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in-joke
forests | (fig.) Who knows what dark fears inhabit the mind of a madman? → see LIVE (USAGE) → -able adj: an inhabitable area
in-hab-i-tant /In'hæbıtənt/ n [(of)] a person, or sometimes an animal, that lives in a particular place regularly, usually, or for a long period of time: a city of 6 million inhabitants
in-ha-lant /In'heılənt/ n [C;U] something, especially a medicine, that is inhaled
in-hale /In'heıl/ v [I;T] 1 to breathe (something) in: He inhaled deeply. | These days we can't help inhaling car exhaust fumes. → opposite EXHALE 2 to take (cigarette smoke) into the lungs → -halation /Inhə'leıʃən/ n [C;U]
in-hal-er /In'heilər/ n an apparatus which is used for inhaling medicine in the form of VAPOUR usually to make breathing easier
in-har-mo-ni-ous /Inhɑ:'məʊniəs||-a:r-/ adj fml not going well with something else/each other: an inharmonious set of colours | inharmonious sounds → -ly adv → -ness n [U]
in-here /In'hıər/ v
inhere in sthg. phr v [T] fml or tech to be a natural part of
in-her-ent /In'hıərənt, -'her-/ adj [(in)] present naturally as a part of; not able to be thought of as separate: I'm afraid the problems you mention are inherent in the system; to get rid of them we'd have to change the whole system. | the inherent contradictions in his arguments
in-her-ent-ly /In'hıərəntli, -'her-/ adv by its or one's nature; intrinsically (INTRINSIC): inherently different
in-her-it /In'herıt/ v 1 [I;T(from)] to receive (property, a title etc) left by someone who has died: If he dies without making a will, his closest relative will inherit. | She inherited the land from her grandfather. | (fig.) The government claims it has inherited all its difficulties from the previous administration. 2 [T(from)] to receive (qualities of mind or body) from one's parents, grandmother, or grandfather etc: He's inherited his father's nose/bad temper. | an inherited characteristic/ trait → compare HAND DOWN; see also DISINHERIT
in-her-i-tance /In'herıtəns/ n 1 [C usually sing.] something that has been inherited, especially property, money, or a title: He spent all his inheritance in less than a year. | to come into/take possession of one's inheritance 2 [U] the act of inheriting → compare HERITAGE, LEGACY
in'heritance tax n [U] a tax on property inherited or money given that is left to a person when someone dies. This tax is known to be very complicated because of the rules about who pays and who does not pay. It replaced CAPITAL GAINS TAX in 1966. → see also DEATH DUTIES, ESTATE TAX, PROBATE
in-hib-it /In'hıbıt/ v [T] 1 to prevent or hold back; RESTRICT (something): Loosen any tight clothing, which may inhibit breathing. | The mild weather has inhibited the sales of winter clothing. | regulations that have inhibited the growth of new businesses 2 to make (someone) inhibited: His presence inhibits me. | an inhibiting influence
inhibit sbdy. from sthg. phr v [T+v-ing] to prevent from (doing something), especially by some controlling influence: Fear inhibited him from talking.
in-hib-it-ed /In'hıbıtıd/ adj (of a person or their character) unable to express what one really feels or do what one really wants: I feel very inhibited when people are watching me. | too inhibited to laugh freely/to talk about sex → opposite UNINHIBITED → -ly adv
in-hi-bi-tion /Inhı'bıʃən/ n [C;U] the state of, or a feeling of, being inhibited: She soon loses her inhibitions when she's drunk two or three glasses of wine. | sexual inhibitions | He has no inhibitions about performing in public.
in-hos-pi-ta-ble /Inhɒ'spıtəbəl||-ha:-/ adj [(to, towards)] derog 1 (of a person or action) not showing kindness, especially not giving food and shelter in one's own home: It was very inhospitable of them not even to offer us a cup of coffee. 2 (of a place) not suitable to stay in or live in, especially because of severe weather, lack of shelter etc: inhospitable desert areas → -bly adv
in-house, in-house /In'haus/ adj carried on within a group or organization: Is she an inhouse worker or a free-lance? → inhouse adv: Do you work inhouse?
