corrected or repaired; irreparable, incurable.