impulsion 702
im·pul·sion /ɪmˈpʌlʃən/ n 1 [U] the act of impelling or state
of being impelled (IMPEL) 2 [C] an urge or impulse
im·pul·sive /ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/ adj having or showing a tendency to
act suddenly without thinking about the suitability or pos-
sible results of what one is doing → compare IMPULSE —→ly
adv —→ness n [U]
im·pu·ni·ty /ɪmˈpjunɪti/ n with impunity without any dan-
ger of being punished
im·pure /ɪmˈpjʊər/ adj 1 not pure, but mixed with some-
thing else: impure drugs 2 morally bad, especially with
regard to sexual behaviour: impure thoughts
im·pu·ri·ty /ɪmˈpjʊərɪti/ n 1 [U] the state of being
impure 2 [C] something that is impure or that makes
something else impure: Refined sugar has had all the impu-
rities removed.
im·pu·ta·tion /ˌɪmpjuˈteɪʃən/ n [(of, to)] fml 1 [U] the act of
imputing something to someone 2 [C] a criminal charge or
suggestion of something bad: an imputation of guilt
im·pute /ɪmˈpjuːt/ v
impute sthg. to sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] fml to claim that
(someone or something) possesses or has done, especially
unjustly: How can they impute such dishonourable motives to
me?
I·mus, Don /ˈaɪməs/ (1940–) a US radio HOST who has a talk
show called Imus in the Morning which is also shown on
television. He often INTERVIEWS important politicians, writ-
ers etc and is considered to have a lot of influence on public
opinions.
in¹ /ɪn/ prep 1 (shows a position) a) contained by (some-
thing with depth, length, and height); within (an enclosed
space); inside: We keep the money in a box. | Put the plate in
the cupboard. | She's in the bathroom. | to sit in a car
(compare on a bicycle) | to go swimming in the sea (compare
sailing on the sea) | lying in bed (compare lying on the bed,
outside the covers) | (inml) He came in (=into) the room. | Get in
(=into) the car! | (fig.) I wonder what's in his mind. (=what he is
thinking about or planning) (compare I wonder what's on his
mind = what he is worrying about) b) surrounded by (an
area); within and not beyond (an open space): cows in a
field | The children are playing in the garden/in the street. | I
saw a face in (=within the frame of) the window. | She had a
cigarette in her mouth. | in the corner of the room (compare at
the corner of Broadway and 42nd Street) wounded in the
leg 2 (with the names of countries, seas, towns, and vil-
lages) not outside: They live in London/in France. | an island
in the Atlantic 3 (with the name of a place connected with
an activity) attending for the usual purpose: in prison for
stealing | in church praying | George is in hospital (BrE)/in the
hospital (AmE) with a broken leg. (compare George works at the
hospital) | (especially AmE) George is in school studying. (=George
is at school studying.) 4 being included as part of: a charac-
ter in a story | Can you see the mistake in this sentence? | an
interesting article in today's paper | the people in this photo-
graph 5 (showing an area of employment or activity): She's
in business/in politics/in insurance. | a university degree in
history | He was in conversation with a priest. 6 wearing:
dressed in silk | a girl in red/in a fur coat | a man in
armour/in uniform 7 (showing direction of movement):
They drove off in the direction of London/in the wrong
direction. | The wind is in the east. (=coming from the east) |
The sun is in my eyes. (=shining directly towards
m) 8 using to express oneself; with or by means of: Write
encil/in ink/in French. | printed in red | She called out
voice. 9 (with certain periods of time) at some time
he time of: in January | in Spring | in 1986 | in the
in the (early) afternoon (compare on Monday
night (compare at night) in his youth | in the
lled in World War I. | in the past 10 (with
during not more than (the space of): He
ree weeks. (=and then he knew it) (com-
ch for three weeks.) b) after; at the end
five minutes. | It's two o'clock; I'll come
o'clock) (compare for an hour =from
in time (TIME1) c) (often with negatives)
good meal in weeks. | the first time
→ compare WITHIN1 11 (showing
or happens): She looked at me in
ng in public. (=publicly) | in secret
(=secretly) | speaking in anger/in fun | In all seriousness (=I
am speaking seriously) I think you ought to give up your
job. 12 (showing the condition of a person or thing): They
