inbuilt
/ˈɪnbɪlt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪnbɪlt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈin-ˈbilt/ (ame, mw)
inbuilt — adjective
- inbuiltpositive
- more inbuiltcomparative
- most inbuiltsuperlative
1. describing a feature, ability, or quality that is fitted or formed inside its ho
describing a feature, ability, or quality that is fitted or formed inside its host from the very start — for example a thermometer built into an oven, or a child's natural fear of falling — and that cannot easily be removed.
Ilan's new oven has an inbuilt thermometer that beeps when the bread is ready.
inbuilt + noun (device feature)
Most babies seem to have an inbuilt fear of falling, even before they can crawl.
inbuilt + abstract noun (innate trait)
Femi argued that the voting system has an inbuilt bias against smaller parties.
The bookshelves in Ramón's old apartment were inbuilt, so he could not take them when he moved.
Good teachers often have an inbuilt sense of when a child is struggling but afraid to ask.
- built-in
near-identical in meaning; slightly more common in everyday speech, especially for devices
- innate
more formal; used mainly of human or animal qualities (innate ability) rather than devices
- inherent
formal; stresses that the quality belongs to the very nature of the thing, often abstract
- integral
stresses being a necessary part of a whole; often used of components in a system
文法句型
inbuilt + noun
用法筆記
Almost always sits before a noun (attributive). Common collocates fall into two groups: physical features of a device (inbuilt camera, inbuilt speaker) and innate human qualities or structural properties (inbuilt fear, inbuilt bias, inbuilt advantage). Predicative use ('the shelves are inbuilt') is rare and slightly old-fashioned — 'built-in' is more usual there.