701 impulse
performance in the exam. | The thing that impresses me most about her books is the way she draws her characters. | We've tried the new product and we're favourably impressed with it. (=we think it is good) 2 to make the importance of (something) clear to (someone): [+on/upon+obj] My father impressed on me the value of hard work. | [+obj+with] My father impressed me with the value of hard work. 3 [(into, on)] to press (something) into something else, or to make (a mark) as a result of this pressure: a pattern impressed on the clay pots before baking
**im·press**² /'impres/ *n* *fml* or *lit* a mark or pattern made by impressing (**IMPRESS**¹)
**im·pres·sion** /im'presən/ *n* 1 [C(on)] an image or effect that is produced in the mind by a person, event, experience etc: The house was very untidy – it didn't create a very good impression, I'm afraid. | Her speech made quite an impression on the audience. (=had an effect on them, especially by being good) | First impressions are often wrong. | What's your impression of him as a worker? (=do you think he is good or bad?) 2 [C often sing.] a not very clear feeling or idea about something: On waking, I had a vague impression of shapes and bright colours, but I didn't know where I was. | [+(that)] I got the distinct impression (that) they'd just had an argument. | I asked him for a job under the impression that he was the manager – but he wasn't. 3 [C] a mark left by pressure: He took an impression of the key. | the impression of a heel in the mud 4 [C[of]] an attempt to copy in a funny way the most noticeable parts of a person's appearance or behaviour: He did a brilliant impression of the President. 5 [C often sing.] all the copies of something (such as a book) made at one printing → compare **EDITION**, **REPRINT**² 6 [U] the act of impressing or state of being impressed
**im·pres·sion·a·ble** /im'preʃənəbəl/ *adj* (of a person) easy to influence, often with the result that one's feelings and ideas change easily and one is too ready to admire other people: *The child is at an impressionable age.* —**bly** *adv* —**bility** /ɪmˌpreʃənə'bɪləti/ *n* [U]
**im·pres·sion·ism** /ɪm'preʃənɪzəm/ *n* [U] (often *cap.*) 1 a style of painting (used especially in France between 1870 and 1900 by painters such as Monet, Cézanne, and Pissarro) which produces effects (especially of light) by use of colour rather than by details of form. The French impressionists often painted directly from nature. 2 a style of music (in France 1870–1914, and in England later) that produces feelings and images by the quality of sounds rather than by a pattern of notes → compare **EXPRESSIONISM**
**im·pres·sion·ist**¹ /ɪm'preʃənɪst/ *n* 1 (often *cap.*) a person who practises impressionism in painting or music 2 a person who does **IMPRESSIONS** especially as a theatrical performance
**impressionist**² *adj* (often *cap.*) of or about impressionism: *an impressionist painter/painting*
**im·pres·sion·is·tic** /ˌɪmˌpreʃə'nɪstɪk/ *adj* based on impressions rather than on knowledge, fact, or detailed study: *an impressionistic account of what happened* —**ally** /kli/ *adv*
**im·pres·sive** /im'presɪv/ *adj* causing admiration, especially by giving one a feeling of size, importance, or great skill; making a strong or good impression: *an impressive speech/speaker* | *the great cathedral with its impressive spire* —**ly** *adv* —**ness** *n* [U]
**im·pri·ma·tur** /ˌɪmprɪ'mɑːtəʳ, -'mɑː-/ *n* [C usually sing.] 1 official permission to print a book, especially as given by the Roman Catholic Church 2 sometimes *humor* approval, especially from an important person
**im·print**¹ /im'prɪnt/ *v* [T(on)] 1 to print or press (a mark) on something: *The shape of the coin was imprinted on the palm of his hand.* | (fig.) *Every detail is imprinted on my mind.* 2 [usually pass.] to give (a bird or animal) an image of the family it belongs to, usually by being the first thing it sees after birth: *Christine reared the duck from birth, and it thinks she's its mother – it's been imprinted by her.*
**im·print**² /'imprɪnt/ *n* 1 a mark left on or in something: *the imprint of her foot in the moist sand* 2 the name of the **PUBLISHER** as it appears on a book: *This dictionary is published under the Longman imprint.