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particular purpose: I don't know why I asked – just idle curiousity. —idly adv —ness n [U]
idle² v [I] 1 to waste time doing nothing 2 (of an engine) to run slowly while disconnected from the TRANSMISSION: Put the car out of gear and let the engine idle. —idler n
idle away phr v [T] to waste (time) doing nothing: We idled away the hours.
i·dol /'aɪdl/ n 1 an image worshipped as a god 2 someone or something admired or loved too much: The football player was the idol of the younger boys.
i·dol·a·ter /aɪ'dɒlətəʳ ǁ -'dɑːr-/, i·dol·a·tress /-trəs/ fem. —n a worshipper of idols
i·dol·a·trous /aɪ'dɒlətrəs ǁ -'dɑːr-/ adj 1 worshipping idols 2 like IDOLATRY: idolatrous love of money —ly adv
i·dol·a·try /aɪ'dɒlətri ǁ -'dɑːr-/ n [U] 1 the worship of idols 2 too great admiration of someone or something
i·dol·ize also -ise BrE /'aɪdəlaɪz/ v [T] to treat as an idol: He idolizes his father (=he loves or admires him too much and thinks he is perfect)
IDS /ˌaɪ diː 'es/ → see SMITH, IAIN DUNCAN
id·yll, idyl /'ɪdɪl ǁ 'aɪdl/ n a simple happy period of life, often in the country, or a scene (as if) from such a time: an idyll of two young lovers —ic /ɪ'dɪlɪk aɪ-/ adj: an idyllic scene —ically /kli/ adv: idyllically happy
i.e. /ˌaɪ 'iː/ abbrev. for id est; that is; by which is meant: The cinema is only open to adults, i.e. people over 18. → see NAMELY (USAGE)
if¹ /ɪf/ conj 1 (not usually followed by the future tense) a) on condition that: We'll go if the weather stays fine, but if it rains we'll stay at home. | If you promise not to tell anyone else, I'll tell you how much I paid for it. b) supposing that: If she phones(/fm/) If she should phone, tell her I'm out. | Just ask John if you need any help/(/fm/) should you need any help. | If he told you that, he was lying. | Get out of here at once. If not, I'll phone the police. | If John was/were here, he would know what to do. | If you'd listened to me(/fm/) Had you listened to me, you wouldn't be in such trouble now. c) in any situation in which; whenever: If you pour oil on water, it floats. | If I go to bed late, I find it hard to get up in the morning. → see UNLESS (USAGE) 2 accepting that; although: a) (often with even): We'll go even if it rains. (=We'll go, whether it rains or not.) | If she's poor, at least she's honest. b) (joining nouns, adjectives, or adverbs): a pleasant if noisy child \ It was a nice meal, if a little expensive. | Too sweet? – I thought it was a little dry, if anything. 3 (in reported questions, or after verbs like know, remember, or wonder) whether: Do you know if/whether she's coming? | I wonder if she isn't mistaken. (=I think she is.) | I'll see if he wants to talk to you. | Could you ask her if she'll be coming to the meeting? | I couldn't remember if you took sugar in your coffee or not. 4 (used like that after words expressing surprise, sorrow, or pleasure): I'm sorry if she's annoyed. | I don't care if she is ten years older than me – I love her. | Do you mind if I smoke? (=May I smoke?) 5 if I were you (used when giving advice): If I were you I'd leave at once. 6 it isn't/it's not as if (often expressing annoyance) it is not true that: I don't know why he's so mean – it isn't as if he hasn't got any money! (=he has plenty of money) → see also if you like (LIKE¹), WHETHER (USAGE), as if (AS²), even if (EVEN²), if only (ONLY²)
if² n ifs and buts BrE ǁ ifs, ands, or buts AmE reasons given for delay: I don't want any ifs and buts – just make sure the goods are delivered tomorrow!
If a famous poem by Rudyard KIPLING which starts with the words
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you...
