in|flict / I nfl I kt/ (inflicts , inflicting , inflicted ) VERB To inflict harm or damage on someone or something means to make them suffer it. □ [V n + on ] Rebels say they have inflicted heavy casualties on government forces. □ [V n] The dog then attacked her, inflicting serious injuries. ● in|flic|tion / I nfl I kʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …without the unnecessary or cruel infliction of pain.
i n-flight also inflight ADJ [ADJ n] In-flight services are ones that are provided on board an aeroplane. □ …an inflight magazine.
in|flow / I nfloʊ/ (inflows ) N‑COUNT If there is an inflow of money or people into a place, a large amount of money or people move into a place. □ [+ of ] The Swiss wanted to discourage an inflow of foreign money.
in|flu|ence ◆◆◇ / I nfluəns/ (influences , influencing , influenced )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Influence is the power to make other people agree with your opinions or do what you want. □ [+ over ] He denies exerting any political influence over them. □ The government should continue to use its influence for the release of all hostages.
2 VERB If you influence someone, you use your power to make them agree with you or do what you want. □ [V n] He is trying to improperly influence a witness. □ [V n to-inf] My dad influenced me to do electronics.
3 N‑COUNT To have an influence on people or situations means to affect what they do or what happens. □ [+ on ] Van Gogh had a major influence on the development of modern painting.
4 VERB If someone or something influences a person or situation, they have an effect on that person's behaviour or that situation. □ [V n] We became the best of friends and he influenced me deeply. □ [V wh] They still influence what's played on the radio.
5 N‑COUNT [usu sing, usu adj N ] Someone or something that is a good or bad influence on people has a good or bad effect on them. □ [+ on ] I thought Sue would be a good influence on you.
6 PHRASE If you are under the influence of someone or something, you are being affected or controlled by them. □ He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
in|flu|en|tial / I nflue nʃ ə l/ ADJ Someone or something that is influential has a lot of influence over people or events. □ [+ in ] He had been influential in shaping economic policy. □ …one of the most influential books ever written.
in|flu|en|za / I nflue nzə/ N‑UNCOUNT Influenza is the same as flu . [FORMAL ]
in|flux / I nflʌks/ (influxes ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] An influx of people or things into a place is their arrival there in large numbers. □ [+ of ] …problems caused by the influx of refugees.
info / I nfoʊ/ N‑UNCOUNT Info is information. [INFORMAL ] □ For more info phone 414-3935.
info|bahn / I nfoʊbɑːn/ N‑SING The infobahn means the same as the information superhighway .
in|fo|mer|cial / I nfoʊmɜː r ʃ ə l/ (infomercials ) N‑COUNT An infomercial is a television programme in which a famous person gives information about a company's products or services, or a politician gives his or her opinions. The word is formed from 'information' and 'commercial'.
in|form ◆◇◇ / I nfɔː r m/ (informs , informing , informed )
1 VERB If you inform someone of something, you tell them about it. □ [V n + of ] They would inform him of any progress they had made. □ [V n that] My daughter informed me that she was pregnant. □ [V n with quote] 'I just added a little soy sauce,' he informs us. [Also V n]
2 VERB If someone informs on a person, they give information about the person to the police or another authority, which causes the person to be suspected or proved guilty of doing something bad. □ [V + on ] Thousands of American citizens have informed on these organized crime syndicates.
3 VERB If a situation or activity is informed by an idea or a quality, that idea or quality is very noticeable in it. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed + by ] All great songs are informed by a certain sadness and tension. □ [V n] The concept of the Rose continued to inform the poet's work.
in|for|mal / I nfɔː r m ə l/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Informal speech or behaviour is relaxed and friendly rather than serious, very correct, or official. □ She is refreshingly informal. ● in|for|mal|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ She was always there at half past eight, chatting informally to the children. ● in|for|mal|ity / I nfɔː r mæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ He was overwhelmed by their friendly informality.
2 ADJ An informal situation is one which is relaxed and friendly and not very serious or official. □ The house has an informal atmosphere.
3 ADJ Informal clothes are casual and suitable for wearing when you are relaxing, but not on formal occasions. □ For lunch, dress is informal. ● in|for|mal|ly ADV □ Everyone dressed informally in shorts or jeans.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use informal to describe something that is done unofficially or casually without planning. □ The two leaders will retire to the country for informal discussions. ● in|for|mal|ly ADV □ He began informally to handle Ted's tax affairs for him.
in|form|ant / I nfɔː r mənt/ (informants )
1 N‑COUNT An informant is someone who gives another person a piece of information. [FORMAL ]