in|fir|ma|ry / I nfɜː r məri/ (infirmaries ) N‑COUNT Some hospitals are called infirmaries . □ Mrs Hardie had been taken to the infirmary in an ambulance.
in|flame / I nfle I m/ (inflames , inflaming , inflamed ) VERB If something inflames a situation or inflames people's feelings, it makes people feel even more strongly about something. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V n] The General holds the rebels responsible for inflaming the situation.
in|flamed / I nfle I md/ ADJ If part of your body is inflamed , it is red or swollen, usually as a result of an infection, injury, or illness. [FORMAL ] □ Symptoms include red, itchy and inflamed skin.
in|flam|mable / I nflæ məb ə l/ ADJ An inflammable material or chemical catches fire and burns easily. □ …a highly inflammable liquid.
in|flam|ma|tion / I nfləme I ʃ ə n/ (inflammations ) N‑VAR An inflammation is a painful redness or swelling of a part of your body that results from an infection, injury, or illness. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] The drug can cause inflammation of the liver.
in|flam|ma|tory / I nflæ mətri, [AM ] -tɔːri/
1 ADJ If you accuse someone of saying or doing inflammatory things, you mean that what they say or do is likely to make people react very angrily. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …nationalist policies that are too drastic and inflammatory.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] An inflammatory condition or disease is one in which the patient suffers from inflammation. [FORMAL ] □ …the inflammatory reactions that occur in asthma.
in|flat|able / I nfle I təb ə l/ (inflatables )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An inflatable object is one that you fill with air when you want to use it. □ The children were playing on the inflatable castle.
2 N‑COUNT An inflatable is an inflatable object, especially a small boat.
in|flate / I nfle I t/ (inflates , inflating , inflated )
1 VERB If you inflate something such as a balloon or tyre, or if it inflates , it becomes bigger as it is filled with air or a gas. □ [V n] Stuart jumped into the sea and inflated the liferaft. □ [V ] Don's lifejacket had failed to inflate.
2 VERB If you say that someone inflates the price of something, or that the price inflates , you mean that the price increases. □ [V n] The promotion of a big release can inflate a film's final cost. □ [V ] Clothing prices have not inflated as much as automobiles. ● in|flat|ed ADJ □ They had to buy everything at inflated prices at the ranch store.
3 VERB If someone inflates the amount or effect of something, they say it is bigger, better, or more important than it really is, usually so that they can profit from it. □ [V n] They inflated clients' medical treatment to defraud insurance companies.
in|fla|tion ◆◆◇ / I nfle I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Inflation is a general increase in the prices of goods and services in a country. [BUSINESS ] □ …rising unemployment and high inflation. □ …an inflation rate of only 2.2%. COLLOCATIONS inflation NOUN
noun + inflation : consumer price, food, house price, wage
adjective + inflation : rampant, rising; high, low
verb + inflation : stoke; control, curb, reduce; outstrip
in|fla|tion|ary / I nfle I ʃənri, [AM ] -neri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Inflationary means connected with inflation or causing inflation. [BUSINESS ] □ The bank is worried about mounting inflationary pressures.
in|flect / I nfle kt/ (inflects , inflecting , inflected ) VERB If a word inflects , its ending or form changes in order to show its grammatical function. If a language inflects , it has words in it that inflect. ● in|flect|ed ADJ □ …Sanskrit, a highly inflected language.
-inflected /- I nflekt I d/
1 COMB -inflected is used to form adjectives describing someone's voice or accent. [LITERARY ] □ 'I should like a word with you,' said the newcomer, in a pleasantly-inflected baritone.
2 COMB -inflected is used to form adjectives describing the style of a piece of music or a performance. [JOURNALISM ] □ …his attacking, gospel-inflected vocal style.
in|flec|tion / I nfle kʃ ə n/ (inflections )
1 N‑VAR An inflection in someone's voice is a change in its tone or pitch as they are speaking. [WRITTEN ] □ The man's voice was devoid of inflection.
2 N‑VAR In grammar, an inflection is a change in the form of a word that shows its grammatical function, for example a change that makes a noun plural or makes a verb into the past tense.
in|flex|ible / I nfle ks I b ə l/
1 ADJ Something that is inflexible cannot be altered in any way, even if the situation changes. □ Workers insisted the new system was too inflexible. ● in|flex|ibil|ity / I nfle ks I b I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ The snag about an endowment mortgage is its inflexibility.
2 ADJ If you say that someone is inflexible , you are criticizing them because they refuse to change their mind or alter their way of doing things. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ His opponents viewed him as stubborn, dogmatic, and inflexible. ● in|flex|ibil|ity N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] □ [+ of ] Joyce was irritated by the inflexibility of her colleagues.
in|flex|ion / I nfle kʃ ə n/ → see inflection