insubordinate
722
in·sub·or·di·nate /ˌɪnsəbɔːdnət||-ɔːr-/ adj derog (of a person of lower rank or their behaviour) intentionally disobedient; not showing willingness to take orders —ly adv —nation /ˌɪnsəbɔːdɪˈneɪʃn||-ɔːr-/ n [U] The captain will not tolerate any insubordination.
in·sub·stan·tial /ˌɪnsəbˈstænʃəl/ adj 1 derog lacking firmness or solidity; weak or unsatisfying: an insubstantial meal 2 lacking substance or material nature; without material reality
in·suf·fer·a·ble /ɪnˈsʌfərəbəl/ adj unbearable (in behaviour) especially because too proud in manner; INTOLERABLE: your insufferable little brother | insufferable rudeness | He's absolutely insufferable! —bly adv
in·suf·fi·cient /ˌɪnsəfɪʃənt/ adj [(for)] (especially of power, money, or RESOURCES) not enough: The food was insufficient for our needs. | cancelled due to insufficient interest/funds | [+to-v] There was insufficient food to feed everyone. —ly adv —ciency n [S;U(ət)] (fml) an insufficiency of money
in·su·lar /ˈɪnsjʊlər||ˈɪnsələr, ˈɪnjə-/ adj 1 derog narrow (in mind); interested only or mainly in one's own group, country etc: an insular outlook | Don't be so insular! → compare PAROCHIAL 2 [no comp.] of or like an island —ity /ˌɪnsjʊˈlærəti||-sə-, -ʃə-/ n [U] the insularity of the British
in·su·late /ˈɪnsjʊleɪt||ɪnsə-/ v [T(from, against)] 1 to cover (something) so as to prevent electricity, heat, sound etc, from getting out or in: Many houses could be warmer if they were insulated against heat loss. | She covered the bare wires with insulating tape to make them safe. 2 to protect (a person) from ordinary experiences: The royal family is insulated from many of the difficulties faced by ordinary people. → compare ISOLATE
in·su·la·tion /ˌɪnsjˈleɪn||ˌɪnsə-/ n [U] 1 (especially in relation to a house) the action of insulating or the state of being insulated: Insulation can save on electricity bills. | a house with good insulation 2 material which insulates: Glass fibre is sometimes used as insulation for water tanks.
in·su·la·tor /ˈɪnsjʊleɪtər||ˈɪnsə-/ n an object or material which insulates, especially one which does not allow electricity to pass through it
in·su·lin /ˈɪnsjʊlɪn||ˈɪnsə-/ n [U] a substance produced naturally in the body which allows sugar to be used for ENERGY. People with DIABETES often need to take extra insulin into their bodies because their bodies do not produce enough.
in·sult¹ /ɪnˈsʌlt/ v [T] to be rude to or treat with lack of respect; offend: You will insult her if you don't go to her party. | This book insults the readers' intelligence. (=treats them as if they were stupid) | an insulting remark | insulting behaviour
in·sult² /ˈɪnsʌlt/ n [(to)] a rude or offensive remark or action: He shouted/hurled insults at the boy who had kicked him. | His refusal to attend the memorial service is an insult to the memory of our brave soldiers. → see also add insult to injury (ADD)
in·su·per·a·ble /ɪnˈsjuːpərəbəl||ɪnˈsuː-/ adj (of something in one's way) which is too difficult to be defeated or passed: insuperable difficulties → compare INSURMOUNTABLE —bly adv
in·sup·port·a·ble /ˌɪnsəˈpɔːtəbəl ||-ˈpɔːr-/ adj fml unbearable (because bad): insupportable behaviour/pain
in·sur·ance /ɪnˈʃʊərəns/ n 1 [U(against)] agreement by contract to pay money to someone if something, especially a misfortune, such as illness, death, or an accident, happens to them: All drivers in Britain must have third-party insurance. | Does your insurance cover damage by flooding? | a well-known insurance company | to take out (life) insurance 2 [U(on)] money paid to an insurance company in order to make or keep such a contract: The insurance on my house is very high. | a crippling insurance premium 3 [U] the business of making this type of contract and providing such payments: She works in insurance. 4 [S;U(against)] protection: I bought some new locks as an additional insurance against burglary. → see also ASSURANCE, NATIONAL INSURANCE
in'surance ,broker also in'surance ,agent n a person who arranges different kinds of insurance for other people and who receives payment for doing it
in'surance ,policy n a POLICY: (fig.) Are nuclear weapons a credible insurance policy against attack?
