Stories of USA Today Materials for Reading & Listening Practice
Want to know your IELTS vocabulary level? Try the Test Page. You can also Report My Test to us; Our tutors may view your testing and give you a suggestion. It is a FREE service.
Vocabulary Study Online by Level
Vocabulary Study Online By Level (VSOBL) is a Fast, Reliable, and Handy tool to prepare English exam vocabulary. (Available for all VIP accounts: US$2/Month). It has built-in word lists: 6000 IELTS words, 6000 TOEFL words, 5000 GRE words, and 3000 SAT words. You can load them by level with one click.
abandon n. [沒有約束,放任情緒] lacking restraint or control; feeling of extreme emotional intensity; unbounded enthusiasm With her parents out of town, Kelly danced all night with abandon. Show examples and contexts
abort v. [中止計劃(任務)] stop; terminate before completion; terminate a pregnancy However, most women say that the decision to abort is a difficult one. Show examples and contexts
abortion n. [流產,流產兒,不足月嬰兒,失敗,夭折] termination of pregnancy; failure of a plan Instead of doing what many young Egyptian women in her situation do, that is, have an abortion, she went public and took the alleged father to court. Show examples and contexts
absurd a. [荒謬的,可笑的] preposterous; ridiculously incongruous or unreasonable; foolish Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked so grave that she did not dare laugh. Show examples and contexts
abuse n. [濫用,虐待] improper use or handling; misuse The commenter said that he had stopped seven years of girl abuse in this area, thanks to Vito. Show examples and contexts
academic a. [學術的] related to school; not practical or directly useful; relating to the scholarly organization; based on formal education The dean's talk about reforming the college admissions system was only an academic discussion. Show examples and contexts
academy n. [學會,學院,高等專科學校] school for special instruction; society of scholars, scientists, or artists The mission of our academy is actually to ensure the health and well-being of all children. Show examples and contexts
access n. [接觸,接近(的機會)] approach; entry; entrance The only access to the village is by boat. Show examples and contexts
account n. [說明,解釋] narrative or record of events; the reason given for a particular action or event What is the account for this loss? Show examples and contexts
accountant n. [會計員,會計師] one who maintains and audits business accounts Our business and finance group is looking for a dynamic accountant to join the accounting team supporting the Company's new area. Show examples and contexts
accurate a. [準確的,正確的] capable of providing a correct reading or measurement; performing with care and precision Can anyone tell me how accurate the English translation in the posted clip is? Show examples and contexts
accuse v. [指責,歸咎] blame; say that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal, or unkind He then went on to accuse the West of hypocrisy in criticizing Russia's human rights record. Show examples and contexts
accused n. [被控告的,被告] defendant or defendants in a criminal case; a person charged with an offense The testimony expected by the accused from the witness will be regarded as having been actually taken. Show examples and contexts
acid n. [酸] sour; water-soluble compounds having a sour taste; quality of being sarcastic, bitter, or scornful There is a barrage of acid comments in today's newspapers. Show examples and contexts
acknowledge v. [認可,承認] declare to be true or admit; express obligation, thanks Although I acknowledge that the Beatles' tunes sound pretty dated today, I still prefer them to my brothers' songs. Show examples and contexts
address v. [發表(演講),處理,討論] make a formal speech to; deal with or discuss; direct efforts or attention of Brown planned to address the issue of low-income housing in his speech. Show examples and contexts
adjust v. [調整,使適於] change something slightly, especially to make it more correct, effective, or suitable The opera house was handed over by the builders nearly a year ago, but it's taken many months to install new stage machinery and to adjust the acoustics. Show examples and contexts
administration n. [管理,行政管理,政府,行政機關,] management; supervision; people who are in charge of management; the activity of government for powers and duties Obviously, the key person in administration is the man in the White House. Show examples and contexts
adopt v. [採用,採納] accept; take on; raise; take into one's family In a late-night session, the United States, which has blocked most recent efforts to adopt resolutions on the Middle East, put forward its own proposal. Show examples and contexts
adore v. [崇拜,熱愛] worship with profound reverence; pay divine honors to; regard with the utmost esteem and affection All the girls in our school adore the handsome mathematics teacher who happens to be a bachelor. Show examples and contexts
adult n. [成年的,已成人的,成年人] one who has attained maturity or legal age; fully grown It is not clear from the video if the adult is a man or woman, but he or she is facing charges of endangering a child's welfare. Show examples and contexts
