699 implicit
[+obj+to-v] I was so annoyed that I felt impelled to write a letter to the paper. ➔ compare COMPEL; see also IMPULSE
im·pend·ing /ɪmˈpendɪŋ/ adj (usually of something unpleasant) about to happen: impending doom | the impending exams ➔ compare IMMINENT
im·pen·e·tra·ble /ɪmˈpenɪtrəbəl/ adj 1 impossible to go into or through: the impenetrable forest | (fig.) impenetrable darkness (=in which the eye can see nothing) 2 extremely difficult or impossible to understand: an impenetrable mystery
im·pen·i·tent /ɪmˈpenɪtənt/ adj fml not sorry (for wrongdoing): an impenitent criminal —ly adv —tence n [U]
im·per·a·tive¹ /ɪmˈperətɪv/ adj 1 urgent; which must be done: Prompt action is imperative. | It's imperative that you (should) tell him immediately. 2 showing proud power: an imperative manner 3 tech (in grammar) expressing a command or having the form of a command ➔ compare DECLARATIVE, INTERROGATIVE —ly adv
imperative² n 1 tech (in grammar) a verb form, or a set of verb forms (MOOD), that expresses a command: In 'Come here!' the verb 'come' is an imperative/is in the imperative. ➔ compare INDICATIVE², SUBJUNCTIVE 2 fml something that must be done: Job creation has become an imperative for the government. | a moral imperative
im·per·cep·ti·ble /ˌɪmpəseptɪbəl||-pər-/ adj not noticed because very small or slight; not PERCEPTIBLE: an almost imperceptible movement of her eyelid —bly adv —bility /ˌɪmpəseptɪˈbɪlɪti||-pər-/ n [U]
im·per·fect¹ /ɪmˈpɜːfɪkt||-ɜːr-/ adj 1 not perfect; faulty: an imperfect knowledge of French 2 [A] tech being the form of a verb used to show incomplete action in the past —ly adv —ion /ˌɪmpəˈfekʃən||-pər-/ n [C;U]
imperfect² n [the] tech (in grammar) the form of a verb that shows incomplete action in the past: 'I was walking along the road' is in the imperfect.
im·pe·ri·al /ɪmˈpɪəriəl/ adj [(often cap.)] 1 of an EMPIRE or its ruler: Britain's imperial expansion in the 19th century | an imperial power (=a country that rules a lot of other countries) ➔ compare IMPERIOUS 2 (of weights and measures) of the British standard: The imperial gallon is not the same size as the US one. ➔ compare METRIC; see TABLE 2; see also METRIC (CULTURAL NOTE) —ly adv
Imˌperial ˈCollege abbrev. IC one of the colleges of the University of London, which is famous for education and RESEARCH in science, computing, and engineering. Its full title is the Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine.
im·pe·ri·al·ism /ɪmˈpɪəriəlɪzəm/ n [U] 1 (the practice of) forming a large group of countries all under the direct political control of a single state or ruler 2 derog the gaining of political and trade advantages over poorer nations by a powerful country which rules them or controls them indirectly ➔ compare COLONIALISM —ist n, adj —istic /ˌɪmˌpɪəriəˈlɪstɪk / adj —istically /kli/ adv
Imˌperial ˈWar Muˌseum, the a military MUSEUM in London, where people can see EXHIBITS connected with wars that the UK has fought in
im·per·il /ɪmˈperɪl/ v -ll- BrE || -l- AmE [T] rather fml to put in danger: The whole project is imperilled by lack of funds.
im·pe·ri·ous /ɪmˈpɪəriəs/ adj (too) commanding; expecting obedience: an imperious voice/manner ➔ compare IMPERIAL —ly adv —ness n [U]
im·per·ish·a·ble /ɪmˈperɪʃəbəl/ adj fml or tech which will always exist or cannot wear out; that cannot PERISH: The manufacturers claim that the material is imperishable. | imperishable memories
im·per·ma·nent /ɪmˈpɜːmənənt||-ɜːr-/ adj which will change or be lost; not PERMANENT: an impermanent arrangement —nence n [U]
im·per·me·a·ble /ɪmˈpɜːmiəbəl||-ɜːr-/ adj which substances (especially liquids) cannot pass through ➔ compare IMPERVIOUS
im·per·mis·si·ble /ˌɪmpəˈmɪsɪbəl||-ɜːr-/ adj fml which cannot be allowed
im·per·son·al /ɪmˈpɜːsənəl||-ɜːr-/ adj 1 not showing or including personal feelings: an impersonal letter | a large impersonal organization 2 tech (in grammar) having no subject, or a subject represented by a meaningless or empty word like 'it': 'Rain' is an impersonal verb in a sentence like 'It rained'. —ly adv
im·per·so·nate /ɪmˈpɜːsəneɪt||-ɜːr-/ v [T] to pretend to be (another person) by copying their appearance, behaviour etc: He impersonates all the well-known politicians. | He was arrested for impersonating an army officer. ➔ compare IMITATE —nator n —nation /ˌɪmˌpɜːsəˈneɪʃən||-ɜːr-/ n [C;U] She does a marvellous impersonation of the principal.
