释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024in•spire /ɪnˈspaɪr/USA pronunciation v., -spired, -spir•ing. - to fill or affect (someone) with a strong or uplifting influence:[~ + object]Her courage inspired her followers.
- to fill or affect (someone) with any feeling, etc.:[~ + object + with + object]Their teacher inspired them with respect.
- to produce (a feeling, etc.):[~ + object + (in + object)]A good leader inspires confidence in his or her followers.
- to influence or impel (someone to do something): [~ + object + to + object]Competition inspired them to greater efforts.[~ + object + to + verb]Her criticisms inspired him to try harder.
- to communicate or suggest by a divine influence:[~ + object]Christians believe that the New Testament was inspired by God.
See -spir-. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024in•spire (in spīər′),USA pronunciation v., -spired, -spir•ing. v.t. - to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence:His courage inspired his followers.
- to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.):to inspire confidence in others.
- to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc.:to inspire a person with distrust.
- to influence or impel:Competition inspired her to greater efforts.
- to animate, as an influence, feeling, thought, or the like, does:They were inspired by a belief in a better future.
- to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence:writings inspired by God.
- to guide or control by divine influence.
- to prompt or instigate (utterances, acts, etc.) by influence, without avowal of responsibility.
- to give rise to, bring about, cause, etc.:a philosophy that inspired a revolution.
- to take (air, gases, etc.) into the lungs in breathing; inhale.
- [Archaic.]
- to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually fol. by into).
- to breathe into or upon.
v.i. - to give inspiration.
- to inhale.
- Latin inspīrāre to breathe upon or into, equivalent. to in- in-2 + spīrāre to breathe
- Middle English inspiren 1300–50
in•spir•a•tive (in spīər′ə tiv, in′spi rā′tiv),USA pronunciation adj. in•spir′er, n. in•spir′ing•ly, adv. |