invasive

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French invasif, from Medieval Latin invasivus, from invādō (enter, invade).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɪnˈveɪsɪv/

Adjective

invasive (comparative more invasive, superlative most invasive)

  1. That invades a foreign country using military force.
  2. Relating to military aggression generally.
    • mid 1590s, William Shakespeare, King John, Act V, sc. 1:
      Oh inglorious league : / Shall we vpon the footing of our land, / Send fayre-play-orders, and make comprimiſe, / Inſinuation, parley, and baſe truce / To Armes Inuaſiue ?
  3. (of a plant or animal) That grows in environments which do not harbor natural enemes, often to the detriment of native species or of food or garden flora and fauna.
    an invasive species
  4. (medicine) (of a carcinoma etc) That invades healthy tissue; (of a procedure) in which part of the body is entered
  5. Intrusive on one's privacy.
  6. Coming from outside; originating externally.
    • 1902, William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Lectures 4 & 5:
      All invasive moral states and passionate enthusiasms make one feelingless to evil in some direction.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

invasive (plural invasives)

  1. An invasive organism, as, a plant or animal.
    • 2005, Barbara J. Euser, Bay Area Gardening: 64 Practical Essays by Master Gardeners, Travelers' Tales (→ISBN), page 174
      There is never a time to plant exotic, that is non-native, invasives. Exotic invasives such as pampas grass and French and Scottish broom were sold by local nurseries in the past, before their destructive nature was understood.

French

Adjective

invasive

  1. feminine singular of invasif

German

Adjective

invasive

  1. inflected form of invasiv

Italian

Adjective

invasive

  1. feminine plural of invasivo

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

invasive

  1. definite singular of invasiv
  2. plural form of invasiv

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

invasive

  1. definite singular of invasiv
  2. plural form of invasiv
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