713 information
in-flam-ma-ble /in'flæməbəl/ adj 1 also flammable especially
AmE or tech which can easily be set on fire and which burns
quickly: Clothes shouldn't be made of inflammable material. |
Petrol is highly inflammable. | (fig.) The situation is highly
inflammable. -> opposite NONFLAMMABLE, FLAME-
PROOF 2 easily excited or made angry -> compare INFLAM-
MATORY
in-flam-ma-tion /ˌɪnfləˈmeɪʃən/ n [C;U] (a) swelling and
soreness on or in the body, which is often red and hot to the
touch: an inflammation of the lungs -> see also INFLAMED
in-flam-ma-to-ry /in'flæmətəri||-to:ri/ adj likely to cause
strong feelings or violence: inflammatory remarks -> com-
pare INFLAMMABLE; see also INFLAME
in-flat-a-ble /in'fleɪtəbəl/ adj which must be inflated for
use: an inflatable raft/life jacket
in-flat-a-bles /in'fleɪtəbəlz/ n [P] BrE inflatable objects
which children use in a swimming pool to help them float
in-flate /in'fleɪt/ v fml 1 [i;T] to (cause to) fill until swelled
with air or gas; blow up: She inflated the balloon. | Pull this
cord to inflate the life jacket. 2 [T] to raise (a price) by
INFLATION
in-flat-ed /in'fleɪtɪd/ adj 1 (of prices) risen or put up to a
high level: charging ridiculously inflated prices for their
goods 2 derog increased to a level (e.g. of importance or
value) that is falsely high: an inflated opinion of himself |
artificially inflated statistics 3 blown up (e.g. with air): an
inflated lung/balloon -> opposite DEFLATED
in-fla-tion /in'fleɪʃən/ n [U] 1 (the rate of) a continuing rise
in prices: The government is determined to bring down infla-
tion (to below 5%). | The annual rate of inflation was 10%. |
an inflation-proof pension (=which rises in value at the rate
of inflation) -> compare DEFLATION, REFLATION 2 the act of
inflating or state of being inflated
in-fla-tion-a-ry /in'fleɪʃənəri||-ʃəri/ adj of or likely to
cause inflation: inflationary pressures in the economy | infla-
tionary wage increases
inflationary spiral n the continuing rise in wages and
prices which happens because an increase in wages tends to
produce an increase in prices, so that wages have to be
increased again: The economy is caught in an inflationary
spiral.
in-fla-tion-is-m /in'fleɪʃənɪzəm/ n [U] the idea of causing
economic inflation by increasing the supply of money in a
country
in-flect /in'flekt/ v [i;T] especially tech 1 to change or cause (a
word) to change in form according to its meaning or use:
The word 'child' inflects/is inflected in the plural by adding
'-ren' to it. | German is a highly inflected language. -> com-
pare CONJUGATE, DECLINE¹ 2 to change or cause (the voice)
to change, especially in PITCH according to the needs of
expression
in-flec-tion also inflexion BrE /in'flekʃən/ n especially
tech 1 [U] the process or result of inflecting; the change in
the form of a word to show difference in its meaning or
use 2 [C] a word part which is added to another word when
inflecting it: In 'largest', '-est' is the inflection meaning
'most'. 3 [C] a movement in the PITCH of the voice: A
sentence that asks a question usually ends on a rising inflec-
tion. -> compare INTONATION --al adj: an inflectional suffix
in-flex-i-ble /in'fleksəbəl/ adj 1 difficult or impossible to
bend; stiff and firm: The new plastic is completely inflex-
ible. 2 usually derog (of a person) refusing to be turned away from
one's purpose, especially in an unreasonable way; UNBENDING:
You'll never get him to change his mind; he's so inflexible. 3 (of
an idea, decision etc) which cannot be changed, even when
change is desirable: His attitude has become even more
rigid and inflexible than it was before. --bly adv --bility
/ˌɪnfleksəˈbɪləti/ n [U] The inflexibility of the country's labour
market seriously impedes its economic recovery.