affect v. [影響,假裝] have an emotional or cognitive impact upon The move is likely to affect women and girls worldwide as international brands such as Mango and Zara have signed up to the agreement. Show examples and contexts
affection n. [友愛,摯愛,情愛] fondness; tender feeling toward another; fondness I happen to think that the physical expression of love and affection is just about the best thing we humans do. Show examples and contexts
afford v. [付得起,冒險做] pay; provide; have the financial means for; bear the cost of The deal reduces the cost of certain AIDS drugs and gives developing countries the confidence to afford to treat citizens in the long-term. Show examples and contexts
agency n. [代理,代辦,代理處,經銷處,社,機構,作用,力量] a business that serves other businesses; an administrative unit of government The FDA press office tells me the agency is aware of the incident and is currently investigating. Show examples and contexts
agenda n. [議程] items of business at a meeting; list or program of things to be done or considered His agenda is certainly different from the President's and the administration's, but we will seek additional opportunities to work together with him. Show examples and contexts
aggressive a. [強有力的,堅持己見的] making assaults; unjustly attacking; combative; hostile; tending to spread quickly During his tenure in Beijing, Huntsman was an aggressive advocate for human rights and pushed to expand U.S. economic ties with China. Show examples and contexts
agreement n. [一致,協議] state of agreeing; harmony of opinion, statement, action, or character We are in agreement with their decision. Show examples and contexts
aid n. [助手] person or thing that promotes or helps in something done; helper; assistant The company has also asked for an additional 3.50 billion dollars in aid from the government. Show examples and contexts
air v. [空氣,空中] be broadcast on television or radio The tidbits that will air on tonight's 6 o'clock news. Show examples and contexts
aisle n. [(教堂的)走廊,耳堂,(劇院觀眾席間的)狹長過道] passageway between rows of seats, as in an auditorium or an airplane; the wing of a building I am glad that one side of the aisle is still trying to make this country work. Show examples and contexts
alarm n. [警報,警報器,警鈴,鬧鐘,驚慌] any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger 'Come, my head is free at last!' said Alice in a tone of delight, which changed into alarm in another moment. Show examples and contexts
album n. [影集,集郵簿,慢轉唱片] a list of names; a register for visitors; a blank book to insert autographs sketches, memorial writing, photographs My album of boyhood photographs often reminds me of past happiness. Show examples and contexts
alien a. [外國的,外國人的,來自其他星球的] dissimilar, inconsistent, or opposed in nature; very different place, society, or person If you think about it, that's totally alien to what a drug company might be expected to do because if you eradicate a disease, there's no need for that drug at all. Show examples and contexts
alliance n. [結盟,同盟,聯盟] state of being allied; the act of allying or uniting; a union of interests between families, states, parties Now sources close to Sharon and Peres say they could lead to a long-term alliance - or even a joint party. Show examples and contexts
ally n. [聯盟,同盟者] confederate; partner; collaborator The trouble is that selling arms to this particular ally regularly involves commissions - in plain language, bribes - to well-placed people. Show examples and contexts
alone a. [單獨的] solitary; by oneself, not with any other people Alice cried with a sudden burst of tears, 'I do wish they would put their heads down! I am so very tired of being all alone here!' Show examples and contexts
alternative n. [另一可選的,另外的] one of two or more things, ideas, or courses of action that may be used; option or choice Electron Instruments believed its desktop SEM was vastly superior to the next best alternative from a Japanese competitor. Show examples and contexts
amaze v. [使吃驚,使驚嘆] astonish; affect with wonder Archaeologists amaze that such a fragile ancient document could have survived for so long and that it was then discovered as it could so easily have been overlooked. Show examples and contexts
ambassador n. [大使,使者] authorized messenger or representative He was appointed ambassador to the United States. Show examples and contexts
ambulance n. [救護車,野外醫院] field hospital organized as to follow an army in its movements; a wagon for conveying the wounded to hospital His breathing had become so labored she called an ambulance to send him to the hospital immediately. Show examples and contexts
amount n. [量,總合] total of two or more quantities; aggregate; sum The amount of money sent home by migrant workers to their families in Latin America has reached more than $62 billion. Show examples and contexts
anniversary a. [週年,週年紀念] annual; yearly; annual return of the day on which any notable event took place He gave me a necklace as an anniversary gift. Show examples and contexts
annual a. [每年的] occurring or payable every year It says that the Queen's role in the annual state opening of parliament should be changed. Show examples and contexts
anonymous a. [匿名的] having no name; having an unknown or unacknowledged name The buyer, who wished to remain anonymous, is a foreigner with homes in Europe. Show examples and contexts
