'Intransitive' definitions:
Definition of 'intransitive'
From: WordNet
adjective
Designating a verb that does not require or cannot take a direct object [ant: transitive]
noun
A verb (or verb construction) that does not take an object [syn: intransitive verb, intransitive verb form, intransitive]
Definition of 'Intransitive'
From: GCIDE
- Intransitive \In*tran"si*tive\, a. [L. intransitivus: cf. F. intransitif. See In- not, and Transitive.]
- 1. Not passing farther; kept; detained. [R.] [1913 Webster]
- And then it is for the image's sake and so far is intransitive; but whatever is paid more to the image is transitive and passes further. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Gram.) Not transitive; not passing over to an object; expressing an action or state that is limited to the agent or subject, or, in other words, an action which does not require an object to complete the sense; as, an intransitive verb, e. g., the bird flies; the dog runs. [1913 Webster]
- Note: Intransitive verbs have no passive form. Some verbs which appear at first sight to be intransitive are in reality, or were originally, transitive verbs with a reflexive or other object omitted; as, he keeps (i. e., himself) aloof from danger. Intransitive verbs may take a noun of kindred signification for a cognate object; as, he died the death of a hero; he dreamed a dream. Some intransitive verbs, by the addition of a preposition, become transitive, and so admit of a passive voice; as, the man laughed at; he was laughed at by the man. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'intransitive'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- adjectival,
- adverbial,
- attributive,
- auxiliary,
- auxiliary verb,
- conjunctive,
- copula,
- copulative,
- correct,
- defective verb,
- deponent verb,
- finite verb,
- formal,
- functional,
- glossematic,
- grammatic,
- impersonal verb,
- infinitive,
- intransitive verb,
- linking,
- linking verb,
- modal auxiliary,
- neuter verb,
- nominal,
- participial,
- postpositional,
- prepositional,
- pronominal,
- structural,
- substantive,
- syntactic,
- tagmemic,
- transitive,
- verb,
- verb phrase,
- verbal