in|laid / I nle I d/ ADJ An object that is inlaid has a design on it which is made by putting materials such as wood, gold, or silver into the surface of the object. □ [+ with ] …a box delicately inlaid with little triangles.
in|land The adverb is pronounced / I nlæ nd/. The adjective is pronounced / I nlænd/. 1 ADV [be ADV , ADV after v] If something is situated inland , it is away from the coast, towards or near the middle of a country. If you go inland , you go away from the coast, towards the middle of a country. □ The vast majority live further inland. □ The car turned away from the coast and headed inland.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Inland areas, lakes, and places are not on the coast, but in or near the middle of a country. □ …a rather quiet inland town.
I n|land Re v|enue N‑PROPER In Britain, the Inland Revenue was the government authority which collected income tax and some other taxes.
I n|land Re v|enue Ser|vice N‑PROPER In the United States, the Inland Revenue Service is the government authority which collects taxes. The abbreviation IRS is often used.
i n-laws N‑PLURAL [usu poss N ] Your in-laws are the parents and close relatives of your husband or wife.
in|lay / I nle I / (inlays ) N‑VAR An inlay is a design or pattern on an object which is made by putting materials such as wood, gold, or silver into the surface of the object. □ [+ of ] …an inlay of medieval glass.
in|let / I nlet/ (inlets ) N‑COUNT An inlet is a narrow strip of water which goes from a sea or lake into the land. □ …a sheltered inlet.
in|mate / I nme I t/ (inmates ) N‑COUNT The inmates of a prison or mental hospital are the prisoners or patients who are living there.
in|most / I nmoʊst/ ADJ [ADJ n] Inmost means the same as innermost . □ He knew in his inmost heart that he was behaving badly.
inn / I n/ (inns ) N‑COUNT An inn is a small hotel or pub, usually an old one. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ …the Waterside Inn.
in|nards / I nə r dz/ N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] The innards of a person or animal are the organs inside their body. [INFORMAL ]
in|nate / I ne I t/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An innate quality or ability is one which a person is born with. □ Americans have an innate sense of fairness. ● in|nate|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ I believe everyone is innately psychic.
in|ner ◆◇◇ / I nə r /
1 ADJ [ADJ n] The inner parts of something are the parts which are contained or are enclosed inside the other parts, and which are closest to the centre. □ Wade stepped inside and closed the inner door behind him.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Your inner feelings are feelings which you have but do not show to other people. □ Loving relationships will give a child an inner sense of security.
i n|ner chi ld N‑SING [oft poss N ] Some psychologists refer to a person's childish feelings as his or her inner child . □ For me, recovery has been all about finding my inner child and accepting her.
i n|ner ci r|cle (inner circles ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] An inner circle is a small group of people within a larger group who have a lot of power, influence, or special information. □ [+ of ] …the Prime Minister's inner circle of advisers.
i n|ner ci ty (inner cities ) N‑COUNT You use inner city to refer to the areas in or near the centre of a large city where people live and where there are often social and economic problems. □ …helping kids deal with the fear of living in the inner city.
inner|most / I nə r moʊst/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Your innermost thoughts and feelings are your most personal and secret ones. □ …revealing a company's innermost secrets.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] The innermost thing is the one that is nearest to the centre. □ …the innermost part of the eye.
i n|ner tube (inner tubes ) N‑COUNT An inner tube is a rubber tube containing air which is inside a car tyre or a bicycle tyre.
in|ning ◆◇◇ / I n I ŋ/ (innings ) N‑COUNT An inning is one of the nine periods that a standard baseball game is divided into. Each team is at bat once in each inning.
in|nings / I n I ŋz/ (innings ) N‑COUNT An innings is a period in a game of cricket during which a particular team or player is batting. □ The home side were all out for 50 in their second innings.
innit / I n I t/ Innit can be used at the end of a statement to make it into a question. It is a way of saying 'isn't it'. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ The record's great, innit?
inn|keeper / I nkiːpə r / (innkeepers ) N‑COUNT An innkeeper is someone who owns or manages a small hotel or pub. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
in|no|cence / I nəsəns/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Innocence is the quality of having no experience or knowledge of the more complex or unpleasant aspects of life. □ [+ of ] …the sweet innocence of youth.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] If someone proves their innocence , they prove that they are not guilty of a crime. □ He claims he has evidence which could prove his innocence.
in|no|cent ◆◇◇ / I nəsənt/ (innocents )
1 ADJ If someone is innocent , they did not commit a crime which they have been accused of. □ [+ of ] He was sure that the man was innocent of any crime. □ The police knew from day one that I was innocent.
2 ADJ If someone is innocent , they have no experience or knowledge of the more complex or unpleasant aspects of life. □ They seemed so young and innocent. ● N‑COUNT An innocent is someone who is innocent. □ Ian was a hopeless innocent where women were concerned. ● in|no|cent|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ The baby gurgled innocently on the bed.