in|vul|ner|able / I nvʌ lnərəb ə l/ ADJ If someone or something is invulnerable , they cannot be harmed or damaged. □ Many daughters assume that their mothers are invulnerable. [Also + to ] ● in|vul|ner|abil|ity / I nvʌ lnərəb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ to ] They have a sense of invulnerability to disease.
in|ward / I nwə r d/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Your inward thoughts or feelings are the ones that you do not express or show to other people. □ I sighed with inward relief. ● in|ward|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Sara, while remaining outwardly amiable toward all concerned, was inwardly furious.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] An inward movement is one towards the inside or centre of something. □ …a sharp, inward breath like a gasp.
3 → see also inwards
i n|ward in|ve st|ment N‑UNCOUNT Inward investment is the investment of money in a country by companies from outside that country. [BUSINESS ]
i nward-looking ADJ If you describe a people or society as inward-looking , you mean that they are more interested in themselves than in other people or societies. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …an insular and inward-looking community.
in|wards / I nwə r dz/ also inward ADV [ADV after v] If something moves or faces inwards , it moves or faces towards the inside or centre of something. □ She pressed back against the door until it swung inwards.
i n-your-fa ce also in-yer-face ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone who has an in-your-face attitude seems determined to behave in a way that is unusual or shocking, and does not care what people think of them. [INFORMAL ] □ It's in-your-face feminism, and it's meant to shock.
iodine /a I ə diːn, [AM ] -da I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Iodine is a dark-coloured substance used in medicine and photography.
ion /a I ən/ (ions ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Ions are electrically charged atoms. [TECHNICAL ]
-ion → see -ation
ion|iz|er /a I əna I zə r / (ionizers ) in BRIT, also use ioniser N‑COUNT An ionizer is a device which is meant to make the air in a room more healthy by removing positive ions.
iota /a I oʊ tə/
1 QUANT If you say that there is not an iota or not one iota of something, you are emphasizing that there is not even a very small amount of it. [EMPHASIS ] □ [+ of ] He's never shown an iota of interest in any kind of work.
2 PHRASE You can use an iota or one iota to emphasize a negative statement. Not an iota or not one iota means not even to a small extent or degree. [EMPHASIS ] □ Our credit standards haven't changed one iota.
IOU /a I oʊ juː / (IOUs ) N‑COUNT An IOU is a written promise that you will pay back some money that you have borrowed. IOU is an abbreviation for 'I owe you'.
IP ad|dress /a I piː ədres, [AM ] ædres/ (IP addresses ) N‑COUNT An IP address is a series of numbers that identifies which particular computer or network is connected to the internet. IP is an abbreviation for 'Internet Protocol'. [COMPUTING ] □ Every connection that you make to the network is stamped with your IP address.
iPod /a I pɒd/ (iPods ) N‑COUNT An iPod is a portable MP3 player that can play music downloaded from the internet. [COMPUTING , TRADEMARK ]
ipso fac|to / I psoʊ fæ ktoʊ/ ADV If something is ipso facto true, it must be true, because of a fact that has been mentioned. □ If a crime occurs then there is, ipso facto, a guilty party.
IQ /a I kjuː / (IQs ) N‑VAR Your IQ is your level of intelligence, as indicated by a special test that you do. IQ is an abbreviation for 'intelligence quotient'. Compare EQ . □ His IQ is above average.
PREFIX ir-
can be added to some words to form words that have the opposite meaning. For example, if something is irreplaceable it cannot be replaced.
Ira|nian / I re I niən/ (Iranians )
1 ADJ Iranian means belonging or relating to Iran, or to its people or culture.
2 N‑COUNT An Iranian is an Iranian citizen, or a person of Iranian origin.
Ira|qi / I rɑː kiː, I ræ ki/ (Iraqis )
1 ADJ Iraqi means belonging or relating to Iraq, or to its people or culture.
2 N‑COUNT An Iraqi is an Iraqi citizen, or a person of Iraqi origin.
iras|cible / I ræ s I b ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone as irascible , you mean that they become angry very easily. [WRITTEN ] □ He had an irascible temper.
irate /a I re I t/ ADJ If someone is irate , they are very angry about something. □ The owner was so irate he almost threw me out of the place.
IRC /a I ɑː r siː / N‑UNCOUNT IRC is a way of having conversations with people who are using the Internet, especially people you do not know. IRC is an abbreviation for 'Internet Relay Chat'.
ire /a I ə r / N‑UNCOUNT Ire is anger. [FORMAL ] □ Their ire was directed mainly at the government.
iri|des|cent / I r I de s ə nt/ ADJ Something that is iridescent has many bright colours that seem to keep changing. [LITERARY ] □ …iridescent bubbles.
iris /a I ə r I s/ (irises )
1 N‑COUNT The iris is the round coloured part of a person's eye.
2 N‑COUNT An iris is a tall plant with long leaves and large purple, yellow, or white flowers.
Irish /a I ə r I ʃ/ (Irish )