Unit 7A

Word

Definition

Example

outsell

to sell more goods or products than a competitor

Australia now outsells the US in wines.

illegal

not allowed by law

It is illegal to do a U-turn on a motorway.

uncurl

to become straightened out from a curled or coiled position

The snake uncurled and slithered off.

regrow

to grow again, or make something grow again

The lizard's tail had been cut off, but it had regrown.

misspell

to spell a word wrongly

'Accommodation' is a word which people often misspell.

inability

the state of being unable to do something

Alcoholism can result in an inability to cope

imperfect

damaged, containing problems, or not having something

We're living in an imperfect world.

impure

mixed with foreign matter; adulterated

The last sample was impure and quite useless for manufacturing purposes.

immoral

deliberately violating accepted principles of right and wrong

Stealing is not only illegal, it is also immoral

immobile

not capable of movement or of being moved

He stood immobile by the window, watching us depart

impersonal

not relating to or responsive to individual persons

I don't like big companies. They tend to be impersonal

impractical

not practical

It was an impractical idea and nobody thought it would work

illegitimate

contrary to or forbidden by law

They had an illegitimate child

illiterate

not able to read or write

A large percentage of the rural population was illiterate in the 1800s

illogical

not sensible or reasonable

I can't understand your illogical behaviour. Make up your mind!

irrational

not consistent with or using reason

Fear of spiders is pretty irrational

irregular

lacking continuity or regularity

My attendance at the gym has been very irregular this term

irrelevant

having no bearing on or connection with the subject at issue

It is irrelevant if I believe your excuses or not

irreplaceable

impossible to replace

These antiques are irreplaceable

inappropriate

not suitable for a particular occasion etc

Do you think colourful clothes are a bit inappropriate for a funeral?

incapable

unable to do or achieve (something)

He seemed incapable of understanding how she felt.

incoherent

without logical or meaningful connection

His speech was incoherent and nobody understood it

dishonest

not honest, and so deceiving or cheating people

Downloading music without paying is dishonest.

disembark

go ashore

We had just disembarked from the boat and felt a bit dizzy

discontinue

put an end to a state or an activity

The company has decided to discontinue the free gym membership

disagree

to have or express a different opinion from someone else

I'm sorry, but I totally disagree

unofficial

not having official authority or sanction

Unofficial estimates put the figure at two million

unhelpful

not helping in a situation and sometimes making it worse

The staff were unfriendly and unhelpful.

undo

cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect

Why don't you try to undo the damage?

unattractive

unpleasant to look at

This is modern architecture at its most unattractive.

inhospitable

not welcoming

The Atacama Desert must be an inhospitable place to live

incompetent

not having the ability or skill to do a job properly

He has described the government as corrupt and incompetent.