INACTIVE • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Inactive

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/ɪnˈæktɪv/ Listen

adjective

Inactive adj.

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 officer.

3.

(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.

4.

(Chem. & Biochem.) Lacking biological or biochemical activity; not causing a specific biological or biochemical effect; said of substances such as enzymes which have lost their catalytic power, or of small molecules which are tested for some type of biological activity and found to lack that activity; as, after boiling for ten minutes, the enzyme was totally inactive; the methyl analog was inactive as an antibiotic.

Synonyms: Inert; dull; sluggish; idle; indolent; slothful; lazy. See Inert.

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Etymology of 'Inactive'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Inactive" Quotes from Famous Books

... furnace of fire; but amid the flames I realized the presence of the Son of God, who said, 'have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.' This for a time seemed an answer to my petition, and so thought it my life-work to suffer; for a while my faith became inactive, and I almost ceased praying for my health. Though I felt submissive, yet somehow I was soon crying, and that most instinctively, 'Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.' After this, my faith did not waver. Oh, the lesson of patience I learned in thus waiting on God's good ...

— The Wonders of Prayer - A Record of Well Authenticated and Wonderful Answers to Prayer • Various

... is now lost; and in those that remain there is the silence and solitude of inactive indigence and gloomy depopulation.... St. Andrews seems to be a place eminently adapted to study and education.... The students, however, are represented as, at this time, not exceeding a hundred. I saw no reason for imputing their paucity to the present professors.' Johnson's Works, ...

— Life Of Johnson, Volume 5 • Boswell

... culture in so far as it is dependent upon the excess of energy and upon idleness. There cannot be any doubt that our merchant class, with but few exceptions, is the healthiest and, at the same time, most inactive class." ...

— Foma Gordyeff - (The Man Who Was Afraid) • Maxim Gorky

... of a new and better state of things without any outbreak of popular excess, must have been a fine thing to see. But as a woman, incapable of mixing personally in such scenes, I would rather have the report of them at a distance than witness them as a mere inactive spectator; for though the loss of life has been comparatively small, considering the great end that has been achieved, it must be horrible to see bloodshed, even that of a single individual. I believe I am a great coward. I shall not close this to-night, but ...

— Records of a Girlhood • Frances Anne Kemble

... that it was time for him to return. The southern cities and states of Greece had not been unanimous in raising him to the office which his father had held. The Spartans and some others were opposed to him. The party thus opposed were inactive and silent while Alexander was in their country, on his first visit to southern Greece; but after his return they began to contemplate more decisive action, and afterward, when they heard of his having undertaken so desperate an enterprise as going ...

— Alexander the Great - Makers of History • Jacob Abbott

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