antique n. [古董] any furniture old and valuable; out of fashion The woeful ongoing situation of open archaeological sites, which antique smugglers are systematically plundering, will be another priority issue. Show examples and contexts
anxiety n. [憂慮,焦慮,不安] concern something in a state of painful uneasiness; state of restlessness and agitation To wait in anxiety is perhaps the hardest thing in life; tea, tobacco, and hot baths are the possible anodynes. Show examples and contexts
anyhow ad. [無論如何,不管怎樣] in any way or manner whatever; at any rate; in any event I couldn't think of the name of that man anyhow. Show examples and contexts
apart ad. [分開,離開,拆開,個別,單獨] separately, regarding space or company; in a state of separation as to place; aside In fact, I doubt anyone knew his real name apart from the security staff. Show examples and contexts
appeal n. [吸引力] attraction; charm; attract; fascinate; challenge Oxfam is making a big appeal for humanitarian aid to Darfur and neighboring Chad, where millions of people have been made homeless by fighting. Show examples and contexts
appetite n. [胃口,食慾] instinctive physical desire, especially one for food or drink China's urban young are developing a growing appetite for the cool white look of platinum jewelry. Show examples and contexts
apply v. [應用,適用] exert; put into service; avail oneself to; You cannot apply all money to your mortgage. Show examples and contexts
appointment n. [指定,約會] act of putting a person into a non-elective position; arrangement His appointment as Foreign Secretary has triggered speculation in London about the Prime Minister's motives for the change. Show examples and contexts
appreciate v. [感激,增值,賞識] be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of I am truly thankful for the stocks, which would appreciate in value considerably in future years. Show examples and contexts
approach n. [方法] a way of considering or doing something Faced with an increasingly competitive jobs market, the army is becoming more sophisticated and corporate in its approach to recruitment. Show examples and contexts
appropriate v. [獲得,挪用,據為己有] acquire; take possession of for one's own use; set apart for specific use The ranch owners appropriate the lands that have originally been set aside for the Indians' use. Show examples and contexts
approval n. [贊成,正式批准] official approbation; endorsement; an act of approving First, Ehrlich knows it would be extremely unlikely to win approval from the Democratic-dominated General Assembly. Show examples and contexts
area n. [範圍,區域,地區,面積,領域] a plane surface, as of the floor of a room; open space in a building; the enclosed space; extent; scope; range His special interest lies in the area of literature. Show examples and contexts
argue v. [辯論,表明,爭論,爭吵] invent and offer reasons to support or overthrow a proposition, opinion, or measure; debate The United States should, they argue, attempt to remain aloof. Show examples and contexts
arrogant a. [傲慢的,自大的,傲慢] arising from feeling or assumption of one's superiority toward others He often speaks in an arrogant tone, which doesn't encourage others to discuss with him. Show examples and contexts
article n. [論文,文章] essay; editorial; individual thing or element of a class An article in a national newspaper caused the protests. Show examples and contexts
ashamed a. [羞愧的,慚愧的,不好意思] affected by shame; abashed or confused by guilt Are you ashamed for having lied? Show examples and contexts
aside ad. [在旁邊,向旁邊,撇開] on, or to, one side; out of a straight line, course, or direction; at a little distance from the rest All joking aside, can you swim 15 miles? Show examples and contexts
aspirin n. [阿斯匹林] white crystalline compound drug to relieve pain and reduce fever and inflammation Plavix, along with aspirin, is widely used to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Show examples and contexts
assault n. [(武力)襲擊,(口頭)攻擊] a violent attack; an onslaught He's charged with interfering with the performance of a flight crew by assault or intimidation. Show examples and contexts
assist v. [援助,幫助] give help or support to, especially as a subordinate A good way to assist is to bring entrepreneurial and business skills to them. Show examples and contexts
associate v. [關聯,聯合] connect or join together; combine The public is likely to associate a word or mark with a given company. Show examples and contexts
assume v. [假定,設想] suppose; presume; take on; bear He looked at me long and hard: I turned my eyes from him, fixed them on the fire, and tried to assume and maintain a quiet. Show examples and contexts
assure v. [確保,向…保證,使確信] tell someone confidently that something is true; guarantee; convince I know it, and I don't wish to palliate them, I assure you. Show examples and contexts
attack n. [進攻,攻擊,抨擊,侵襲] offensive move; expression of strong criticism; hostile comment A national newspaper received an anonymous phone call warning about the attack just minutes before the first device exploded. Show examples and contexts
attempt n. [嘗試] the action of trying at something I also want to claim that this attempt is a romantic one. Show examples and contexts
