improvise definition - Dictionary

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improvised explosive device

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improvise

im·pro·vise [ ímprə vz ] (past and past participle im·pro·vised, present participle im·pro·vis·ing, 3rd person present singular im·pro·vis·es)

transitive and intransitive verb

Definition:

1. make something up on spot: to perform or compose something, especially a sketch, play, song, or piece of music, without any preparation or set text to follow

2. substitute: to make a substitute for something out of the materials that happen to be available at the time

If you don't have a hammer, we'll have to improvise.

[Early 19th century. Directly or via French< Italian improvvisare< Latin improvisus "unforeseen" < providere (see provide)]

im·prov·i·sa·tion [ im pròvvi záysh'n, ìmprəvi záysh'n ] noun

im·prov·i·sa·tion·al adjective

im·prov·i·sa·tion·al·ly adverb

im·prov·i·sa·to·ri·al [ im pròvvizə táwree əl ] adjective

im·prov·i·sa·to·ry [ im próvvizə tàwree, ìmprə vzə tàwree ] adjective

im·pro·vis·er [ ímprə vzər ] noun