in|deli|cate / I nde l I kət/ ADJ If something or someone is indelicate , they are rude or embarrassing. [FORMAL ] □ She really could not touch upon such an indelicate subject.
in|dem|ni|fy / I nde mn I fa I / (indemnifies , indemnifying , indemnified ) VERB To indemnify someone against something bad happening means to promise to protect them, especially financially, if it happens. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + against ] They agreed to indemnify the taxpayers against any loss. □ [V n] It doesn't have the money to indemnify everybody.
in|dem|nity / I nde mn I ti/ (indemnities )
1 N‑UNCOUNT If something provides indemnity , it provides insurance or protection against damage or loss. [FORMAL ] □ [+ from ] Political exiles had not been given indemnity from prosecution.
2 N‑VAR An indemnity is an amount of money paid to someone because of some damage or loss they have suffered. [FORMAL ] □ [+ for ] The government paid the family an indemnity for the missing pictures.
in|dent / I nde nt/ (indents , indenting , indented ) VERB When you indent a line of writing, you start it further away from the edge of the paper than all the other lines. □ [V n] Indent the second line.
in|den|ta|tion / I ndente I ʃ ə n/ (indentations )
1 N‑COUNT An indentation is the space at the beginning of a line of writing when it starts further away from the edge of the paper than all the other lines.
2 N‑COUNT An indentation is a shallow hole or cut in the surface or edge of something. □ Using a knife, make slight indentations around the edges of the pastry.
in|dent|ed / I nde nt I d/ ADJ If something is indented , its edge or surface is uneven because parts of it have been worn away or cut away.
in|den|tured / I nde ntʃə r d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] In the past, an indentured worker was one who was forced to work for someone for a period of time, because of an agreement made by people in authority.
in|de|pend|ence ◆◆◇ / I nd I pe ndəns/
1 N‑UNCOUNT If a country has or gains independence , it has its own government and is not ruled by any other country. □ [+ from ] In 1816, Argentina declared its independence from Spain.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's independence is the fact that they do not rely on other people. □ He was afraid of losing his independence. SYNONYMS independence NOUN 1
freedom: Today we have the freedom to decide our own futures.
liberty: Such a system would be a fundamental blow to our rights and liberties.
autonomy: Activists stepped up their demands for local autonomy last month.
sovereignty: Britain's concern to protect national sovereignty is far from new.
I n|de|pe nd|ence Day N‑UNCOUNT A country's Independence Day is the day on which its people celebrate their independence from another country that ruled them in the past. In the United States, Independence Day is celebrated each year on 4th July. □ He died on Independence Day, 1831.
in|de|pend|ent ◆◆◆ / I nd I pe ndənt/ (independents )
1 ADJ If one thing or person is independent of another, they are separate and not connected, so the first one is not affected or influenced by the second. □ [+ of ] Your questions should be independent of each other. □ Two independent studies have been carried out. [Also + from ] ● in|de|pen|dent|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ …several people working independently in different areas of the world. □ [+ of ] The commission will operate independently of ministers. [Also + from ]
2 ADJ If someone is independent , they do not need help or money from anyone else. □ [+ of ] Phil was now much more independent of his parents. □ She would like to be financially independent. [Also + from ] ● in|de|pen|dent|ly ADV [ADV after v, ADV adj/-ed] □ We aim to help students with disabilities to live and study independently.
3 ADJ Independent countries and states are not ruled by other countries but have their own government. □ [+ from ] Papua New Guinea became independent from Australia in 1975. [Also + of ]
4 ADJ [ADJ n] An independent organization or other body is one that controls its own finances and operations, rather than being controlled by someone else. □ …an independent television station.
5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An independent school does not receive money from the government or local council, but from the fees paid by its students' parents or from charities. [BRIT ] □ He taught chemistry at a leading independent school.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] An independent inquiry or opinion is one that involves people who are not connected with a particular situation, and should therefore be fair. □ The government ordered an independent inquiry into the affair.
7 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An independent politician is one who does not represent any political party. □ There's been a late surge of support for an independent candidate. ● N‑COUNT An independent is an independent politician.
in|de|scrib|able / I nd I skra I bəb ə l/ ADJ You use indescribable to emphasize that a quality or condition is very intense or extreme, and therefore cannot be properly described. [EMPHASIS ] □ …her indescribable joy when it was confirmed her son was alive. ● in|de|scrib|ably / I nd I skra I bəbli/ ADV [ADV adj] □ …indescribably filthy conditions.
in|de|struct|ible / I nd I strʌ kt I b ə l/ ADJ If something is indestructible , it is very strong and cannot be destroyed. □ This type of plastic is almost indestructible.
in|de|ter|mi|na|cy / I nd I tɜː r m I nəsi/ N‑UNCOUNT The indeterminacy of something is its quality of being uncertain or vague. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the indeterminacy of language.