invalid
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invalid³ v
invalid sbdy. out phr v BrE [T(of) usually pass.] to allow (some-one) to leave (especially a military force) because of ill-health: He was invalided out of the army when he lost the sight of one eye.
in-val-i-date /ɪnˈvælɪdeɪt/ v [T] to make (something) invalid; show that (something) is not correct: The fact that there is almost no critical discussion of his paintings invali-dates this book's claims to be the standard work on Blake.
—dation /ˌnˌvælɪˈdeɪʃn/ n [U]
in-va-lid-i-ty /ˌɪnvəˈlɪdəti/ n [U] 1 the state of being INVALID¹: the invalidity of her arguments 2 the state of being an INVALID²: an invalidity pension
inva'lidity ,benefit n [C;U] (in Britain) a payment made by the government to someone who has been unable to work because of illness for more than a certain length of time
in-val-u-a-ble /ɪnˈvæljuəbl/ adj [(for, to)] apprec too valuable for the worth to be measured; extremely useful: An electric drill would have been invaluable for this job. | your invaluable help | His advice has been invaluable to the success of the project. → see VALUABLE (USAGE)
in-var-i-a-ble /ɪnˈveəriəbl/ adj which cannot or does not vary or change: an invariable quantity | She came to see me with the invariable request (=the request she always makes) for a loan. —bility /ˌɪnˌveəriəˈbɪləti/ n [U]
in-var-i-a-bly /ɪnˈveəriəbli/ adv 1 in an invariable way 2 always: It invariably rains when I go there.
in-va-sion /ɪnˈveɪʒn/ n an act of invading (INVADE), espe-cially an attack in war when the enemy spreads into and tries to control a country, city etc: the invasion of Normandy
—sive /ˈveɪsɪv/ adj: invasive cancer cells
in,vasion of 'privacy n an INTRUSION into the personal affairs of another person: Opening my letter was an inexcus-able invasion of privacy.
in-vec-tive /ɪnˈvektɪv/ n [S;U] fml (a) forceful attacking speech used for blaming someone for something and often including swearing: They cringed under the force of his withering invective.
in-veigh /ɪnˈveɪ/ v
inveigh against sthg./sbdy. phr v [T] fml to attack strongly with words: The speaker was inveighing against the evils of drink.
in-vei-gle /ɪnˈveɪɡl, ɪnˈviː-||ɪnˈveɪ-/ v [T] to obtain by deceit or tricks: I inveigled fifty bucks from her with my hard luck story.
inveigle sbdy. into sthg. phr v [T+obj+v-ing] to trick (some-one) into (doing something) by persuading (them) cleverly
in-vent /ɪnˈvent/ v [T] 1 to make or produce (especially a new or useful thing or idea) for the first time: Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. 2 to think of (a story, lie etc) especially in order to deceive; produce (some-thing untrue or unreal): They invented a very convincing alibi. | He invented a hundred reasons why he couldn't go.
You discover something that existed before but was not known, such as a place or a fact. You invent something that did not exist before, such as a machine or a method: They discovered oil in the North Sea. | Who invented the computer?
in-ven-tion /ɪnˈvenn/ n 1 [U] the act of inventing: the invention of the telephone 2 [C] something invented: The telephone is a wonderful invention. | The whole story is a complete invention; I don't believe a word of it!
in-ven-tive /ɪnˈventɪv/ adj apprec having or showing the ability to invent or think in new and different ways: an inventive person/mind ——ly adv ——ness n [U]
in-ven-tor /ɪnˈventər/ n a person who invents something new, especially one whose job is inventing things
in·ven·tory /ˈɪnvntri-ˌtɔːri/ n 1 [(of)] a list, especially one of all the goods in a place: An inventory of all the stock has to be made before the shop can be sold. 2 AmE all the goods in one place; STOCK
In·ver·ness /ˌɪnvəness ||-var-/ a town in northern Scotland which is often considered to be the capital of the HIGHLANDS
in-verse /ˌɪnˈv3:s ||-3:rs/ n, adj [A; the (of)] (something which is) opposite, especially in order or position: The
inverse of 4/5 is 1/5. | Amazingly, his enthusiasm for a job seems to be in inverse relation/proportion to the amount he gets paid for it! (=the less he gets paid, the more he likes it) —ly adv
in-ver-sion /ɪnˈv3:ʃn||-ˈv3:rʒn/ n 1 [U] the act of invert-ing 2 [C] a weather condition in which the air nearest the ground is cooler than the air above it. In cities this is connected with POLLUTION.
