different between inactive vs inaction

English

Etymology

From French inactif. See also earlier unactive.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?ækt?v/
• Rhymes: -ækt?v

Adjective

inactive (comparative more inactive, superlative most inactive)

1. Not active, temporarily or permanently.

   The volcano is inactive, but is only dormant.

   An inactive boy, he rarely exercised and preferred to stay indoors.

2. Not functioning or operating; broken down

   The photocopier is inactive pending repair.

3. Retired from duty or service.

   Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list.

4. (chemistry) Relatively inert.

   Aluminium is inactive towards water.

5. (physics) Showing no optical activity in polarized light.

   Synthetic glycine is optically inactive as it contains equal amounts of the d- and l- form.

Synonyms

• (not active): dull, dormant; see also Thesaurus:inactive
• (not functioning or operating): idle

Antonyms

• (not active): active

Derived terms

• inactively
• inactivity

Translations

Anagrams

• antivice, vaticine

French

Verb

inactive

1. first-person singular present indicative of inactiver
2. third-person singular present indicative of inactiver
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of inactiver
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of inactiver
5. second-person singular imperative of inactiver

Adjective

inactive

1. feminine singular of inactif

Latin

Adjective

in?ct?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of in?ct?vus

Portuguese

Verb

inactive

1. first-person singular present subjunctive of inactivar
2. third-person singular present subjunctive of inactivar
3. first-person singular imperative of inactivar
4. third-person singular imperative of inactivar

Spanish

Verb

inactive

1. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of inactivar.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of inactivar.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of inactivar.
4. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of inactivar.

English

Etymology

From French inaction, from in- + action.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?æk??n/

Noun

inaction (countable and uncountable, plural inactions)

1. Lack of action or activity or labor

   Synonyms: idleness, rest, inertness, inertia

Related terms

• inactive
• inactively
• inactivity

Translations

References

• inaction in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• inaction in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• intonaci, nicotian

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /i.nak.sj??/

Noun

inaction f (plural inactions)

1. inactivity

Descendants

• Russian: ???????????? (bezdéjstvije), ???????????????? (bezdéjatel?nost?) (calques)