insert
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to put something into or between other things.
v.to place or fit something into another object or between existing parts. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Simple“Please insert your credit card into the machine to pay for the parking.”
In context“The technician had to insert a small probe into the narrow gap between the engine blocks to locate the source of the leak.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a loose piece of paper, such as an advertisement, placed inside a magazine or newspaper.
n.a promotional or informative leaflet or separate section placed within a larger publication or package.
Simple“The Sunday newspaper always comes with several colourful advertising inserts.”
In context“The marketing department designed a glossy insert for the trade journal to highlight the new product line's technical specifications.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.a small part that is made to fit into a larger piece of equipment.
n.a component designed to be placed into a larger assembly to provide a specific function, such as a threaded hole or a protective lining.
Simple“The shoes come with a special foam insert to make them more comfortable.”
In context“The engineer specified a hardened steel insert for the plastic casing to ensure the bolt would not strip the threads over time.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
n.a short piece of film or a close-up shot added to a larger scene.
n.a pre-recorded segment or a specific close-up shot integrated into a larger broadcast or cinematic sequence to provide detail.
Simple“The director decided to add an insert of the ticking clock to build tension.”
In context“During the live news broadcast, the producer triggered a pre-recorded insert featuring an interview with the local mayor.”
Synonymscutawaysegment - 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a key on a computer keyboard that changes how you type over text.
n.a keyboard key used to toggle between inserting new characters and overwriting existing text.
Simple“I accidentally hit the Insert key and started deleting my previous sentences as I typed.”
In context“Modern text editors often disable the Insert key functionality by default to prevent users from unintentionally overwriting their work.”
From Latin insertus, past participle of inserō, from in- + serō (“join, bind together, connect, entwine, interweave”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to bind, put together, to line up”). Compare exsert.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.