attend v. [參加,入學] be present at; go to; take care of; tend Britain's House of Lords has been described as the best club in London, and for many of the hereditary members who rarely attend debates, that's just what it is. Show examples and contexts
attitude n. [姿勢,態度,看法,意見] posture, action, or disposition of a figure or a statue One of the major reasons for this change in attitude is that there's more money around. Show examples and contexts
attorney n. [代理人,辯護律師] lawyer; one who is appointed by another to act in his place or stead; proxy Did this attorney mean to throw away his client's life without an effort? Show examples and contexts
attractive a. [吸引人的,有魅力的] appealing; pleasing; inviting; tempting The mobile phone companies argue that reducing taxes will make legally imported phones more attractive than the cheaper smuggled models. Show examples and contexts
auction n. [拍賣] public sale of property to the highest bidder The auction is over, and the winning bid was 1000 dollars. Show examples and contexts
audience n. [觀眾] a group of people within hearing; crowd seeing a stage performance You should have a clear idea about who your audience is and how you can exploit your product through the correct platform. Show examples and contexts
authority n. [權力,權限,權威人士] jurisdiction; power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge; government The laws will reinforce Australia's authority to turn boats away from Australia. Show examples and contexts
available a. [自由的,有空的] convenient for use or disposal; not busy, free; obtainable; accessible Vaccines are available but are costly and only offer relatively short-term protection, so the animals need regular booster vaccinations. Show examples and contexts
avoid v. [躲避,規避] shield away from; prevent If you are the press secretary to the President of the United States, the main thing to avoid is becoming the story yourself. Show examples and contexts
aware a. [知道的,明白的] knowing; having knowledge or cognizance As you're likely aware, BPA is a chemical commonly found in plastics, food cans, and water bottles. Show examples and contexts
awful a. [可怕的,非常壞的,使人敬畏的] causing fear, dread, or terror; extremely bad or unpleasant; terrible He says the budget is in awful shape, and we need to take steps to fix it. Show examples and contexts
awkward a. [笨拙的,不靈活的] difficult to handle or manage John Kerry recently spoke of his faith, but he's more awkward about it than President Bush's born again. Show examples and contexts
bachelor n. [學士(學位),單身漢] unmarried men; the first or lowest academic degree conferred by universities and colleges A soon-to-be-married man's friends throw him the ultimate bachelor party. Show examples and contexts
backward a. [向後的,返回的,落後的,沒有自信的,羞怯的] directed to the back or rear; unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; undeveloped Although he is clever, he is backward in giving his views. Show examples and contexts
bacon n. [熏豬肉,培根肉] back and sides of a pig salted and smoked They built a fire against the side of a great log and then cooked some bacon in the frying-pan for supper. Show examples and contexts
badge n. [徽章] a distinctive mark, token, or sign worn on the person He was awarded a merit badge for his bravery in the battle. Show examples and contexts
baggage n. [行李] trunks, bags, parcels, and suitcases in which one carries one's belongings while traveling; luggage When you fully engage in the present, there is no room for baggage from the past or fear of the future. Show examples and contexts
bait v. [欺負,玩弄,折磨] harass; tease; lure, entice, or entrap The school bully will bait the smaller children, terrorizing them. Show examples and contexts
bake v. [烘,烤,烘乾使硬] prepare, as food, by cooking in dry heat, either in an oven or under coals, or on heated stone or metal In some places, people still bake bricks in the sun. Show examples and contexts
balance n. [平衡] being in equilibrium; equilibrium; symmetry; stability Many here see the ruling against US cotton subsidies as just the first step in tipping the balance of future world trade talks in favour of developing countries. Show examples and contexts
balcony n. [陽台,(戲院的)樓座] platform projecting from the wall of a building He planted some flowers on the balcony that projects over the street. Show examples and contexts
bald a. [禿頭的,光禿的] hairless; lacking a natural or usual covering Although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age. Show examples and contexts
ballet n. [芭蕾舞] a sort of theatrical representation by dancers That school strives to be an international leader in ballet training. Show examples and contexts
band n. [樂隊,隊] orchestra; team; strip; ribbon; belt; unite; ally The band, made up of four previously unknown young actors, has provoked hysteria across Asia since starring in the Taiwanese TV series. Show examples and contexts
bang n. [發出砰的一聲,重擊] a vigorous blow; a conspicuous success But there are fears that if the Egyptian side doesn't play well, the crowds will stay away, and the African Cup may go off with a whimper rather than a bang. Show examples and contexts
banner n. [旗幟,標語,橫幅] flag; sign; a newspaper headline that runs across the full page The red top refers to the color of the banner at the top of the paper. Show examples and contexts
