Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Inactive
In-ac′tive
,Adj.
[Pref.
in-
not + active
: cf. F. inactif
.] 1.
Not active; having no power to move; that does not or can not produce results; inert;
as, matter is, of itself,
. inactive
2.
Not disposed to action or effort; not diligent or industrious; not busy; idle;
as, an
. inactive
officer3.
(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
Syn. – Inert; dull; sluggish; idle; indolent; slothful; lazy. See
Inert
. Webster 1828 Edition
Inactive
INAC'TIVE
,Adj.
1.
Not active; not diligent or industrious; not busy; idle. Also, habitually idle; indolent; sluggish; as an inactive officer.Definition 2024
inactive
inactive
See also: inactivé
English
Adjective
inactive (comparative more inactive, superlative most inactive)
- Not active, temporarily or permanently.
- The volcano is inactive, but is only dormant.
- Not functioning or operating; broken down
- The photocopier is inactive pending repair.
- Retired from duty or service.
- Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list.
- (chemistry) Relatively inert.
- Aluminium is inactive towards water.
- (physics) Showing no optical activity in polarized light.
- Synthetic glycine is optically inactive as it contains equal amounts of the d- and l- form.
Derived terms
Synonyms
Antonyms
- (not active): active
Translations
Not active, temporarily or permanently
|
Not functioning or operating; broken down
|
Retired from duty or service
Showing no optical activity in polarized light
French
Verb
inactive
- first-person singular present indicative of inactiver
- third-person singular present indicative of inactiver
- first-person singular present subjunctive of inactiver
- first-person singular present subjunctive of inactiver
- second-person singular imperative of inactiver
Adjective
inactive
- feminine singular of inactif
Portuguese
Verb
inactive
- first-person singular present subjunctive of inactivar
- third-person singular present subjunctive of inactivar
- first-person singular imperative of inactivar
- third-person singular imperative of inactivar
Spanish
Verb
inactive
- First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of inactivar.
- Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of inactivar.
- Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of inactivar.
- Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of inactivar.