ir|ri|ta|tion / I r I te I ʃ ə n/ (irritations )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Irritation is a feeling of annoyance, especially when something is happening that you cannot easily stop or control. □ He tried not to let his irritation show as he blinked in the glare of the television lights.
2 N‑COUNT An irritation is something that keeps annoying you. □ Don't allow a minor irritation in the workplace to mar your ambitions.
3 N‑VAR Irritation in a part of your body is a feeling of slight pain and discomfort there. □ [+ to ] These oils may cause irritation to sensitive skins.
IRS /a I ɑːr e s/ N‑PROPER In the United States, the IRS is the government authority which collects taxes. IRS is an abbreviation for 'Inland Revenue Service'.
is / I z/ Is is the third person singular of the present tense of be . Is is often added to other words and shortened to -'s .
ISDN /a I es diː e n/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] ISDN is a phone network that can send voice and computer messages. ISDN is an abbreviation for 'Integrated Service Digital Network'. □ …an ISDN phone line.
-ise → see -ize
SUFFIX -ish
1 forms words that indicate that a particular time or age mentioned is approximate. For example, if someone is fortyish , they are about forty years old.
2 also forms adjectives that indicate that someone or something has a quality to a small extent. For example, something that is yellowish is slightly yellow in colour.
Is|lam / I zlɑːm, [AM ] I slɑː m/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Islam is the religion of the Muslims, which was started by Mohammed.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Some people use Islam to refer to all the countries where Islam is the main religion. □ …relations between Islam and the West.
Is|lam|ic / I zlæ m I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Islamic means belonging or relating to Islam. □ …Islamic law. □ …Islamic fundamentalists.
Is|lam|ist / I zləm I st/ (Islamists ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] An Islamist is someone who believes strongly in Islamic ideas and laws. □ It was clear that there was significant support for the Islamists.
is|land ◆◆◇ /a I lənd/ (islands ) N‑COUNT An island is a piece of land that is completely surrounded by water. □ …the Canary Islands. COLLOCATIONS island NOUN
noun + island : holiday, paradise, resort; coral
adjective + island : remote, uninhabited; tropical, volcanic
is|land|er /a I ləndə r / (islanders ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Islanders are people who live on an island. □ The islanders endured centuries of exploitation.
isle /a I l/ (isles ) N‑COUNT An isle is an island; often used as part of an island's name, or in literary English. □ …the Isle of Man.
is|let /a I lət/ (islets ) N‑COUNT An islet is a small island. [LITERARY ]
SUFFIX -ism
forms nouns that refer to particular beliefs, or to behaviour based on these beliefs. For example, professionalism is behaviour that is professional and racism is the beliefs and behaviour of a racist.
isn't / I z ə nt/ Isn't is the usual spoken form of 'is not'.
iso|late /a I səle I t/ (isolates , isolating , isolated )
1 VERB To isolate a person or organization means to cause them to lose their friends or supporters. □ [V n + from ] This policy could isolate the country from the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. □ [V n] Political influence is being used to shape public opinion and isolate critics. ● iso|lat|ed ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] □ They are finding themselves increasingly isolated within the teaching profession. ● iso|la|tion /a I səle I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Diplomatic isolation could lead to economic disaster.
2 VERB If you isolate yourself , or if something isolates you, you become physically or socially separated from other people. □ [V pron-refl] When he was thinking out a problem Tweed's habit was never to isolate himself in his room. □ [V n] His radicalism and refusal to compromise isolated him. □ [V n + from ] Police officers had a siege mentality that isolated them from the people they served. □ [V -ed] But of course no one lives totally alone, isolated from the society around them.
3 VERB If you isolate something such as an idea or a problem, you separate it from others that it is connected with, so that you can concentrate on it or consider it on its own. □ [V n] Our anxieties can also be controlled by isolating thoughts, feelings and memories. □ [V n + from ] Gandhi said that those who isolate religion from politics don't understand the nature of either.
4 VERB To isolate a substance means to obtain it by separating it from other substances using scientific processes. [TECHNICAL ] □ [V n] We can use genetic engineering techniques to isolate the gene that is responsible. □ [V n + from ] Researchers have isolated a new protein from the seeds of poppies.
5 VERB To isolate a sick person or animal means to keep them apart from other people or animals, so that their illness does not spread. □ [V n + from ] You don't have to isolate them from the community. [Also V n]
iso|lat|ed /a I səle I t I d/
1 ADJ An isolated place is a long way away from large towns and is difficult to reach. □ Many of the refugee villages are in isolated areas.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you feel isolated , you feel lonely and without friends or help. □ Some patients may become very isolated and depressed.