Inactive

Inactive
Inactive In*ac"tive, a. [Pref. in- not + active: cf. F. inactif.] [1913 Webster] 1. Not active; having no power to move; that does not or can not produce results; inert; as, matter is, of itself, inactive. [1913 Webster]

2. Not disposed to action or effort; not diligent or industrious; not busy; idle; as, an inactive officer. [1913 Webster]

3. (Chem. & Opt.) Not exhibiting any action or activity on polarized light; {optically inactive}; optically neutral; -- said of isomeric forms of certain substances, in distinction from other forms which are optically active; as, racemic acid is an inactive tartaric acid. [1913 Webster]

4. (Chem. & Biochem.) Lacking biological or biochemical activity; not causing a specific biological or biochemical effect; -- said of substances such as enzymes which have lost their catalytic power, or of small molecules which are tested for some type of biological activity and found to lack that activity; as, after boiling for ten minutes, the enzyme was totally inactive; the methyl analog was inactive as an antibiotic. [PJC]

Syn: Inert; dull; sluggish; idle; indolent; slothful; lazy. See {Inert}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • inactive — in‧ac‧tive [ɪnˈæktɪv] adjective 1. FINANCE if investors or dealers in a financial market are inactive, they are buying and selling very little: • Institutions continued to buy stocks selectively, while small investors remained inactive. 2.… …   Financial and business terms

  • inactive — inactive, idle, inert, passive, supine mean not engaged in work or activity. Inactive is applicable to anyone or to anything that for any reason is not currently in action, in operation, in use, or at work {inactive machines} {delicate children… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • inactive — I adjective abeyant, abolished, abrogated, apathetic, canceled, comatose, destroyed, disabled, dormant, idle, ignavus, inanimate, indifferent, indolent, iners, inert, inoperative, insentient, invalid, languid, latent, lazy, lethargic, lethargical …   Law dictionary

  • inactive — (adj.) 1725, from IN (Cf. in ) (1) not, opposite of + ACTIVE (Cf. active) …   Etymology dictionary

  • inactive — [adj] not engaged in action; inert, lazy abeyant, asleep, blah*, disengaged, do nothing*, dormant, down, draggy, dull, idle, immobile, indolent, in holding pattern*, inoperative, jobless, latent, lax, lethargic, limp, low key, mothballed*,… …   New thesaurus

  • inactive — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ not active, working, or energetic. DERIVATIVES inactivity noun …   English terms dictionary

  • inactive — [in ak′tiv] adj. 1. not active or moving 2. not inclined to act; idle; dull; sluggish 3. not in use or force; not functioning 4. not in active service in the armed forces 5. not affecting the plane of polarized light: said of some isomers of… …   English World dictionary

  • inactive — UK [ɪnˈæktɪv] / US adjective 1) a) not taking part in physical activity or exercise Physically inactive people are at risk of developing heart disease. b) not wanting to do anything He felt strangely inactive. 2) a) not working or operating an… …   English dictionary

  • inactive — ● inactif, inactive adjectif Qui n a pas d activité, n est marqué par aucune activité : Elle ne peut pas rester inactive. Une existence inactive et inutile. Qui est sans activité ou très peu actif, qui ne fonctionne pas, ne produit pas : Une… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • inactive — in|ac|tive [ ın æktıv ] adjective 1. ) not taking part in physical activity or exercise: Physically inactive people are at risk of developing heart disease. a ) not wanting to do anything: He felt strangely inactive. 2. ) not working or operating …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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