2 → see also invite
in vi|tro / I n viː troʊ/ ADJ [ADJ n] In vitro fertilization is a method of helping a woman to have a baby in which an egg is removed from one of her ovaries, fertilized outside her body, and then replaced in her womb.
in|vo|ca|tion / I nvəke I ʃ ə n/ (invocations )
1 N‑VAR An invocation is a request for help or forgiveness made to a god. [FORMAL ] □ [+ for ] …an invocation for divine guidance.
2 N‑COUNT An invocation is a prayer at a public meeting, usually at the beginning. [AM ]
in|voice / I nvɔ I s/ (invoices , invoicing , invoiced )
1 N‑COUNT An invoice is a document that lists goods that have been supplied or services that have been done, and says how much money you owe for them. □ [+ for ] We will then send you an invoice for the total course fees.
2 VERB If you invoice someone, you send them a bill for goods or services you have provided them with. □ [V n] The agency invoices the client.
in|voke / I nvoʊ k/ (invokes , invoking , invoked )
1 VERB If you invoke a law, you state that you are taking a particular action because that law allows or tells you to. □ [V n] The judge invoked an international law that protects refugees.
2 VERB If you invoke something such as a principle, a saying, or a famous person, you refer to them in order to support your argument. □ [V n] He invoked memories of Britain's near-disastrous disarmament in the 1930s.
3 VERB If something such as a piece of music invokes a feeling or an image, it causes someone to have the feeling or to see the image. Many people consider this use to be incorrect. □ [V n] The music invoked the wide open spaces of the prairies.
in|vol|un|tary / I nvɒ ləntri, [AM ] -teri/
1 ADJ If you make an involuntary movement or exclamation, you make it suddenly and without intending to because you are unable to control yourself. □ Another surge of pain in my ankle caused me to give an involuntary shudder. ● in|vol|un|tari|ly / I nvɒləntrəli, [AM ] -teə r I li/ ADV [ADV with v] □ His left eyelid twitched involuntarily.
2 ADJ You use involuntary to describe an action or situation which is forced on someone. □ …insurance policies that cover involuntary unemployment.
in|volve ◆◆◇ / I nvɒ lv/ (involves , involving , involved )
1 VERB If a situation or activity involves something, that thing is a necessary part or consequence of it. □ [V n] Running a kitchen involves a great deal of discipline and speed. □ [V v-ing] Nicky's job involves spending quite a lot of time with other people.
2 VERB If a situation or activity involves someone, they are taking part in it. □ [V n] If there was a cover-up, it involved people at the very highest levels of government.
3 VERB If you say that someone involves themselves in something, you mean that they take part in it, often in a way that is unnecessary or unwanted. □ [V pron-refl + in ] I seem to have involved myself in something I don't understand.
4 VERB If you involve someone else in something, you get them to take part in it. □ [V n + in ] Noel and I do everything together, he involves me in everything.
5 VERB If one thing involves you in another thing, especially something unpleasant or inconvenient, the first thing causes you to do or deal with the second. □ [V n + in ] A late booking may involve you in extra cost. SYNONYMS involve VERB 1
entaiclass="underline" The job entails teaching dancers the technique and performance of dance movements.
mean: Managing well means communicating well.
demand: The task would demand much patience, hard work and sacrifice.
require: This isn't the kind of crisis that requires us to drop everything else.
in|volved ◆◆◇ / I nvɒ lvd/
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are involved in a situation or activity, you are taking part in it or have a strong connection with it. □ [+ in/with ] If she were involved in business, she would make a strong chief executive.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are involved in something, you give a lot of time, effort, or attention to it. □ [+ in ] The family were deeply involved in Jewish culture.
3 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] The things involved in something such as a job or system are the necessary parts or consequences of it. □ [+ in ] We believe the time and hard work involved in completing such an assignment are worthwhile.
4 ADJ If a situation or activity is involved , it has a lot of different parts or aspects, often making it difficult to understand, explain, or do. □ The operations can be quite involved, requiring many procedures.
5 ADJ If one person is involved with another, especially someone they are not married to, they are having a sexual or romantic relationship. □ [+ with ] He became romantically involved with a married woman.
in|volve|ment ◆◇◇ / I nvɒ lvmənt/ (involvements )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Your involvement in something is the fact that you are taking part in it. □ [+ with ] She disliked his involvement with the group and disliked his friends.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Involvement is the enthusiasm that you feel when you care deeply about something. □ [+ with ] Ben has always felt a deep involvement with animals.
3 N‑VAR An involvement is a close relationship between two people, especially if they are not married to each other. □ They were very good friends but there was no romantic involvement.