improvise

improvise
[[t]ɪ̱mprəvaɪz[/t]]
improvises, improvising, improvised
1) VERB If you improvise, you make or do something using whatever you have or without having planned it in advance.

You need a wok with a steaming rack for this; if you don't have one, improvise...

[V n] The vet had improvised a harness...

[V-ed] The men huddled in holes in the sand or behind an improvised stone windbreak.

[V-ed] ...tents improvised from sheets of heavy plastic draped over wooden poles.

Derived words:
improvisation [[t]ɪ̱mprəvaɪze͟ɪʃ(ə)n, AM -vɪz-[/t]] plural N-VAR

Funds were not abundant and clever improvisation was necessary.

2) VERB When performers improvise, they invent music or words as they play, sing, or speak.

I asked her what the piece was and she said, `Oh, I'm just improvising'...

[V n] Uncle Richard intoned a chapter from the Bible and improvised a prayer...

[V on n] I think that the art of a storyteller is to take the story and improvise on it.

[V-ed] ...improvised comedy.

Derived words:
improvisation plural N-VAR oft N on n

...an improvisation on `Jingle Bells'.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • improvise — [im′prə vīz΄] vt., vi. improvised, improvising [Fr improviser < It improvvisare < improvviso, unprepared < L improvisus, unforeseen < in , not + provisus, pp. of providere, to foresee, anticipate: see PROVIDE] 1. to compose, or… …   English World dictionary

  • Improvise — Im pro*vise , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Improvised}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Improvising}.] [F. improviser, it. improvvisare, fr. improvviso unprovided, sudden, extempore, L. improvisus; pref. im not + provisus foreseen, provided. See {Proviso}.] 1. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Improvise — Im pro*vise , v. i. To produce or render extemporaneous compositions, especially in verse or in music, without previous preparation; hence, to do anything offhand. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • improvise — index compose, conjure, contrive, create, devise (invent), invent (produce for the first time), make, originate …   Law dictionary

  • improvisé — improvisé, ée (in pro vi zé, zée) part. passé d improviser. Chanson improvisée. Fête improvisée …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • improvise — (v.) 1826, back formation from improvisation, or else from Fr. improviser (17c.), from It. improvisare to sing or speak extempore, from improviso, from L. improvisus unforeseen, unexpected (see IMPROVISATION (Cf. improvisation)). Or possibly a… …   Etymology dictionary

  • improvise — is spelt ise, not ize …   Modern English usage

  • improvise — [v] make up ad lib, brainstorm, coin, concoct, contrive, dash off*, devise, do offhand, do off top of head*, dream up, extemporize, fake, fake it, improv*, improvisate, invent, jam*, knock off*, make do*, slapdash*, spark, speak off the cuff*,… …   New thesaurus

  • improvise — ► VERB 1) create and perform (music, drama, or verse) spontaneously or without preparation. 2) make from whatever is available. DERIVATIVES improvisation noun improvisational adjective improvisatory adjective improviser noun. ORIGIN …   English terms dictionary

  • improvise — UK [ˈɪmprəvaɪz] / US [ˈɪmprəˌvaɪz] verb Word forms improvise : present tense I/you/we/they improvise he/she/it improvises present participle improvising past tense improvised past participle improvised 1) a) [intransitive] to do something without …   English dictionary

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