It describes the qualities of character that some people think of as typically English, such as the ability to remain calm in difficult situations.
if·fy /'ɪfi/ adj infml full of uncertainty: Until the contract is signed, we're in a rather iffy situation.
ig·loo /'iːglu/ n pl. -loos a house made of hard icy blocks of snow, especially as built by the INUIT
Ig·nat·i·us of Loy·o·la, St /ˌɪgˌneɪʃəs ǝv lɒɪ'ǝʊlə/ also St Ignatius Loyola (1491–1556) a Spanish priest who started
the JESUIT ORDER (=a Roman Catholic group of MISSIONARY priests, which is also called the SOCIETY OF JESUS) → see also FRANCIS XAVIER, ST
ig·ne·ous /'ɪgniəs/ adj tech (of rocks) formed from LAVA
ig·nis fat·u·us /ˌɪgnɪs 'fætʃuəs/ ǁ also will-o'-the-wisp n pl. ignes fatui /ˌɪgniːz 'fætʃuɪ/ [C usually sing.] Lat a moving light seen over wet ground because of the burning of waste gases
ig·nite /ɪg'naɪt/ v [I;T] fml to (cause to) start to burn
ig·ni·tion /ɪg'nɪʃən/ n [U] 1 the act or action of igniting 2 the means or apparatus for starting an engine (such as a car engine) by using electricity → see picture at CAR
ig·no·ble /ɪg'nəʊbəl/ adj especially lit dishonourable; which one should be ashamed of —bly adv
ig·no·min·i·ous /ˌɪgnə'mɪniəs/ adj bringing or deserving strong (especially public) disapproval; damaging to one's pride: an ignominious defeat | ignominious behaviour —ly adv
ig·no·mi·ny /'ɪgnəmɪni/ n 1 [U] a state of shame or dishonour 2 [C] an act of shameful behaviour
ig·no·ra·mus /ˌɪgnə'reɪməs/ n an ignorant person
ig·no·rance /'ɪgnərəns/ n [U(of)] 1 lack of knowledge, information, or consciousness, especially of something one ought to know about: Ignorance of the law is no excuse. | The workers were kept in complete ignorance of the company's financial situation. | It shows appalling ignorance not to know who the present prime minister is. 2 ignorance is bliss saying if one does not know something, one cannot worry about it: 'Have you seen the new plans yet?' 'No, ignorance is bliss!'
ig·no·rant /'ɪgnərənt/ adj 1 [(of)] lacking knowledge, education, or consciousness, especially of something one ought to know about: ignorant of even the simplest facts | I'm afraid I'm rather ignorant about computers. → see IGNORE (USAGE) 2 infml rude or impolite, especially because of lack of social training 3 caused by or showing ignorance: ignorant ideas
ig·nore /ɪg'nɔːr/ v [T] to take no notice of; refuse to pay attention to: My advice was completely ignored. | The government would be unwise to ignore the growing dissatisfaction with its economic policies.
Compare ignore and be ignorant of: He was driving very fast because he was ignorant of the fact that (=didn't know) there was a speed limit. | He ignored the speed limit (=he knew about it, but paid no attention to it) and drove very fast.
i·gua·na /ɪ'gwɑːnə/ n pl. -nas or -na a large LIZARD of tropical America
IHOP /ˌaɪ eɪtʃ 'əʊ 'piː/ infml a name often used for the US restaurant INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES
IKBS /ˌaɪ keɪ biː 'es/ n abbrev. for intelligent knowledge-based system; a type of computer system that uses ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Ike → see EISENHOWER, DWIGHT DAVID
IKEA /aɪ'kiːə/ trademark a large Swedish-owned store that sells things for the home, especially furniture. The furniture is usually sold in parts, which customers put together at home. Ikea is known for its simple, practical, and attractive products, which are sold at low cost.
i·kon /'aɪkɒn ǁ -kɑːn/ n an ICON
il- → see WORD FORMATION TABLE
IL written abbrev. for ILLINOIS
i·lex /'aɪleks/ n 1 an OAK tree with EVERGREEN leaves 2 tech any of a family of trees and bushes including HOLLY
Il·i·ad, The /'ɪliæd, -əd/ an ancient Greek EPIC poem by HOMER which tells the story of the TROJAN WAR → compare ODYSSEY
Il·i·um /'ɪliəm/ a Latin name for the ancient city of TROY
ilk /ɪlk/ n [S] kind, type etc (usually in the phrase of that ilk)
ill¹ /ɪl/ adj worse /wɜːs ǁ wɜːrs/, worst /wɜːst  wɜːrst/ 1 [F] not in good health; not well: She's ill, so she can't come. | ill with worry | She suddenly fell ill/was suddenly taken ill. (=became ill) | mentally ill → see also SICK (USAGE)
In the US ill and sick are used in almost the same way: He is very sick. | He is very ill. In Britain the phrase I