bar n. [吧,酒吧] a counter where you can obtain food or drink; cafe; strip; stick For low-paid male workers the cafeterias are a social focus: the equivalent of a bar or pub in non-Muslim countries, a place to meet friends and workmates. Show examples and contexts
barbecue n. [烤肉野餐] a rack to hold meat for cooking over hot charcoal usually out of doors The authorities believe it could have been started by a barbecue that had not been put out properly and have announced that they will be questioning suspects in the morning. Show examples and contexts
bare a. [無遮蔽的,赤裸的,光(禿)的] lacking the usual or appropriate covering or clothing Silent in bare feet, he swiftly crossed the cold marble floor, sliding into bed just as the door creaked open. Show examples and contexts
barely ad. [僅僅] just; only; hardly; scarcely Only a few years ago, there were no mobile phones, landlines barely worked. Show examples and contexts
bargain n. [交易,合同交易,協議講價,談條件] agreement between parties concerning the sale of property 'A part of me you must become,' he answered steadily; 'otherwise, the whole bargain is void.' Show examples and contexts
barn n. [穀倉,畜棚] an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals I daresay it is only a rat scrambling along the rafters of the adjoining schoolroom: it was a barn before I had it repaired and altered, and rats generally haunt them. Show examples and contexts
barrel n. [桶] vessel; large cylindrical container With the oil price soaring above thirty dollars a barrel and the pumps going nearly at full capacity, Gulf Arab coffers are overflowing with unforeseen wealth. Show examples and contexts
baseball n. [棒球運動] game played with a bat and ball by two opposing teams of nine players; ball used in this game Baseball is more popular than any other sport in Japan. Show examples and contexts
basement n. [地下室] cellar; a part of a building that is below the level of the first floor There are so many things of India which are either lying in the basement of the Victoria and Albert Museum or in the India Office Library. Show examples and contexts
battery n. [電池,毆打] beating or pounding; set of guns or heavy artillery; a dry cell that produces an electric current I'm hoping the battery is just dead and that a quick charge will solve everything. Show examples and contexts
bay n. [海灣] an inlet of the sea, usually smaller than a gulf; a small body of water set off from the main body In the library, the books on history are all kept in one bay. Show examples and contexts
beam n. [光束,鐵樑,木樑,一束電波] ray of light; a long piece of metal or wood; long piece fixed or movable in structure, machine, or tool During a severe earthquake, each beam will absorb the shock by crumpling, thereby preventing severe damage to the tower. Show examples and contexts
bear v. [負擔,支撐] support; sustain; carry; have; yield; give birth; hold up or support They studied the ways in which the relativity theory can bear on the history of science. Show examples and contexts
bearing n. [耐心應對,分娩] carrying another part; patient endurance; suffering without complaint; the act of producing or giving birth The U.S. Mint is set to unveil a new $1 coin bearing President Abraham Lincoln's image. Show examples and contexts
beat v. [打擊,敲擊,打敗] whip; strike; defeat; hit repeatedly Speak roughly to your little boy; And beat him when he sneezes; He only does it to annoy; Because he knows it teases. Show examples and contexts
beaten a. [鍛打的,被擊敗的,人跡罕至的] formed or made thin by hammering; totally worn-out; exhausted Finally we saw a village located well off the beaten path. Show examples and contexts
behalf n. [代表] represent; advantage, benefit, the interest of someone And I'm going to work to assure that that voice that is heard on their behalf is a roar and not a whisper. Show examples and contexts
behave v. [舉止,表現] perform; conduct oneself in a proper way How we behave is up to us, but Nikolai believes that one's particular circumstances predetermine everything. Show examples and contexts
belly n. [腹部,腹狀物] part of the human body which extends downward from breast to thighs, and contains bowels; womb His belly is like a cooking pot, Which happens when you eat a lot. Show examples and contexts
beloved a. [深愛的,鍾愛的] greatly loved; dear to the heart But if I go on until my beloved is my bride, and she has taken up my fate, and we are one, and the world knows no difference, what then? Show examples and contexts
bend v. [彎曲,傾,使傾,專心於,屈服,順從] strain or move out of a straight line; curve; turn toward some certain point Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. Show examples and contexts
benefit n. [利益,好處] advantage; something that aids or promotes well-being; welfare; gain Another benefit for business is the elimination of currency risk in the Euro area: the possibility that you might lose money in cross-border trade. Show examples and contexts
bent a. [先天的] determined to do or have We are bent on going to the theater no matter how heavy the snow is. Show examples and contexts
bet n. [打賭,打賭,賭注,賭金] stake or pledge upon the event of a contingent issue; amount or object risked in a wager I truly believe this setback; my bet is they will recover and move on, hopefully, sooner than soon. