implode
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im·plode /Im'pl@Ud/ v [I] to explode inwards —plosion
/Im'pl@U3@n/ n [C;U]
im·plore /Im'plO:r/ v [T] fml to ask (for) in a begging manner;
ENTREAT: an imploring look | She implored his forgiveness. |
[+obj+to-v] I implore you to go now.
im·ply /Im'plaI/ v [T] 1 to express, show, or mean indirectly;
suggest: Their failure to reply to our letter seems to imply a
lack of interest. | [+(that)] She didn't actually say she had been
there, but she certainly implied that she had. | Are you imply-
ing that we are not telling the truth? | an implied threat/
criticism -> see INFER (USAGE) 2 to cause to be necessary;
ENTAIL: Rights imply duties.
im·po·lite /9Imp@'laIt/ adj not polite: It was impolite of her
not to say goodbye. —ly adv —ness n [C;U]
USAGE Rude can have a similar meaning to impolite but it
is stronger, and suggests a real wish to be unpleasant.
Compare It was rather impolite of you not to write and
thank the hosts and He's never forgiven her since she
was rude about his cooking. Impertinent, impudent,
cheeky BrE, and sassy AmE infml mean rude, especially
to an older or more important person: I can hardly believe
the impudent things he says to the boss. | a cheeky
child
im·pol·i·tic /Im'pQlItIk||-'pa:-/ adj fml (of an action or deci-
sion) not well-judged for one's purpose; not wise; not POLITIC
im·pon·der·a·ble¹ /Im'pQnd@r@b@l||-'pa:-/ adj of which
the importance cannot be calculated or measured exactly
imponderable² n [usually pl.] something whose effects are
imponderable
im·port¹ /Im'pO:t||-O:rt/ v [T(from)] to bring in (something,
especially goods) from another place or especially another
country: a rise in the number of imported cars/of cars
imported from France -> compare EXPORT¹
im·port² /'ImpO:t||-O:rt/ n 1 [C often pl.] something brought
into a country from abroad: (The volume of) imports rose last
month. 2 [U] the act or business of importing: the import of
food from abroad -> compare EXPORT² 3 [(the)S] fml the
meaning: The import of his speech was that we should all
work harder. 4 [U] fml importance: a matter of no great
import
im·por·tance /Im'pO:t@ns||-O:r-/ n [U] 1 the quality or state
of being important: a matter of little importance/of the
utmost importance/of national importance | How much
importance do you attach to the latest events? 2 the reason
why something or someone is important: The real impor-
tance of this new law is the protection it gives to female
workers.
Importance of Being 'Earnest, The (1895) a play by
Oscar WILDE in which a man pretends that his name is Ernest
because he thinks this will give him an advantage with a
woman he admires -> see also BRACKNELL, LADY
im·por·tant /Im'pO:t@nt||-O:r-/ adj 1 which matters a lot;
having or likely to have great effect, value, or influence: an
important meeting/decision | He had to cancel his holiday
owing to important developments which required his
attention. | an important new book about American history |
It's important (for people) to learn to read. | It's important that
he (should) learn to read. | Privacy is important to her. (=has a
high value for her) 2 (of people) having influence or power:
one of the most important people in the company | an impor-
tant new writer -> opposite UNIMPORTANT —ly adv: You
must finish, and, more importantly, you must finish on time.
im·por·ta·tion /9ImpO:'teI3@n||-O:r-/ n 1 [U] the act or busi-
ness of importing -> compare EXPORTATION 2 [C] some-
thing brought in from another place or country, especially
an object or way of behaviour typical of another place
'import con,tROLS n [P] limits on the number of imports
allowed into a country, set by a government in order to
protect the country's own industries
'import ,duty n [C;U] (a) tax on goods which enter one
country from another, according to their value, quantity etc:
You'll have to pay import duty on that machinery.
im·por·ter /Im'pO:t@r||-O:r-/ n a person or country that
imports: The US is a big importer of goods. -> opposite
EXPORTER
'import ,licence n a document giving permission to bring
certain goods into a country
im·por·tu·nate /Im'pO:tjUnIt||-O:r-/ adj fml always demand-
ing things: importunate people/requests —ly adv —nity
/9Imp@'tju:nIti,Imp@r'tu:-/ n [U]
im·por·tune /9Imp@'tju:n||9Imp@r'tu:n/ v [T] fml to make
repeated requests to, often in an annoying or troubling way:
We were importuned with requests for assistance.
