idyl|lic / I d I l I k, [AM ] a I d-/ ADJ If you describe something as idyllic , you mean that it is extremely pleasant, simple, and peaceful without any difficulties or dangers. □ …an idyllic setting for a summer romance.
i.e. /a I iː / i.e. is used to introduce a word or sentence which makes what you have just said clearer or gives details. □ …strategic points–i.e. airports or military bases.
IED / a I iː diː / (IEDs ) N‑COUNT An IED is a simple bomb that is made and used by someone who is not in the army, often using materials that are not usually used for making bombs. IED is an abbreviation for 'improvised explosive device'. □ The soldiers were killed by a roadside IED.
-ied → see -ed
-ier → see -er
-iest → see -est
if ◆◆◆ / I f/ Often pronounced / I f/ at the beginning of the sentence. 1 CONJ You use if in conditional sentences to introduce the circumstances in which an event or situation might happen, might be happening, or might have happened. □ She gets very upset if I exclude her. □ You can go if you want. □ If you went into town, you'd notice all the pubs have loud jukeboxes. □ Do you have a knack for coming up with ideas? If so, we would love to hear from you.
2 CONJ You use if in indirect questions where the answer is either 'yes' or 'no'. □ He asked if I had left with you, and I said no. □ I wonder if I might have a word with Mr Abbot?
3 CONJ [with neg] You use if to suggest that something might be slightly different from what you are stating in the main part of the sentence, for example that there might be slightly more or less of a particular quality. □ Sometimes, that standard is quite difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. □ I will be ready in a couple of weeks, if not sooner.
4 CONJ You use if , usually with 'can', 'could', 'may', or 'might', at a point in a conversation when you are politely trying to make a point, change the subject, or interrupt another speaker. □ If I could just make another small point.
5 CONJ You use if at or near the beginning of a clause when politely asking someone to do something. [POLITENESS ] □ I wonder if you'd be kind enough to give us some information, please?
6 CONJ You use if to introduce a subordinate clause in which you admit a fact which you regard as less important than the statement in the main clause. □ If there was any disappointment it was probably temporary.
7 PHRASE You use if not in front of a word or phrase to indicate that your statement does not apply to that word or phrase, but to something closely related to it that you also mention. □ She understood his meaning, if not his words.
8 PHRASE You use if ever with past tenses when you are introducing a description of a person or thing, to emphasize how appropriate it is. [EMPHASIS ] □ I became a distraught, worried mother, a useless role if ever there was one.
9 PHRASE You use if only with past tenses to introduce what you think is a fairly good reason for doing something, although you realize it may not be a very good one. □ She writes me often, if only to scold me because I haven't written to her.
10 PHRASE You use if only to express a wish or desire, especially one that cannot be fulfilled. [FEELINGS ] □ If only you had told me that some time ago.
11 PHRASE You use as if when you are making a judgment about something that you see or notice. Your belief or impression might be correct, or it might be wrong. □ The whole room looks as if it has been lovingly put together over the years.
12 PHRASE You use as if to describe something or someone by comparing them with another thing or person. □ He points two fingers at his head, as if he were holding a gun.
13 PHRASE You use as if to emphasize that something is not true. [SPOKEN , EMPHASIS ] □ Getting my work done! My God! As if it mattered.
14 PHRASE You use ' if anything ' to introduce something which strengthens or changes the meaning of the statement you have just made, but only in a small or unimportant way. □ Living together didn't harm our friendship. If anything it strengthened it.
15 PHRASE You use ' It's not as if ' to introduce a statement which, if it were true, might explain something puzzling, although in fact it is not true. □ I am surprised by the fuss she's making. It's not as if my personality has changed.
16 PHRASE You say ' if I were you ' to someone when you are giving them advice. □ If I were you, Mrs Gretchen, I just wouldn't worry about it.
if|fy / I fi/
1 ADJ If you say that something is iffy , you mean that it is not very good in some way. [INFORMAL ] □ If your next record's a bit iffy, you're forgotten.
2 ADJ If something is iffy , it is uncertain. [INFORMAL ] □ His political future has looked iffy for most of this year.
SUFFIX -ify
is used at the end of verbs that refer to making something or someone different in some way. For example, 'More needs to be done to simplify the process of registering to vote'.
ig|loo / I gluː/ (igloos ) N‑COUNT Igloos are dome-shaped houses built from blocks of snow by the Inuit people.
ig|ne|ous / I gniəs/ ADJ [ADJ n] In geology, igneous rocks are rocks that were once so hot that they were liquid. [TECHNICAL ]
ig|nite / I gna I t/ (ignites , igniting , ignited )
1 VERB When you ignite something or when it ignites , it starts burning or explodes. □ [V n] The bombs ignited a fire which destroyed some 60 houses. □ [V ] The blasts were caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited.
2 VERB If something or someone ignites your feelings, they cause you to have very strong feelings about something. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] There was one teacher who really ignited my interest in words.