were living in terrible poverty. | in difficulties | in danger | in
good health | in ruins | in a hurry | in doubt | in tears | to
be/fall in love | in a bad mood 13 (showing division and
arrangement) so as to be: Pack them in tens. (=ten in each
parcel) | in rows | in groups | We stood in a circle. | Cut it in
two. (=into two halves) 14 (showing a relation or PROPOR-
TION) per: to pay a tax of 40p in the pound | One child in
twenty suffers from this disease. 15 (showing quantity or
number): in large numbers | They arrived in (their)
thousands. | in part (=partly) 16 with regard to: weak in
judgment | lacking in courage | blind in one eye | better in
every way | They're equal in distance. | 10 feet in length/in
depth 17 as a/an; by way of: What did you give him in
return? | She said nothing in reply. 18 (naming or describing
who or what you mean): In her I see a future leader. | You
have a good friend in me. | unusual ability in such a young
child 19 [+v-ing] when; while: In studying other cultures, you
can learn more about your own. → compare ON1 20 in all
together; as the total: The cost of the repairs came to $800 in
all. 21 in that because: I'm in a slightly awkward position, in
that my secretary is on holiday at the moment. → see also
INASMUCH
in² adv 1 (so as to be) contained or surrounded; away from
the open air, the outside etc: Open the box and put the money
in. | The water looked warm so I jumped in. | strong walls to
keep the prisoners in | Let's go in there where it's warm. | (BrE)
a cup of tea with sugar in (=with sugar in it) | The door burst
open and in they came. (note word order) 2 (so as to be)
present (especially at home or under the roof of a building):
I'm afraid Mr Jones is out, but he'll be in again soon. | Let's
spend the evening in (=at home) watching television. | Some
thieves broke in (=entered the house) while we were out. |
'Come in!' (said when someone knocks at a door) | The train
isn't in yet. | It will be in five minutes. 3 a) inwards;
towards the middle: There was a loud explosion and the walls
fell in. | It curves in at the edges. b) from a number of
people, or from all directions to a central point: Letters of
support have been coming/pouring in from all over the
country. | Entries for the competition must be in by Monday. |
to bring the harvest in 4 so as to be added or included where
not formerly present: The picture is almost finished – I can
paint in the sky/paint the sky in later. | Fill in your name and
address on the form. 5 a) (of one side in a game such as
cricket) having a turn to BAT: Our side were in/went in to bat
first. b) (of the ball in a game such as tennis) inside the
line 6 a) so as to have a position of power: Do you think the
Nationalist Party will get in again (=be elected again) at the
election? b) (so as to be) fashionable: Long hair for men
went out in the 1970s, but it's in again/it's come in again
now. 7 back towards the shore or coast: The ship went out to
sea, then sailed back in. | When does the tide come in? (=When
does the sea reach a high point close to the coast?) 8 be in
at to be present at (an event): I want to be in at the
finish. 9 be in for to be about to have (trouble, bad weather
etc): We're in for some trouble/in for it if we don't finish
quickly. 10 be/get in on infml to take part in; have/get a
share in: I want to be in on the discussion too. 11 be in with
infml to be friendly with: He's (well) in with the Board of
Directors. 12 go/be in for to enter/be entered on the list for
(a competition) 13 have (got) it in for someone infml to
dislike someone and intend to harm them 14 in and out
(of) sometimes inside and sometimes outside: He's been in
and out of prison for years.
in³ adj 1 [A] directed inwards; used for sending or going in:
the in door 2 [A] infml fashionable: That new restaurant is the
in place to go now. | the in crowd (=people) 3 [A] shared by
only a few favoured people; private: an in joke 4 [F] (of a
fire) lit; burning: Is the fire still in? → see also INS AND OUTS;
compare ON²
in- → see WORD FORMATION TABLE
IN written abbrev. for INDIANA
in·a·bil·i·ty /ˌɪnəbɪləti/ n [S;U+to-v] lack of power, skill, or
ability: (an) inability to work alone/to stop smoking
in ab·sen·ti·a /ˌɪn æbˈsentiə|-'senʃə/ adv law without being
present: He was tried and convicted in absentia.