ir|ra|di|ate / I re I die I t/ (irradiates , irradiating , irradiated ) VERB If someone or something is irradiated , they are exposed to a large amount of radioactivity. [TECHNICAL ] □ [V n] When tumours are treated, a significant amount of healthy tissue is inevitably irradiated. ● ir|ra|dia|tion / I re I die I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …the harmful effects of irradiation and pollution.
ir|ra|tion|al / I ræ ʃən ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone's feelings and behaviour as irrational , you mean they are not based on logical reasons or clear thinking. □ …an irrational fear of science. ● ir|ra|tion|al|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Some days I feel irrationally anxious. ● ir|ra|tion|al|ity / I ræ ʃ ə næ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the irrationality of his behaviour.
ir|rec|on|cil|able / I re kənsa I ləb ə l/
1 ADJ If two things such as opinions or proposals are irreconcilable , they are so different from each other that it is not possible to believe or have both of them. [FORMAL ] □ [+ with ] These old concepts are irreconcilable with modern life.
2 ADJ An irreconcilable disagreement or conflict is so serious that it cannot be settled. [FORMAL ] □ …an irreconcilable clash of personalities.
ir|re|deem|able / I r I diː məb ə l/ ADJ If someone or something has an irredeemable fault, it cannot be corrected. [FORMAL ] □ He is still, in the eyes of some, an irredeemable misogynist. ● ir|re|deem|ably / I r I diː məbli/ ADV [ADV adj/-ed] □ The applicant was irredeemably incompetent.
ir|re|duc|ible / I r I djuː s I b ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Irreducible things cannot be made simpler or smaller. [FORMAL ] □ …the irreducible complexity of human life.
ir|refu|table / I r I fjuː təb ə l/ ADJ Irrefutable evidence, statements, or arguments cannot be shown to be incorrect or unsatisfactory. [FORMAL ] □ The pictures provide irrefutable evidence of the incident.
ir|regu|lar / I re gjʊlə r /
1 ADJ If events or actions occur at irregular intervals, the periods of time between them are of different lengths. □ Cars passed at irregular intervals. □ He worked irregular hours. ● ir|regu|lar|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He was eating irregularly, steadily losing weight. ● ir|regu|lar|ity / I re gjʊlæ r I ti/ (irregularities ) N‑VAR □ [+ in ] …a dangerous irregularity in her heartbeat.
2 ADJ Something that is irregular is not smooth or straight, or does not form a regular pattern. □ He had bad teeth, irregular and discolored. ● ir|regu|lar|ly ADV [usu ADV -ed] □ Located off-center in the irregularly shaped lake was a fountain. ● ir|regu|lar|ity N‑VAR □ [+ of ] …treatment of abnormalities or irregularities of the teeth.
3 ADJ Irregular behaviour is dishonest or not in accordance with the normal rules. □ …the minister accused of irregular business practices. ● ir|regu|lar|ity N‑VAR □ …charges arising from alleged financial irregularities.
4 ADJ An irregular verb, noun, or adjective has different forms from most other verbs, nouns, or adjectives in the language. For example, 'break' is an irregular verb because its past form is 'broke', not 'breaked'.
ir|rel|evance / I re l I v ə ns/ (irrelevances )
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you talk about the irrelevance of something, you mean that it is irrelevant. □ [+ of ] …the utter irrelevance of the debate.
2 N‑COUNT If you describe something as an irrelevance , you have a low opinion of it because it is not important in a situation. □ The Patriotic Front has been a political irrelevance.
ir|rel|evan|cy / I re l I v ə nsi/ (irrelevancies ) N‑COUNT If you describe something as an irrelevancy , you have a low opinion of it because it is not important in a situation. □ Why was he wasting her time with these irrelevancies?
ir|rel|evant / I re l I v ə nt/
1 ADJ If you describe something such as a fact or remark as irrelevant , you mean that it is not connected with what you are discussing or dealing with. □ [+ to ] The government decided that their testimony would be irrelevant to the case. ● ir|rel|evant|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ She would have hated the suit, I thought irrelevantly.
2 ADJ If you say that something is irrelevant , you mean that it is not important in a situation. □ The choice of subject matter is irrelevant.
ir|re|li|gious / I r I l I dʒəs/ ADJ An irreligious person does not accept the beliefs of any religion or opposes all religions.
ir|re|medi|able / I r I miː diəb ə l/ ADJ If a bad situation or change is irremediable , the situation cannot be improved. [FORMAL ] □ His memory suffered irremediable damage.
ir|repa|rable / I re prəb ə l/ ADJ Irreparable damage or harm is so bad that it cannot be repaired or put right. [FORMAL ] □ The move would cause irreparable harm to the organization. ● ir|repa|rably / I re prəbli/ ADV [ADV with v, ADV -ed] □ Her heart was irreparably damaged by a virus.
ir|re|place|able / I r I ple I səb ə l/ ADJ Irreplaceable things are so special that they cannot be replaced if they are lost or destroyed. □ …a rare and irreplaceable jewel.
ir|re|press|ible / I r I pre s I b ə l/ ADJ An irrepressible person is lively and energetic and never seems to be depressed. □ Jon's exuberance was irrepressible. ● ir|re|press|ibly / I r I pre s I bli/ ADV [usu ADV adj/-ed] □ Gavin was irrepressibly rebellious.