2 VERB To invigorate a situation or a process means to make it more efficient or more effective. □ [V n] …the promise that they would invigorate the economy.
in|vig|or|at|ing / I nv I gəre I t I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe something as invigorating , you mean that it makes you feel more energetic. □ …the bright Finnish sun and invigorating northern air.
in|vin|cible / I nv I ns I b ə l/
1 ADJ If you describe an army or sports team as invincible , you believe that they cannot be defeated. □ When he is on form he is virtually invincible. ● in|vin|cibil|ity / I nv I ns I b I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …symbols of the invincibility of the Roman army.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone has an invincible belief or attitude, it cannot be changed. □ He also had an invincible faith in the medicinal virtues of garlic.
in|vio|lable / I nva I ələb ə l/
1 ADJ If a law or principle is inviolable , you must not break it. [FORMAL ] □ The game had a single inviolable rule: obstacles were to be overcome, not circumvented.
2 ADJ If a country says its borders are inviolable , it means they must not be changed or crossed without permission. [FORMAL ] □ Yesterday's resolution says the present Polish border is 'inviolable'. ● in|vio|labil|ity / I nva I ələb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] Parliament has recognised the inviolability of the current border.
in|vio|late / I nva I ələt/ ADJ If something is inviolate , it has not been or cannot be harmed or affected by anything. [FORMAL ] □ We believed our love was inviolate.
in|vis|ible / I nv I z I b ə l/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe something as invisible , you mean that it cannot be seen, for example because it is transparent, hidden, or very small. □ The lines were so finely etched as to be invisible from a distance. ● in|vis|ibly / I nv I z I bli/ ADV [ADV with v] □ A thin coil of smoke rose almost invisibly into the sharp, bright sky.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use invisible when you are talking about something that cannot be seen but has a definite effect. In this sense, invisible is often used before a noun which refers to something that can usually be seen. □ Parents fear they might overstep these invisible boundaries. ● in|vis|ibly ADV [ADV with v] □ …the tradition that invisibly shapes things in the present.
3 ADJ If you say that you feel invisible , you are complaining that you are being ignored by other people. If you say that a particular problem or situation is invisible , you are complaining that it is not being considered or dealt with. □ The problems of the poor are largely invisible. ● in|vis|ibil|ity / I nv I z I b I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the invisibility of women's concerns in society.
4 ADJ In stories, invisible people or things have a magic quality which makes people unable to see them. □ …The Invisible Man.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] In economics, invisible earnings are the money that a country makes as a result of services such as banking and tourism, rather than by producing goods. [BUSINESS ] □ Tourism is Britain's single biggest invisible export.
in|vi|ta|tion ◆◇◇ / I nv I te I ʃ ə n/ (invitations )
1 N‑COUNT [oft N to-inf] An invitation is a written or spoken request to come to an event such as a party, a meal, or a meeting. □ [+ to ] …an invitation to lunch. □ [+ of ] He's understood to be there at the personal invitation of the President.
2 N‑COUNT An invitation is the card or paper on which an invitation is written or printed. □ Hundreds of invitations are being sent out this week.
3 N‑SING If you believe that someone's action is likely to have a particular result, especially a bad one, you can refer to the action as an invitation to that result. □ [+ to ] Don't leave your shopping on the back seat of your car–it's an open invitation to a thief.
in|vite ◆◆◇ (invites , inviting , invited ) The verb is pronounced / I nva I t/. The noun is pronounced / I nva I t/. 1 VERB If you invite someone to something such as a party or a meal, you ask them to come to it. □ [V n prep/adv] She invited him to her 26th birthday party in New Jersey. □ [V n to-inf] Barron invited her to accompany him to the races. □ [be V -ed] I haven't been invited. □ [V -ed] …an invited audience of children from inner-city schools.
2 VERB If you are invited to do something, you are formally asked or given permission to do it. □ [be V -ed to-inf] At a future date, managers will be invited to apply for a management buy-out. □ [V n to-inf] If a new leader emerged, it would then be for the Queen to invite him to form a government. □ [V n] The Department is inviting applications from groups within the Borough.
3 VERB If something you say or do invites trouble or criticism, it makes trouble or criticism more likely. □ [V n] Their refusal to compromise will inevitably invite more criticism from the U.N.
4 N‑COUNT An invite is an invitation to something such as a party or a meal. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ to ] They haven't got an invite to the wedding.
in|vit|ing / I nva I t I ŋ/
1 ADJ If you say that something is inviting , you mean that it has good qualities that attract you or make you want to experience it. □ The February air was soft, cool, and inviting. ● in|vit|ing|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ The waters of the tropics are invitingly clear.