ig|ni|tion / I gn I ʃ ə n/ (ignitions )
1 N‑VAR In a car engine, the ignition is the part where the fuel is ignited. □ The device automatically disconnects the ignition.
2 N‑SING Inside a car, the ignition is the part where you turn the key so that the engine starts.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Ignition is the process of something starting to burn. □ [+ of ] The ignition of methane gas killed eight men.
ig|no|ble / I gnoʊ b ə l/ ADJ If you describe something as ignoble , you mean that it is bad and something to be ashamed of. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …ignoble thoughts.
ig|no|mini|ous / I gnəm I niəs/ ADJ If you describe an experience or action as ignominious , you mean it is embarrassing because it shows a great lack of success. [FORMAL ] □ …their ignominious defeat. ● ig|no|mini|ous|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Their soldiers had to retreat ignominiously after losing hundreds of lives.
ig|no|miny / I gnəm I ni/ N‑UNCOUNT Ignominy is shame or public disgrace. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the ignominy of being made redundant.
ig|no|ra|mus / I gnəre I məs/ (ignoramuses ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as an ignoramus , you are being critical of them because they do not have the knowledge you think they ought to have. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
ig|no|rance / I gnərəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Ignorance of something is lack of knowledge about it. □ [+ of/about ] I am embarrassed by my complete ignorance of history.
ig|no|rant / I gnərənt/
1 ADJ If you describe someone as ignorant , you mean that they do not know things they should know. If someone is ignorant of a fact, they do not know it. □ People don't like to ask questions for fear of appearing ignorant. [Also + of/about ]
2 ADJ People are sometimes described as ignorant when they do something that is not polite or kind. Some people think that it is not correct to use ignorant with this meaning.
ig|nore ◆◆◇ / I gnɔː r / (ignores , ignoring , ignored )
1 VERB If you ignore someone or something, you pay no attention to them. □ [V n] Why are you ignoring me?
2 VERB If you say that an argument or theory ignores an important aspect of a situation, you are criticizing it because it fails to consider that aspect or to take it into account. □ [V n] Such arguments ignore the question of where ultimate responsibility lay. SYNONYMS ignore VERB 1
neglect: The woman denied that she had neglected her child.
disregard: He disregarded the advice of his executives.
discount: However, traders tended to discount the rumor.
take no notice of: They took no notice of him.
overlook: …a fact that we all tend to overlook.
igua|na / I gjuɑː nə, [AM ] I gwɑː nə/ (iguanas ) N‑COUNT An iguana is a type of large lizard found in America.
ikon /a I kɒn/ → see icon
PREFIX il-
can be added to some words to form words that have the opposite meaning. For example, if an activity is illegal , it is not legal.
ilk / I lk/ N‑SING If you talk about people or things of the same ilk , you mean people or things of the same type as a person or thing that has been mentioned. □ He currently terrorises politicians and their ilk on 'Newsnight'. □ It's secure and private – for a celebrity, sports star or someone of that ilk.
ill ◆◆◇ / I l/ (ills )
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is ill is suffering from a disease or a health problem. □ [+ with ] In November 1941 Payne was seriously ill with pneumonia. ● N‑PLURAL People who are ill in some way can be referred to as, for example, the mentally ill . □ I used to work with the mentally ill.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Difficulties and problems are sometimes referred to as ills . [FORMAL ] □ His critics maintain that he's responsible for many of Algeria's ills.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Ill is evil or harm. [LITERARY ] □ They say they mean you no ill.
4 ADV [ADV with v] Ill means the same as 'badly'. [FORMAL ] □ The company's conservative instincts sit ill with competition.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use ill in front of some nouns to indicate that you are referring to something harmful or unpleasant. [FORMAL ] □ She had brought ill luck into her family.
6 PHRASE If you say that someone can ill afford to do something, or can ill afford something, you mean that they must prevent it from happening because it would be harmful or embarrassing to them. [FORMAL ] □ It's possible he won't play but I can ill afford to lose him.
7 PHRASE If you fall ill or are taken ill , you suddenly become ill. □ Shortly before Christmas, he was mysteriously taken ill.
8 to speak ill of someone → see speak USAGE ill
Don’t use ‘ill’ or ‘sick’ to say that someone has received an injury. Say that they are injured or hurt . □ Two people were injured and taken to hospital after the car crash.
ill- / I l-/ COMB Ill- is added to words, especially adjectives and past participles, to add the meaning 'badly' or 'inadequately'. For example, 'ill-written' means badly written. □ …ill-disciplined children.