in-hu-man /In'hju:mən/ adj 1 very cruel: an inhuman tyrant 2 lacking warm human feelings; IMPERSONAL 3 not human: A sinister inhuman scream rang out across the moors. → compare SUBHUMAN, SUPERHUMAN
in-hu-mane /Inhju:'meın/ adj not showing ordinary human kindness or sympathy, especially when it should be shown: inhumane treatment of animals → -ly adv
in-hu-man-i-ty /Inhju:'mænıtı/ n [C often pl.;U] (an act showing) the quality of being cruel and harming others: an example of man's inhumanity to man
in-im-i-cal /I'nımıkəl/ adj [(to)] fml very unfavourable; HOSTILE: conditions inimical to economic development
in-im-i-ta-ble /I'nımıtəbəl/ adj apprec impossible for anyone else to copy with the same high quality: He delivered the speech in his own inimitable style. → see also IMITATE → -bly adv
in-iq-ui-tous /I'nıkwıtəs/ adj fml extremely unjust or wicked: an iniquitous suggestion | iniquitous tax increases → -ly adv
in-iq-ui-ty /I'nıkwıtı/ n [C;U] (an act or case of) injustice or wickedness: The bar in the old harbour was a den of iniquity. (=place of great wickedness)
i-ni-tial¹ /I'nıʃəl/ adj [A no comp.] which is (at) the beginning: The initial talks formed the basis of the later agreement. | After she'd got over/overcome her initial shyness, she became very friendly. | the initial investment/outlay
initial² n [usually pl.] a CAPITAL (=large) letter at the beginning of a name, especially when used alone to represent a person's first name(s) and last name: His initials are P.F.W.; they stand for Peter Francis White.
initial³ v -ll- BrE || -l- AmE [T] to write one's initials on (a piece of writing), usually to show approval or agreement: Please would you initial these memos, sir?
i-ni-tial-ly /I'nıʃəli/ adv at the beginning; at first: Initially, she opposed the plan, but later she changed her mind.
i,nitial 'teaching ,alphabet, the n a 44-character PHONETIC alphabet used to teach children to read English
i-ni-ti-ate¹ /I'nıʃieıt/ v [T] 1 to be responsible for starting: The government has initiated a massive new house-building programme. 2 [(into)] to give (someone) some secret or mysterious knowledge: to initiate someone into the mysteries of a secret religion 3 [(into) often pass.] to introduce (someone) into a club, group etc, especially with a special ceremony → see also UNINITIATED → -ation /I,nıʃı'eıʃən/ n [C;U(into)] Many tribes have initiation ceremonies for young men and women when they become adults.
i-ni-ti-ate² /I'nıʃıət/ n a person who is instructed or skilled in some special field, especially one who knows its secrets or mysteries: rituals known only to initiates
i-ni-tia-tive /I'nıʃətıv/ n 1 [U] apprec the ability to make decisions and take action without asking for the help or advice of others: I wish my son would show a bit more initiative. | Don't keep asking me for advice; use your (own) initiative. 2 [C] the first movement or action which starts something happening: He took the initiative in organizing a party after his brother's wedding. | The government is making some fresh initiatives to try to resolve the dispute. 3 [the] the position of being able to take action or influence events: Because of a stupid mistake, we lost the initiative in the negotiations; the other side has the initiative now. 4 the process which allows voters to suggest a law by signing a PETITION which is then voted on in an election or approved by the LEGISLATURE (=people who make laws) → compare REFERENDUM 5 on one's own initiative (done) according to one's own plan and without help; not suggested by someone else
i-ni-ti-a-tor /I'nıʃieıtə/ n someone who thinks of and starts a new plan or process: the initiator of the proposal
in-ject /In'dʒekt/ v [T(with, into)] to put (liquid) into (someone) with a special needle (SYRINGE): This drug can't be swallowed; it has to be injected. | The lab assistant injected the rat with the new drug. | (fig.) The arrival of our friends with several crates of beer injected new life into the flagging party.
in-jec-tion /In'dʒekʃən/ n [C;U(into)] an act of injecting: The drug is taken by injection. | (fig.) The organization will need a massive injection of government money.
'in-joke n a joke which is understood only by a particular group of people: taxi-drivers' in-jokes about tourists