in-vert /ɪnˈv3:t||-3:rt/ v [T] fml or tech to put in the opposite position or order, especially to turn upside down: She caught the insect by inverting her cup over it.
in-ver-te-brate /ɪnˈv3:təbrət, -breɪt||-3:r-/ n tech a living creature which has no BACKBONE: Worms and insects are invertebrates. → compare VERTEBRATE —invertebrate adj
in,verted 'comma n BrE 1 QUOTATION MARK 2 in inverted commas BrE || in quotes AmE (used, especially in speech, for suggesting the opposite of what has just been said): 'Her friends, in inverted commas, all disappeared when she was in trouble.' (=so they were not really her friends) compare, in writing: Her 'friends' all disappeared ... → compare SO-CALLED
in,verted 'snob BrE || reverse snob AmE — n someone who makes a show of disliking grand things and admiring things typical of low social class —bery n [U]
in·vest /ɪnˈvest/ v 1 [I;T(in)] to put (money) to a particular use, e.g. by buying SHARES in a business, in order to make a profit: Your bank manager will advise you how/where to invest your money. | He invested £1000 in an oil company. | You can make a lot of money by investing in antique furniture. (=buying it so as to make a profit when the price goes up) | (fig.) I've invested a lot of time and effort in this plan, and I don't want it to fail. 2 [T] old use to surround with soldiers or ships so as to prevent escape or entrance
invest in sthg. phr v [T] infml to buy: I've decided to invest in a new car.
invest sbdy. with sthg. phr v [T often pass.] fml or lit to give officially to (a person) (the outward signs of rank or power, or the power itself): She was invested with full authority. | (fig.) Don't invest his words with too much importance! (=don't take them too seriously)
in·vest·ed /ɪnˈvestɪd/ adj [(in)] AmE strongly connected or interested, often in an emotional way: I'm too invested in this situation to be objective about it. | She's really invested in her boyfriend at the moment.
in·ves·ti·gate /ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/ v [I;T] to try to find out more information about; examine the reasons for (something), the character of (someone) etc: The police are investigating the crime. | He has been investigated and found blameless. | to investigate the causes of cancer —gator n —gation /ɪnˌvestɪˈɡeɪʃn/ n [C;U(into)]
in·ves·ti·ga·tive /ɪnˈvestɪɡətɪv||-ɡeɪtɪv/ adj investigative journalism work or activities that involve trying to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem
in·ves·ti·ture /ɪnˈvestɪtʃər ||-tʃʊər/ n a ceremony to accept someone into office, to give them certain powers etc: the investiture of the Prince of Wales
in·vest·ment /ɪnˈvestmənt/ n [(in)] 1 [U] the act of invest-ing (INVEST) 2 [C] something invested or in which one INVESTS: She made an investment of £1000 in the new firm. | He sold off all his investments in South America. | The government is trying to attract more investment into the ship-building industry. | Antique furniture is a very safe/good investment.
in'vestment ,company n a company whose main business is to buy the SHARES or securities (SECURITY) of other com-panies purely for investment purposes → compare HOLDING COMPANY
in'vestment ,trust n an investment company that buys securities (SECURITY) as its investors. Investment trusts are free to choose which securities they buy for their investors as their aim is to give investors the best possible income from their money.
in·ves·tor /ɪnˈvestər/ n a person who puts money to a particular use, for example by buying SHARES in a business, in order to make a profit: We have to protect the interests of our investors. | a major investor in the new company