inanimate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective belonging to the class of nouns denoting nonliving things
    • the word `car' is inanimate
  2. adjective not endowed with life
    nonliving; non-living.
    • the inorganic world is inanimate
    • inanimate objects
  3. adjective satellite appearing dead; not breathing or having no perceptible pulse
    breathless; pulseless.
    • an inanimate body
    • pulseless and dead

WordNet

In*an"i*mate transitive verb
Etymology
Pref. in- in (or intensively) + animate.
Definitions
  1. To animate. Obs. Donne.
In*an"i*mate adjective
Etymology
L. inanimatus; pref. in- not + animatus animate.
Definitions
  1. Not animate; destitute of life or spirit; lifeless; dead; inactive; dull; as, stones and earth are inanimate substances.
    Grieving, if aught inanimate e'er grieves. Byron.
    Syn. -- Lifeless; dead; inert; inactive; dull; soulless; spiritless. See Lifeless.

Webster 1913