im·pose /Im'p@Uz/ v [(on, upon)] 1 [T] to establish (an addi-
tional payment) officially: A new tax has been imposed on
wine. 2 [T] to force the acceptance of (usually something
difficult or unwanted): The bank has imposed very strict
conditions for the repayment of the loan. | The magistrate
imposed a fine of £500. | Economic sanctions have been
imposed on the nation. 3 [I] to take unfair advantage, in a
way that causes additional work and trouble: Thanks for the
offer but I won't stay the night – I don't want to impose on you.
—imposition /9Imp@'zI3@n/ n [C;U] It's quite an imposition to
ask us to stay late at work. | protesting against the imposition
of a sales tax on books
im·pos·ing /Im'p@UzIN/ adj grand in appearance or large in
size; IMPRESSIVE: an imposing view across the valley | an
imposing building —ly adv
im·pos·si·ble /Im'pQs@b@l||Im'pa:-/ adj 1 that cannot hap-
pen or exist, or be done or fulfilled: Lack of money made
further progress impossible. | an impossible request | It's
impossible (for us) to come. | You're asking me to do the
impossible. (=do something that is impossible) | [F+to-v]
demands that were impossible to accept | [F+(that)] It's impossi-
ble that he forgot our meeting: he must have stayed away on
purpose. 2 difficult or awkward to accept or deal with: His
bad temper makes life impossible for the whole family. | You're
the most impossible person I've ever met! | Her refusal has put
me in an impossible position. —bly adv: impossibly difficult
—bility /9Im9pQs@'bIl@ti||9Imp@a-/ n [C;U]
im·pos·tor also -ter AmE /Im'pQst@r||Im'pa:s-/ n someone
who deceives by pretending to be someone else
im·pos·ture /Im'pQst3@r||Im'pa:s-/ n [C;U] fml (an example
of) being an impostor
im·po·tent /'Imp@t@nt/ adj 1 unable to take effective action,
especially because lacking power: a government that seems
impotent in its dealings with the trade unions | [F+to-v] We felt
quite impotent to resist the will of the dictator. 2 (of a man)
unable to perform the sex act —ly adv —tence n [U]
im·pound /Im'paUnd/ v [T] fml or law to take and keep
officially until claimed (especially something lost or not
taken care of): The police will impound your car if you leave it
there.
im·pov·er·ish /Im'pQv@rI3||Im'pa:-/ v [T usually pass.] 1 to
make poor: an impoverished student | (fig.) spiritually impov-
erished 2 to make worse or incomplete by the removal of
something important: Our lives have been impoverished by
the death of that great artist.
im·prac·ti·ca·ble /Im'præktIk@b@l/ adj that cannot be used
or done in practice; not PRACTICABLE: The idea sounds good,
but I'm afraid it's impracticable. '—bly adv —bility
/9Im9præktIk@'bIl@ti/ n [U]
im·prac·ti·cal /Im'præktIk@l/ adj not sensible or clever in
dealing with practical matters: an impractical person who
can't even boil an egg | an ingenious but impractical sugges-
tion —ly /kli/ adv —ity /9Im9prækti'kæl@ti/ n [U]
im·pre·ca·tion /9ImprI'keI3@n/ n fml 1 [C] a curse; a SWEAR-
WORD 2 [U] the act of cursing
im·preg·na·ble /Im'pregn@b@l/ adj that cannot be entered
or taken by force: an impregnable fortress | (fig.) an impregna-
ble argument —bly adv —bility /9Im9pregn@'bIl@ti/ n [U]
im·preg·nate /'ImpregneIt||Im'preg-/ v [T] 1 fml to make
PREGNANT 2 [(with)] to cause a substance to enter and spread
completely through (another substance): a cleaning cloth
impregnated with polish 3 (of a substance) to enter and
spread completely through (another substance)
im·pre·sa·ri·o /9ImprI'sa:ri@U/ n pl. -os a person who
arranges for performances in theatres, concert halls etc
im·press¹ /Im'pres/ v [T] 1 [often pass.; not in progressive forms] to
influence deeply, especially with a feeling of admiration:
The teachers were most impressed/very impressed by your