immobilize
verb /ɪˈməʊbəlaɪz/
/ɪˈməʊbəlaɪz/
(British English also immobilise)
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they immobilize | /ɪˈməʊbəlaɪz/ /ɪˈməʊbəlaɪz/ |
| he / she / it immobilizes | /ɪˈməʊbəlaɪzɪz/ /ɪˈməʊbəlaɪzɪz/ |
| past simple immobilized | /ɪˈməʊbəlaɪzd/ /ɪˈməʊbəlaɪzd/ |
| past participle immobilized | /ɪˈməʊbəlaɪzd/ /ɪˈməʊbəlaɪzd/ |
| -ing form immobilizing | /ɪˈməʊbəlaɪzɪŋ/ /ɪˈməʊbəlaɪzɪŋ/ |
- immobilize something/somebody to prevent something/somebody from moving or from working normally
- a device to immobilize the car engine in case of theft
- Always immobilize a broken leg immediately.
- The firm has been immobilized by a series of strikes.
- Some snakes inject their prey with poison in order to immobilize it.
Word Originlate 19th cent.: from French immobiliser, from immobile, from Latin immobilis, from in- ‘not’ + mobilis, from movere ‘to move’.