Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

inspiration

Syllabification: (in·spi·ra·tion)
Pronunciation: /ˌinspəˈrāSHən/
Translate inspiration | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of inspiration

noun

  • 1the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative:Helen had one of her flashes of inspiration the history of fashion has provided designers with invaluable inspiration
  • the quality of being inspired, especially when evident in something:a rare moment of inspiration in an otherwise dull display
  • a person or thing that inspires:he is an inspiration to everyone
  • a sudden brilliant, creative, or timely idea:then I had an inspiration
  • the divine influence believed to have led to the writing of the Bible.
  • 2the drawing in of breath; inhalation.
  • an act of breathing in; an inhalation.

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'divine guidance'): via Old French from late Latin inspiratio(n-), from the verb inspirare (see inspire)

inspiration in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of inspiration in the British & World English dictionary
  |  Cite
Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

Shop for an Oxford dictionary

Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

cur

/ kəː /
noun
an aggressive or unkempt dog …