inert
inert
Definition
in·ert (in ʉrt′)
adjective
- having inertia; without power to move, act, or resist
- tending to be physically or mentally inactive; dull; slow
- having or exhibiting little or no activity, esp. chemical activity inert matter in a fertilizer, an inert gas
Etymology: L iners, without skill or art, idle < in-, not + ars (gen. artis), skill, art)
in·ert′ly adverb
in·ert′·ness noun
inert
Synonyms
inert
Usage Examples
Preposition: in
- body: Much of the previous work in this area was directed toward producing materials which remained passive and inert in the body.
- atmosphere: CO2, while more inert in the atmosphere, becomes highly reactive in oceans, leading to physical, biological, and geological changes.
Adjective complement with noun phrase
- render: Plot hole: Slater decides to render the nuke inert by punching in the wrong code three times.
Modifies a noun
- gas: Anglian's unique gas sealed units, with their blend of inert gases, can dramatically cut heat loss by up to 15 percent.
- filler: Injection of the tablet form can lead to blockage of veins by the inert fillers in the formulation.
- landfill: Some of the older inert landfills, which pose little risk and are being developed for commercial and industrial use.
- atmosphere: The key to inert atmosphere soldering is really the ability to solder in the absence of oxygen.
- waste: The license permitted the storage of 15,000 tons of inert waste in certain areas of the site.
- substance: They are thought to be made of inert substances designed to have no effect.
Modifying Another Word
- chemically: Like H 2 O, CO 2 is a chemically inert molecule.
- physiologically: Food contact: being physiologically inert, it is suitable for food contact.
- causally: Such entities would seem to be causally inert, some philosophers will say.
- biologically: Any remaining matter is composted to reduce its bulk and make it biologically inert.
- relatively: Urea is a relatively inert substance compared with ammonia.
- totally: A microchip is a tiny, totally inert electronic transponder about the size of a grain of rice.
Used with adjective complement
- lie: In the occupied area the whole of heavy industry lay inert because of passive resistance.
- remain: Christ have mercy For the times we could have turned love into a reality but remained inert... .
- become: Now many people say that if you do this you will become inert.
- sit: Some are dense and will sit inert on the bottom.
- seem: Sephar says " It seems inert for the moment, Sir.
Browse dictionary entries near inert
- inerrant
- inerrable
- inerasable
- ineradicable
- inequivalve
- inequity
- inequitable
- inequality
- ineptitude
- inept
- inertia
- inertial guidance (or navigation)
- inescapable
- inessential
- inestimable
- Inetd
- inevitable
- inevitably
- inexact
- inexcusable
