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Showing results for intransitive. Search instead for Intransitive+Used.

intransitive

American  
[in-tran-si-tiv] / ɪnˈtræn sɪ tɪv /

adjective

  1. noting or having the quality of an intransitive verb.


intransitive British  
/ ɪnˈtrænsɪtɪv /

adjective

    1. denoting a verb when it does not require a direct object

    2. denoting a verb that customarily does not require a direct object

      "to faint" is an intransitive verb

    3. (as noun) a verb in either of these categories

  1. denoting an adjective or noun that does not require any particular noun phrase as a referent

  2. logic maths (of a relation) having the property that if it holds between one argument and a second, and between the second and a third, it must fail to hold between the first and the third

    "being the mother of" is an intransitive relation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of intransitive

From the Latin word intrānsitīvus, dating back to 1605–15. See in- 3, transitive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Gowers deemed the intransitive dice question ripe for a group effort and proposed it on his blog in 2017.

From Scientific American • Sep. 19, 2023

Missing hyphens or incorrect capitalization, ambiguities about singular and plural nouns or transitive and intransitive verbs — no question is too insignificant.

From Seattle Times • May 29, 2023

Missing hyphens or incorrect capitalization, ambiguities about singular and plural nouns or transitive and intransitive verbs - no question is too insignificant.

From Washington Times • May 29, 2023

“To bald” may not be a common intransitive verb, but that has not prevented “balding” from entering the language as a participle.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 2, 2019

In accordance with the general definitions already given, a permutation-group is called transitive or intransitive according as it does or does not contain permutations changing any one of the symbols into any other.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 6 "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad" by Various

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