Link Centre Dictionary

invasive

in·va·sive

US/ɪnˈveɪsɪv/ uncommon

adjective

1.

relating to a technique in which the body is entered by puncture or incision

Antonyms
2.

marked by a tendency to spread especially into healthy tissue

  • “invasive cancer cells”
Antonyms
Similar
3.

involving invasion or aggressive attack

  • “invasive war”
Similar
4.

gradually intrusive without right or permission

  • “we moved back from the encroaching tide”
  • “invasive tourists”
  • “trespassing hunters”

Origin

PIE word *h₁én The adjective is derived from Middle English invasif (“of a weapon: offensive”), from Middle French invasif, Old French invasif (“invasive”) (modern French invasif), from Medieval Latin invāsīvus, from Latin invāsus (“entered; invaded”) + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives). Invāsus is the perfect passive participle of invādō (“to enter; to invade”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside’) + vādō (“to go; to rush; to walk”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weh₂dʰ- (“to go, proceed; to pass, traverse”)). The noun is derived from the adjective.

Phrases

  • invasive carp
  • invasive exotic
  • invasive species
  • minimally invasive

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.