in·sure /ɪnˈʃʊər/ v [T] 1 [(against)] to protect (someone or something) by insurance, especially against loss of money, life, goods etc: My house is insured against fire. | Are you insured for all risks? 2 especially AmE for ENSURE —able adj: an insurable risk
Compare insure, ensure, assure, and reassure. 1 You usually insure against future misfortune by paying money to an insurance company: fire insurance. But it is possible to insure/assure (BrE tech) against death: life insurance (AmE)/life assurance (BrE). 2 Ensure means 'to make sure that something happens': Please ensure that the lights are switched off before leaving the building. 3 If you assure a person of something you promise them or tell them that something will happen: The doctor assured me that I would get better. But when followed by an abstract noun assure is like ensure: Weeks of practice assured/ensured success in the match. 4 Reassure means 'to comfort someone who is anxious': I was feeling worried about the exam, but the teacher reassured me.
in·sured /ɪnˈʃʊəd||ɪnˈʃʊrd/ n the insured an insured person: If the camera is stolen the insured receives a sum of money.
in·sur·er /ɪnˈʃərər/ n a person or company that provides insurance: If the camera is stolen the insurer will pay a sum of money.
in·sur·gent /ɪnˈsɜːdʒənt||-ɜːr-/ n [often pl.] a person who is not an official soldier but is fighting against those in power, usually in his or her own country: The insurgents are gaining strength/gathering in the north of the country. → compare GUERRILLA; see also COUNTERINSURGENCY —insurgent adj: insurgent forces —gency n [C;U]
in·sur·mount·a·ble /ˌɪnsəˈmaʊntəbəl ||-sər-/ adj too large, difficult etc, to be dealt with: insurmountable problems/obstacles → compare INSUPERABLE
in·sur·rec·tion /ˌɪnsəˈrekʃən/ n [C;U] (an act of) opposing by force and trying to defeat the people who have power, such as the government —ist n
in·tact /ɪnˈtækt/ adj whole because no part has been touched, spoilt, or broken: The fragile parcel arrived intact. | (fig.) Somehow his reputation survived the scandal intact.
in·ta·gli·o /ɪnˈtæliəʊ/ n pl. -glios [C;U] (the result of) the art of making a picture, decoration etc, by cutting a pattern deeply into the surface of a hard substance, especially a jewel
in·take /ˈɪnteɪk/ n 1 [S(of)] the amount or number taken in or allowed to enter: If you want to lose weight, you should reduce your intake of fat and alcohol. | this year's intake of students 2 [C] an opening in a tube, pipe etc, where air, gas, or liquid is taken in: the air intakes of a jet engine
in·tan·gi·ble /ɪnˈtændʒəbəl/ adj 1 which by its nature cannot be known by the senses or described, though it can be felt: an intangible quality | As soon as we entered the house, we felt an intangible sense of gloom and hopelessness. 2 which is hidden or not material, but known to be real: intangible assets (=things belonging to a business which are not material, such as the loyalty of its customers) —bly adv —bility /ˌɪnˌtændəˈbɪləti/ n [U]
in·te·ger /ˈɪntɪdʒər/ n a whole number: 6 is an integer, but 6½ is not. → compare DECIMAL²
in·te·gral /ˈɪntɪgrəl/ adj [(to)] necessary (to complete something); which cannot be left out: an integral part of the argument/of our defence strategy | She is our best player, and is integral to our team.
,integral 'calculus n [U] (in MATHEMATICS) a way of measuring the distance which a moving object has covered at a particular moment; one of the two ways of making calculations about quantities which are continually changing → compare DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS
in·te·grate /ˈɪntɪgreɪt/ v [(with, into)] 1 [I;T] to join or cause (a member of a social group) to join in society as a whole; (cause to) spend time with members of other groups and develop habits like theirs: Not all foreign immigrants want to integrate (with us/into our society). | It is difficult to integrate released prisoners back into society. 2 [T] rather fml to join to something else so as to form a whole: Many schools are now