insert

1. verb

1)

he inserted a tape in the machine

Syn:

put, place, push, thrust, slide, slip, load, fit, slot, lodge, install; informal pop, stick

Ant:

extract, take out

2)

she inserted a clause

Syn:

enter, introduce, add, incorporate, interpolate, interpose, interject

Ant:

remove

2. noun

the newspaper carried an insert

Syn:

enclosure, insertion, supplement; circular, advertisement, pamphlet, leaflet; informal ad

••

insert, inject, interject, interpolate, introduce, mediate

If you want to put something in a fixed place between or among other things, you can insert it (insert a new paragraph in an essay; insert photographs in the text of a book). If it's a liquid, you'll probably want to inject it (inject the flu vaccine), although to inject can also mean to add something new or different (inject some humor into an otherwise dreary speech). If it's a person, you should introduce him or her, which suggests placing the individual in the midst of a group so as to become part of it. You can also introduce things (introduce a new subject into the curriculum), but if the thing you're introducing is extraneous or lacks authorization, you may have to interpolate it (interpolate editorial comments). If you have remarks, statements, or questions to introduce in an abrupt or forced manner, you'll have to interject them (in the midst of his speech, she interjected what she felt were important details). If you interject too often, however, you risk offending the speaker and may have to ask someone to mediate, which means to settle a dispute or bring about a compromise by taking a stand midway between extremes.