insinuation 720
(for oneself) into (something): *He tried to insinuate himself into the boss's favour:* → compare INGRATIATE
**in·sin·u·a·tion** /ˌɪnsɪnjuˈeɪʃən/ *n* [C;U] (an act of) insinuating; (an) indirect suggestion: *She blamed him, not directly but by insinuation.* | [+that] *They made unpleasant insinuations that he might not be quite honest.* → see also INNUENDO
**in·sip·id** /ɪnˈsɪpɪd/ *adj derog* lacking a strong character, taste, or effect: *insipid food* | *an insipid character* —>ly *adv* —>ness, ~ity /ˌɪnsɪˈpɪdɪti/ *n* [U]
**in·sist** /ɪnˈsɪst/ *v* [(on, upon);T+(that); obj] **1** to declare firmly, especially in the face of doubt or opposition: *He insisted on his innocence/on the truth of his story, even though the police refused to believe him.* | *He still insists he wasn't there at the time.* **2** to order or demand (that something must happen or be done): *They are insisting on immediate repayment.* | *I insisted that he (should) go.* | *You must come with us – I insist!* | *All right, I'll do it if you insist.* (=I don't really want to)
**insist on/upon sthg.** *phr v* [T] to consider very important; place great importance on: *He insists on discipline in the classroom.* | [+v-ing] *I insist on having a holiday abroad every year.*
**in·sis·tence** /ɪnˈsɪstəns/ *n* [U] **1** the act of insisting: *At the director's insistence (=because the director insisted) the new product was kept secret.* | *the government's insistence on a price freeze* **2** also **insistency** /ɪnˈsɪstənsi/ the quality or state of being insistent → compare PERSISTENT
**in·sis·tent** /ɪnˈsɪstənt/ *adj* **1** [(on, upon)] repeatedly insisting: *The company is insistent on immediate payment.* | [F+(that)] *He's very insistent that he'll finish in time.* **2** needing to be done, answered, or dealt with; urgent: *insistent demands* | *the baby's insistent screams* —>ly *adv*
**in si·tu** /ˌɪn ˈsɪtju||ˈnaɪ ˈsɑːtuː/ *adv Lat* in its original place
**in·so·far** /ˌɪnsəʊˈfɑːr/ *adv* → see **in so far as** (FAR¹)
**in·sole** /ˈɪnsəl/ *n* a piece of material inside a shoe or boot, shaped to fit the bottom of the foot
**in·so·lent** /ˈɪnsələnt/ *adj* showing disrespectful rudeness: *insolent children* | *insolent behaviour* —>ly *adv* —>lence *n* [U]
**in·sol·u·ble** /ɪnˈsɒljʊbəl,ɪmˈsɑl-/ *adj* **1** to which no answer or explanation is/seems possible: *an insoluble problem* **2** which cannot be dissolved (DISSOLVE): *insoluble in water* → compare INDISSOLUBLE
**in·solv·a·ble** /ɪnˈsɒlvəbəl||ɪmˈsɑːl-, ɪnˈsɔːl-/ *adj* especially *AmE* for INSOLUBLE
**in·sol·vent** /ɪnˈsɒlvənt||ɪmˈsɑl-/ *n, adj tech* (a person) not having enough money to pay debts: *an insolvent estate* | *The bank was declared insolvent.* → compare BANKRUPT¹ —>vency *n* [U]
**in·som·ni·a** /ɪnˈsɒmniə||ɪnˈsɑːm-/ *n* [U] habitual inability to sleep
**in·som·ni·ac** /ɪnˈsɒmniæk||ɪmˈsɑːm-/ *adj, n* (of or being) a person who habitually cannot sleep, or can sleep only for a short period of the night
**in·so·much** /ˌɪnsəʊˈmʌtʃ/ *adv* **insomuch as** to the degree that; inasmuch as (INASMUCH)
**in·sou·ci·ance** /ˌɪnˈsuːsiəns/ *n* [U] *fml* a cheerful lack of care or worry —>ant *adj*
**in·spect** /ɪnˈspekt/ *v* [T] **1** to examine (something) closely or in detail, especially in order to judge the quality or correctness: *After they had finished building the wall the foreman inspected it to make sure they'd done it properly.* | *Let's go and inspect the damage.* | *Nobody inspected my ticket before I got on the train.* **2** to make an official visit to judge the quality of (an organization, machine etc): *The sergeant-major inspects the barracks every day.*
**in·spec·tion** /ɪnˈspekʃən/ *n* [C;U] (an act of) inspecting: *I gave the car a thorough inspection before buying it.* | *He thought it was a moth, but on closer inspection it turned out to be a butterfly.* | *an official inspection* | *a tour of inspection*
**in·spec·tor** /ɪnˈspektər/ *n* **1** an official who inspects something: *A ticket inspector got on the train.* | *a tax inspector* **2** a police officer of middle rank: *Can I have a word with you, Inspector?