*
**im·pris·on** /im'prɪzən/ *v* [T] to put in prison or keep in a place or state which one is not free to leave: *The crew were imprisoned in the plane by the hijackers.* —**ment** *n* [U] *He was sentenced to life imprisonment.* (=for life, or a very long time)
**im·prob·able** /ɪm'prɒbəbəl||-'prɑː-/ *adj* not likely to happen or be true: *They may win, but it's improbable.* | *a rather improbable explanation* | *It is improbable that he drove home in less than an hour.* —**bly** *adv* —**bility** /ɪmˌprɒbə'bɪləti||-,prɑː-/ *n* [C;U]
**im·prompt·u** /ɪm'prɒmptjuː||ɪm'prɑːmptuː/ *adj, adv* (said or done) at once without preparation: *an impromptu speech*
**im·prop·er** /ɪm'prɒpəʳ||-'prɑː-/ *adj* 1 not suitable; **INAPPROPRIATE**: *improper behaviour for such a serious occasion* 2 not in accordance with fact, truth, or rules; not correct: *The director of the charity was accused of improper use of funds.* | *the improper use of a singular verb with a plural subject* 3 showing thoughts which are socially unacceptable, especially about sex: *What an improper suggestion!* → see also **PROPER** —**ly** *adv*: *improperly dressed for the occasion*
**im·proper 'fraction** *n* a **FRACTION** such as ¹⁰⁄ in which the number above the line is greater than the one below it → compare **PROPER FRACTION**
**im·pro·pri·e·ty** /ˌɪmprə'praɪəti/ *n* *fml* 1 [U] the quality or state of being improper 2 [C] an improper act → see also **PROPRIETY**
**im·prove** /im'pruːv/ *v* 1 [T] to make better; bring to a better or more acceptable state: *I want to improve my English.* | *If the company refuses to improve its pay offer, we shall go on strike.* 2 [I] to get better: *Let's hope the weather improves before Saturday.* | *Business prospects have improved enormously.* | *The wine improves with age.* 3 [T] to increase the value of (land or property) by farming, building etc
**improve on/upon sthg. phr v** [T] to produce or be something better than: *The leading contestant has scored 165 points, and I don't think anyone will improve on that.*
**im·prove·ment** /im'pruːvmənt/ *n* [C;U(in, on)] (a sign or result of) the act of improving or the state of being improved: *Your work shows considerable improvement.* | *There has been a slight improvement/a significant improvement in the company's trading position.* | *to carry out home improvements* | *Your English is getting better, but there is still room for improvement.* (=it is still possible for it to improve even more)
> You can speak of an **improvement** in something if it has got better: *There has been an **improvement** in the weather.* You can speak of an **improvement** on something if you compare two things, the second of which is better than the first: *Today's weather is an **improvement** on (=is better than) yesterday's.*
**im·prov·i·dent** /im'prɒvɪdənt||-'prɑː-/ *adj* *fml* (especially of someone who wastes money) not preparing for the future —**ly** *adv* —**dence** *n* [U]
**im·pro·vise** /'imprəvaiz/ *v* [I;T] 1 to do or make (something one has not prepared for) owing to an unexpected situation, sudden need etc: *I forgot to bring the words of my speech, so I just had to improvise.* | *We slept by the road in an improvised shelter.* 2 to make up (music) as one is playing —**visation** /ˌɪmprəvaɪ'zeɪʃən||ˌɑːmˌprɑːvə-/ *n* [C;U]
**im·pru·dent** /im'pruːdənt/ *adj* unwise and thoughtless; not **PRUDENT** —**ly** *adv* —**dence** *n* [U]
**im·pu·dent** /'impjʊdənt/ *adj* rude and disrespectful, especially to an older or more important person: *an impudent child/remark* —**ly** *adv* —**dence** *n* [U]
**im·pugn** /im'pjuːn/ *v* [T] *fml* to raise doubts about (someone's character; behaviour, qualities etc)
**im·pulse** /'impʌls/ *n* 1 [C;U] a sudden wish to do something; sudden urge: *He bought the car on (an) imp (=without planning or deciding in advance)* | [+to do]: *an irresistible impulse to start dancing* | **impulse buy** causing goods one does not really want → compare **IMPULSE**, **impulse buy** 2 [C] a reason or aim that is the cause of activity: *The prime impulse of capitalism is the quest for money.* 3 [C] *tech* a single push, or a force acting for a very short time in one direction along a wire, nerve etc → see also **NERVE** *impulse* | *a nerve impulse*