2 N‑UNCOUNT Impurity is the state of being no longer pure, especially sexually pure.
im|pute / I mpjuː t/ (imputes , imputing , imputed ) VERB If you impute something such as blame or a crime to someone, you say that they are responsible for it or are the cause of it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + to ] It is grossly unfair to impute blame to the United Nations.
in
➊ POSITION OR MOVEMENT
➋ INCLUSION OR INVOLVEMENT
➌ TIME AND NUMBERS
➍ STATES AND QUALITIES
➎ OTHER USES AND PHRASES
➊ in ◆◆◆ The preposition is pronounced / I n/. The adverb is pronounced / I n/. In addition to the uses shown below, in is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives in order to introduce extra information. In is also used with verbs of movement such as 'walk' and 'push', and in phrasal verbs such as 'give in' and 'dig in'. 1 PREP Someone or something that is in something else is enclosed by it or surrounded by it. If you put something in a container, you move it so that it is enclosed by the container. □ He was in his car. □ …clothes hanging in the wardrobe.
2 PREP If something happens in a place, it happens there. □ We spent a few days in a hotel. □ He had intended to take a holiday in America.
3 ADV [be ADV ] If you are in , you are present at your home or place of work. □ My flatmate was in at the time.
4 ADV [ADV after v] When someone comes in , they enter a room or building. □ She looked up anxiously as he came in. □ They shook hands and went in.
5 ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] If a train, boat, or plane has come in or is in , it has arrived at a station, port, or airport. □ We'd be watching every plane coming in from Melbourne. □ Look. The train's in. We'll have to run for it now.
6 ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] When the sea or tide comes in , the sea moves towards the shore rather than away from it. □ She thought of the tide rushing in, covering the wet sand.
7 PREP Something that is in a window, especially a shop window, is just behind the window so that you can see it from outside. □ There was a camera for sale in the window.
8 PREP When you see something in a mirror, the mirror shows an image of it. □ I couldn't bear to see my reflection in the mirror.
9 PREP If you are dressed in a piece of clothing, you are wearing it. □ He was a big man, smartly dressed in a suit and tie.
10 PREP Something that is covered or wrapped in something else has that thing over or round its surface. □ His legs were covered in mud.
11 PREP If there is something such as a crack or hole in something, there is a crack or hole on its surface. □ There was a deep crack in the ceiling above him.
➋ in ◆◆◆ / I n/
1 PREP If something is in a book, film, play, or picture, you can read it or see it there. □ Don't stick too precisely to what it says in the book.
2 PREP If you are in something such as a play or a race, you are one of the people taking part. □ Alf offered her a part in the play he was directing. □ More than fifteen thousand people took part in the memorial service.
3 PREP Something that is in a group or collection is a member of it or part of it. □ The New England team are the worst in the league.
4 PREP You use in to specify a general subject or field of activity. □ …those working in the defence industry. □ …future developments in medicine.
➌ in ◆◆◆ / I n/
1 PREP If something happens in a particular year, month, or other period of time, it happens during that time. □ …that early spring day in April 1949. □ Export orders improved in the last month. □ In the evening, the people assemble in the mosques.
2 PREP If something happens in a particular situation, it happens while that situation is going on. □ His father had been badly wounded in the last war. □ …issues you struggle with in your daily life.
3 PREP If you do something in a particular period of time, that is how long it takes you to do it. □ He walked two hundred and sixty miles in eight days.
4 PREP If something will happen in a particular length of time, it will happen after that length of time. □ I'll have some breakfast ready in a few minutes. □ They'll be back in six months.
5 PREP You use in to indicate roughly how old someone is. For example, if someone is in their fifties, they are between 50 and 59 years old. □ …young people in their twenties.
6 PREP You use in to indicate roughly how many people or things do something. □ …men who came there in droves.
7 PREP You use in to express a ratio, proportion, or probability. □ Last year, one in five boys left school without a qualification.
➍ in ◆◆◆ / I n/
1 PREP If something or someone is in a particular state or situation, that is their present state or situation. □ The economy was in trouble. □ Dave was in a hurry to get back to work. □ Their equipment was in poor condition.
2 PREP You use in to indicate the feeling or desire which someone has when they do something, or which causes them to do it. □ Simpson looked at them in surprise. □ Chris was weeping in anger and grief.
3 PREP If a particular quality or ability is in you, you naturally have it. □ Violence is not in his nature.
4 PREP You use in when saying that someone or something has a particular quality. □ He had all the qualities I was looking for in a partner. □ 'I don't agree,' she said, surprised at the strength in her own voice.