* **3** an official who visits schools to advise on and judge the quality of the teaching; an HMI —>ate *n*
**Inspector Morse** → see MORSE, INSPECTOR
**in·spi·ra·tion** /ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən/ *n* **1** [U] the act of inspiring or state of being inspired: *by divine inspiration* **2** [C;U(of)] something or someone which gives a person the urge or the ability to do something, especially to produce works of the imagination: *These events provided the inspiration for her first novel.* | *She was an inspiration to all who knew her.* | *His journey to South America was a source of fresh ideas and inspiration.* **3** [C] a sudden good idea: *to have an inspiration* —>al *adj*
**in·spire** /ɪnˈspaɪər/ *v* [T]·**1** [(to)] to encourage in (someone) the desire and ability to take effective action, by filling with eagerness, confidence etc: *He tried to inspire them to greater efforts.* | [+obj+to-v] *I was inspired to work harder by her example.* **2** to be the force which produces (usually a good result): *The memory of his mother inspired his best music.* **3** to fill (someone) with (a feeling) by means of one's behaviour or example: [+obj+in] *His driving hardly inspires confidence (in his passengers).* | [+obj+with] *His driving hardly inspires his passengers with confidence.* → see also AWE-INSPIRING
**in·spired** /ɪnˈspaɪəd||-ərd/ *adj* so clever or good as to seem to show inspiration, especially from God: *an inspired guess/ performance*
**in·spir·ing** /ɪnˈspaɪərɪŋ/ *adj* that gives one the urge or ability to do great things; providing inspiration: *inspiring music/ leadership*
**inst** /ɪnst/ *BrE fml*, becoming rare (used after a date in business letters) of this month: *The meeting will be held on the 24th inst.*
**in·sta·bil·i·ty** /ˌɪnstəˈbɪləti/ *n* [U] lack of STABILITY; unsteadiness, e.g. in a situation or a person's character, producing a tendency to change suddenly: *He's showing signs of instability – he could be heading for a nervous breakdown.* | *political instability in this region*
**in·stall** /ɪnˈstɔl/ *v* [T(în)] **1** to set (an apparatus) up, ready for use: *We're having central heating installed.* **2** [+obj+adv/prep] *infml* to settle firmly: *Once she's installed herself in front of the fire for the evening you won't get her to move.* **3** to settle (someone) in an official position, especially with ceremony: *The new bishop has been installed.*
**in·stal·la·tion** /ˌɪnstəˈleɪʃən/ *n* **1** [U] the act of installing or state of being installed: *The installation of the shower only took a few minutes.* | *the installation of a computer in the accounts department* **2** [C] an apparatus in a fixed state ready for use: *new central-heating installations* **3** [C] a military or naval base or fort: *American nuclear installations in Europe* **4** [C] a work of art in the form of a large structure: *The installation features a bed that is surrounded by a barbed wire fence and covered in newspaper clippings.*
**in'stallment plan** *n* [(the)U] *AmE* for HIRE PURCHASE
**in·stal·ment** *BrE* || **installment** *AmE* /ɪnˈstɔːlmənt/ *n* **1** [C] a single part of a book, play, or television show which appears in regular parts until the story is completed: *a play in six instalments* **2** [C] a single payment of a set which, in time, will complete full payment of a debt: *to pay the last instalment of a loan* **3** [U] INSTALLATION
**in·stance¹** /ˈɪnstəns/ *n* [(of)] **1** a single fact, event etc, expressing a general idea; example; case: *There have been several instances of terrorists planting bombs in the city.* | *I usually support people who take such actions, but in this instance I have to condemn them.* **2** at someone's instance *fml* because of someone's wish **3** for instance for example: *You can't rely on her; for instance, she arrived an hour late for an important meeting yesterday.* → see also **in the first instance** (FIRST)
**instance²** *v* [T] *fml* to give as an example: *As one example of what I mean about youth today, let me instance the growing rate of vandalism.*
**in·stant¹** /ˈɪnstənt/ *n* **1** [C usually sing,] a moment of time: *I'll be back in an instant.* | *Not for an instant (=not at all) did I believe he had lied.* **2** (at) the instant as soon as: *(At) the instant I saw him I knew he was the man the police were looking for*
**instant²** *adj* **1** happening or produced at once: *I took an instant dislike to him.* | *At the turn of a tap you get instant hot water.* | *an instant success* **2** (of food) which can be very