in-flict /in'flɪkt/ v [T(on, upon)] to force (something or some-
one unpleasant or wanted) on someone: The judge
inflicted the severest possible penalty. | Don't inflict your
ridiculous ideas on me! | Mary has inflicted the children on her
mother for the weekend. --infliction /-'flɪkʃən/ n [C;U(on,
upon)] He seems to delight in the infliction of pain. (=causing
pain to people)
'in-flight adj [A] happening or provided during a trip by
plane: in-flight meals/entertainment
in-flow /'ɪnfləʊ/ also influx n [C;U] the action or process of
flowing in or something which does: the inflow of money to
the banks | a big inflow of refugees
in-flu-ence¹ /'ɪnfluəns/ n [C;U] 1 [(over, on, upon, with)] (the
power to have) an effect on someone or something without
the use of direct force or command: He promised to use his
influence with the chairman to get me the job. | The stars'
influence on people's lives has not been proved. | She's a
woman of some influence in government circles. | They had
come under the influence of a strange religious sect. |
Listening to the music had a calming influence on her. 2 [(for,
on)] a person or thing that has this power: I wish she
wouldn't go around with that boy; he's such a bad influence
(on her). | Gospel music and blues are the main influences on
his music. 3 under the influence (of alcohol) infml drunk: He
was fined for driving under the influence.
influence² v [T] to have an effect on (a person or their
behaviour), especially in causing or persuading someone to
act in a particular way but without the use of direct force or
command; AFFECT: Don't let me influence your decision. | Her
writing has obviously been influenced by Virginia Woolf. |
[+obj+to-v] What were the factors that influenced you to take the
job?
in-flu-en-tial /ˌɪnfluˈenʃəl/ adj having great influence: an
influential writer/newspaper/speech ---ly adv
in-flu-en-za /ˌɪnfluˈenzə/ n [U] fml for FLU
in-flux /'ɪnflʌks/ n 1 [C(of) usually sing.] the especially sudden
arrival of large numbers or quantities: a sudden influx of
imported electronic goods onto the market | a great influx of
tourists into the town in the summer months 2 [C;U] an
INFLOW
in-fo /'ɪnfəʊ/ n [U] infml information
in-for-mer-cial /ˈɪnfɔˌmɜːʃəl||-ɜːr-/ n AmE a long television
advertisement that provides a lot of information and seems
like a normal programme
in-form /ɪn'fɔːm||-ɔːrm/ v [T(of, about)] usually fml to give infor-
mation or knowledge to; tell: I wasn't informed of the
decision until too late. | Why wasn't I informed? | [+obj+(that)] I
informed him that I would not be able to attend. | [+obj+wh-]
Could you please inform me how to go about contacting a
lawyer? -> see SAY¹ (USAGE)
inform against/on sbdy. phr v [T] sometimes derog to give the
police, or someone in a position of power, information
about the guilt of (someone): I'm amazed to hear that she
was the one who informed on her husband.
in-for-mal /ɪn'fɔːməl||-ɔːr-/ adj 1 not formal; not following
official or established rules, methods etc: an informal
agreement/meeting | We have made preliminary, informal
approaches to the committee. | informal talks between the two
leaders 2 a) (of clothes, behaviour etc) suitable for ordi-
nary everyday situations but not for official occasions b)
especially tech (of words or a style of writing or speaking)
suitable for ordinary conversation, e.g. with friends or people
one works with, but not for serious writing or official occa-
sions. Informal words or phrases are marked infml in this
dictionary: 'Info' is an informal word for 'information'. --ly
adv: I told him informally that he'd got the job, but that official
confirmation wouldn't come for a few days. --ity
/ˌɪnfːˈmælti||-ɔːr-/ n [U]
in-for-mant /ɪn'fɔːmənt||-ɔːr-/ n fml 1 someone who gives
information, especially to the police, a government etc: The
FBI were warned about the spy ring by a confidential inform-
ant. 2 someone who gives information, especially someone
who gives details of their language, social customs etc, to a
person who is studying them -> compare INFORMER
in-for-ma-tion /ˌɪnfəmeɪʃən||-fər-/ n [U(about, on)] 1 (some-
thing which gives) knowledge in the form of facts, news etc:
Could you give me some information about flights to Cairo,
please? | an interesting piece of information | This book gives
all sorts of useful information on how to repair cars. | Acting
on information received, the police have arrested two
suspects. | [+that] We have received information that they may
have left the country. | (fml) According to my information (=I
have been told) he is no longer here. | classified information