in|so|lent / I nsələnt/ ADJ If you say that someone is being insolent , you mean they are being rude to someone they ought to be respectful to. □ …her insolent stare. ● in|so|lence N‑UNCOUNT □ Pupils could be excluded from school for insolence.
in|sol|uble / I nsɒ ljʊb ə l/
1 ADJ An insoluble problem is so difficult that it is impossible to solve. □ I pushed the problem aside; at present it was insoluble.
2 ADJ If a substance is insoluble , it does not dissolve in a liquid. □ Carotenes are insoluble in water and soluble in oils and fats.
in|sol|ven|cy / I nsɒ lv ə nsi/ (insolvencies ) N‑VAR Insolvency is the state of not having enough money to pay your debts. [BUSINESS , FORMAL ] □ …companies on the brink of insolvency.
in|sol|vent / I nsɒ lv ə nt/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] A person or organization that is insolvent does not have enough money to pay their debts. [BUSINESS , FORMAL ] □ The bank was declared insolvent.
in|som|nia / I nsɒ mniə/ N‑UNCOUNT Someone who suffers from insomnia finds it difficult to sleep.
in|som|ni|ac / I nsɒ mniæk/ (insomniacs ) N‑COUNT An insomniac is a person who finds it difficult to sleep.
in|sou|ci|ance / I nsuː siəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Insouciance is lack of concern shown by someone about something which they might be expected to take more seriously. [FORMAL ] □ He replied with characteristic insouciance: 'So what?'
in|sou|ci|ant / I nsuː siənt/ ADJ An insouciant action or quality shows someone's lack of concern about something which they might be expected to take more seriously. [FORMAL ] □ [+ about ] Programme-makers seem irresponsibly insouciant about churning out violence.
Insp. N‑TITLE Insp. is the written abbreviation for inspector when it is used as a title. □ …Insp. John Downs.
in|spect ◆◇◇ / I nspe kt/ (inspects , inspecting , inspected )
1 VERB If you inspect something, you look at every part of it carefully in order to find out about it or check that it is all right. □ [V n] Elaine went outside to inspect the playing field. ● in|spec|tion / I nspe kʃ ə n/ (inspections ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] He had completed his inspection of the doors.
2 VERB When an official inspects a place or a group of people, they visit it and check it carefully, for example in order to find out whether regulations are being obeyed. □ [V n] The Public Utilities Commission inspects us once a year. ● in|spec|tion N‑VAR □ [+ of ] Officers making a routine inspection of the vessel found fifty kilograms of the drug. SYNONYMS inspect VERB 1
examine: He examined her passport and stamped it.
check: It's worth checking each item for obvious flaws.
survey: He pushed himself to his feet and surveyed the room.
scrutinize: Their results were carefully scrutinised.
scan: She scanned the advertisement pages of the newspapers.
in|spec|tor ◆◇◇ / I nspe ktə r / (inspectors )
1 N‑COUNT An inspector is a person, usually employed by a government agency, whose job is to find out whether people are obeying official regulations. □ The mill was finally shut down by state safety inspectors.
2 N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE In Britain, an inspector is an officer in the police who is higher in rank than a sergeant and lower in rank than a superintendent. □ I got on the phone to Inspector Joplin at Scotland Yard.
3 N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE In the United States, an inspector is an officer in the police who is next in rank to a superintendent or police chief. □ …San Francisco police inspector Tony Camileri.
in|spec|tor|ate / I nspe ktərət/ (inspectorates ) N‑COUNT An inspectorate is a group of inspectors who work on the same issue or area. □ …the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.
in|spi|ra|tion / I nsp I re I ʃ ə n/ (inspirations )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Inspiration is a feeling of enthusiasm you get from someone or something, which gives you new and creative ideas. □ My inspiration comes from poets like Baudelaire and Jacques Prévert.
2 N‑SING [an N ] If you describe someone or something good as an inspiration , you mean that they make you or other people want to do or achieve something. [APPROVAL ] □ [+ to ] Powell's unusual journey to high office is an inspiration to millions.
3 N‑SING If something or someone is the inspiration for a particular book, work of art, or action, they are the source of the ideas in it or act as a model for it. □ [+ for ] India's myths and songs are the inspiration for her books. [also + behind ]
4 N‑COUNT If you suddenly have an inspiration , you suddenly think of an idea of what to do or say. □ Alison had an inspiration.
in|spi|ra|tion|al / I nsp I re I ʃən ə l/ ADJ Something that is inspirational provides you with inspiration. [APPROVAL ] □ Gandhi was an inspirational figure.
in|spire ◆◇◇ / I nspa I ə r / (inspires , inspiring , inspired )
1 VERB If someone or something inspires you to do something new or unusual, they make you want to do it. □ [V n to-inf] Our challenge is to motivate those voters and inspire them to join our cause.
2 VERB If someone or something inspires you, they give you new ideas and a strong feeling of enthusiasm. □ [V n] Jimi Hendrix inspired a generation of guitarists.