im·per·ti·nent /ɪmˈpɜːtɪnənt||-ɜːr-/ adj rude or not respectful, especially to an older or more important person ➔ see IMPOLITE (USAGE) —ly adv —nence n [U]
im·per·tur·ba·ble /ˌɪmpəˈtɜːbəbəl||-pərˈtɜːr-/ adj that cannot be worried; remaining calm and steady in spite of difficulties or confusion ➔ compare IMPASSIVE —bly adv —bility /ˌɪmpətːbəˈblɪti||-pɜːrtɜːr-/ n [U]
im·per·vi·ous /ɪmˈpɜːviəs||-ɜːr-/ adj [(to)] 1 not allowing anything to pass through: impervious to gases and liquids 2 not easily influenced or changed, especially in one's opinions: impervious to reason/criticism | impervious to her charms ➔ compare IMPERMEABLE
im·pe·ti·go /ˌɪmpɪˈtaɪgəʊ/ n [U] an infectious skin disease
im·pet·u·ous /ɪmˈpetʃuəs/ adj tending to take quick action but without careful thought; IMPULSIVE: an impetuous decision which she soon regretted —ly adv —osity /ˌɪmˌpetʃuˈɒsɪti||-ˈɑːs-/ , -ness /ɪmˈpetʃuəsnəs/ n [U]
im·pe·tus /ˈɪmpɪtəs/ n 1 [U] the force of something moving; MOMENTUM: The car ran down the hill under its own impetus. | (fig.) The campaign is gaining impetus. 2 [S;U] something that encourages action; STIMULUS: The government's encouragement gave fresh impetus to these reforms.
im·pi·e·ty /ɪmˈpaɪəti/ n 1 [U] lack of respect, especially for religion; lack of PIETY ➔ see also IMPIOUS 2 [C often pl.] an act of impiety
im·pinge /ɪmˈpɪndʒ/ v impinge on/upon sthg./sbdy. phr v [T pass. rare] to have an effect on; influence: The effects of the recession are impinging on every aspect of our lives.
im·pi·ous /ˈɪmpiəs/ adj lacking respect, especially for religion; showing IMPIETY —ly adv —ness n [U]
imp·ish /ˈɪmpɪʃ/ adj not usually derog like an IMP (=a little devil); MISCHIEVOUS: an impish grin | a charmingly impish child —ly adv —ness n [U]
im·plac·a·ble /ɪmˈplækəbəl/ adj impossible to satisfy, change, or make less angry: an implacable enemy | implacable demands
im·plant /ɪmˈplɑːnt||ɪmˈplænt/ v [T(in, into)] to fix in deeply, usually into the body or mind: deeply implanted fears/insecurity ➔ compare TRANSPLANT —implant /ˈmplɑːnt||-plænt/ n: an artificial heart implant
im·plau·si·ble /ɪmˈplɔːzɪbəl/ adj seeming to be untrue, unreasonable, or unlikely: an implausible excuse/explanation —bly adv —bility /ˌɪmˌplɔːzəˈbɪlɪti/ n [U]
im·ple·ment¹ /ˈmplɪmənt/ n a tool or instrument: farming/gardening implements ➔ see MACHINE (USAGE)
im·ple·ment² /ˈmplɪmənt/ v [T] to carry out or put into practice: The committee's suggestions will be implemented immediately.
im·pli·cate /ˈɪmplɪkeɪt/ v [T(in)] to show that (someone else) is also concerned in an (especially criminal) activity: a letter implicating him in the robbery ➔ compare INVOLVE
im·pli·ca·tion /ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃən/ n 1 [C;U] (an example of) the act of implying: She said very little directly, but a great deal by implication. 2 [C] a possible later effect of an action, decision etc: What are the implications (of the government's announcement) for the future of our project? | an article assessing the wider implications of the nuclear accident 3 [U] the act of implicating ➔ compare INFERENCE
im·pli·cit /ɪmˈplɪsɪt/ adj 1 [(in)] implied or understood though not directly expressed: Their request for information seems to contain an implicit threat. | She didn't openly attack the plan, but her opposition was implicit in her failure to say anything in support of it. ➔ compare EXPLICIT 2 unquestioning and complete: implicit trust (in you) —ly adv: She trusted the doctor implicitly.