1 VERB Something that impoverishes a person or a country makes them poor. □ [V n] We need to reduce the burden of taxes that impoverish the economy. □ [V -ed] …a society impoverished by wartime inflation. ● im|pov|er|ished ADJ □ …an attempt to lure businesses into impoverished areas.
2 VERB A person or thing that impoverishes something makes it worse in quality. □ [V n] …plants that impoverish the soil quickly.
im|pov|er|ish|ment / I mpɒ vər I ʃmənt/ N‑UNCOUNT Impoverishment is the state or process of being impoverished. □ National isolation can only cause economic and cultural impoverishment.
im|prac|ti|cable / I mpræ kt I kəb ə l/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something such as a course of action is impracticable , it is impossible to do. □ Such measures would be highly impracticable and almost impossible to apply.
im|prac|ti|cal / I mpræ kt I k ə l/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe an object, idea, or course of action as impractical , you mean that it is not sensible or realistic, and does not work well in practice. □ It became impractical to make a business trip by ocean liner.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe someone as impractical , you mean that they do not have the abilities or skills to do practical work such as making, repairing, or organizing things. □ Geniuses are supposed to be eccentric and hopelessly impractical.
im|pre|ca|tion / I mpr I ke I ʃ ə n/ (imprecations ) N‑VAR An imprecation is something rude, angry, or hostile that is said to or about someone. [FORMAL ]
im|pre|cise / I mpr I sa I s/ ADJ Something that is imprecise is not clear, accurate, or precise. □ The charges were vague and imprecise.
im|pre|ci|sion / I mpr I s I ʒ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Imprecision is the quality of being imprecise. □ This served to hide the confusion and imprecision in their thinking.
im|preg|nable / I mpre gnəb ə l/
1 ADJ If you describe a building or other place as impregnable , you mean that it cannot be broken into or captured. □ The old Dutch fort with its thick high walls looks virtually impregnable.
2 ADJ If you say that a person or group is impregnable , or their position is impregnable , you think they cannot be defeated by anyone. □ The bank's seemingly impregnable position has begun to weaken.
im|preg|nate / I mpregne I t, [AM ] I mpre g-/ (impregnates , impregnating , impregnated )
1 VERB If someone or something impregnates a thing with a substance, they make the substance spread through it and stay in it. □ [V n + with ] Impregnating clothes with insect repellent is effective. [Also V n] ● -impregnated COMB □ …nicotine-impregnated chewing gum.
2 VERB When a man or a male animal impregnates a female, he makes her pregnant. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Norman's efforts to impregnate her failed.
im|pre|sa|rio / I mpr I sɑː rioʊ/ (impresarios ) N‑COUNT An impresario is a person who arranges for plays, concerts, and other entertainments to be performed.
im|press ◆◇◇ / I mpre s/ (impresses , impressing , impressed )
1 VERB If something impresses you, you feel great admiration for it. □ [V n] What impressed him most was their speed. □ [V ] Cannon's film impresses on many levels. ● im|pressed ADJ [v-link ADJ ] □ [+ by/with ] I was very impressed by one young man at my lectures.
2 VERB If you impress something on someone, you make them understand its importance or degree. □ [V + on/upon ] I had always impressed upon the children that if they worked hard they would succeed in life. □ [V + on/upon ] I've impressed upon them the need for more professionalism. □ [V + on/upon ] I impressed on him what a huge honour he was being offered.
3 VERB If something impresses itself on your mind, you notice and remember it. □ [V pron-refl + on ] But this change has not yet impressed itself on the minds of the British public.
4 VERB If someone or something impresses you as a particular thing, usually a good one, they gives you the impression of being that thing. □ [V n + as ] Billy Sullivan had impressed me as a fine man.
im|pres|sion ◆◇◇ / I mpre ʃ ə n/ (impressions )
1 N‑COUNT [oft poss N , N that] Your impression of a person or thing is what you think they are like, usually after having seen or heard them. Your impression of a situation is what you think is going on. □ [+ of ] What were your first impressions of college? □ My impression is that they are totally out of control.
2 N‑SING [oft N that] If someone gives you a particular impression , they cause you to believe that something is the case, often when it is not. □ I don't want to give the impression that I'm running away from the charges. [Also + of ]
3 N‑COUNT An impression is an amusing imitation of someone's behaviour or way of talking, usually someone well-known. □ [+ of ] At college in Glasgow he did impressions of teachers, but was otherwise well behaved.
4 N‑COUNT An impression of an object is a mark or outline that it has left after being pressed hard onto a surface. □ [+ of ] …the world's oldest fossil impressions of plant life.
5 PHRASE If someone or something makes an impression , they have a strong effect on people or a situation. □ [+ on ] The aid coming in has made no impression on the horrific death rates.