In fairy stories, an imp is a small, magical creature that often causes trouble in a playful way.
2. countable noun
People sometimes refer to a naughty child as an imp.
[informal]
More Synonyms of imp
imp in British English
(ɪmp)
noun
1.
a small demon or devil; mischievous sprite
2.
a mischievous child
verb
3. (transitive) falconry
to insert (new feathers) into the stumps of broken feathers in order to repair the wing of a hawk or falcon
Word origin
Old English impa bud, graft, hence offspring, child, from impian to graft, ultimately from Greek emphutos implanted, from emphuein to implant, from phuein to plant
imp. in British English
abbreviation for
1.
imperative
2.
imperfect
3.
imperial
4.
imprimatur
Imp. in British English
abbreviation for
1.
Imperator
2.
Imperatrix
3.
Imperial
Word origin
(for sense 1) Latin: Emperor; (for sense 2) Latin: Empress
imp in American English1
(ɪmp)
noun
1. Obsolete
a.
a shoot or graft
b.
a child; offspring
2.
a devil's offspring; young demon
3.
a mischievous child
verb transitive Archaic
4.
to implant, esp. by grafting
5.
to repair (the wing or tail of a falcon) by grafting on (feathers)
6.
to furnish with wings
7.
to help out by adding to, increasing, etc.
Word origin
ME impe < OE impa < impian, to graft in, akin to OHG impfōn < VL *imputare (< im-, in + putare, to prune), transl. of Gr emphyteyein, to engraft < emphyta, scion < em-, in + phyton, growth: see -phyte
imp in American English2
1.
imperative
2.
imperfect
3.
imperial
4.
impersonal
5.
import
6.
importer
7.
imprimatur
Examples of 'imp' in a sentence
imp
I can assure you, however, that Fred was an imp and Evander was pure joy.
MacLeod, Charlotte SOMETHING IN THE WATER (2002)
She tries to sense the household imp, that unseen menace, but it must be scared by the commotion of guests.
Gregory Maguire CONFESSIONS OF AN UGLY STEPSISTER (2002)
1 (noun)
Definition
a small demon
He sees the devil as a little imp with horns.
Synonyms
demon
They believed he was possessed by evil demons.
devil
You cheeky little devil!
sprite
a scampering puckish sprite
2 (noun)
Definition
a mischievous child
I didn't say that, you little imp!
Synonyms
rascal
What's that old rascal been telling you?
rogue
a loveable rogue
brat
He's a spoilt brat.
urchin (old-fashioned)
We were in the bazaar with all the little urchins watching us.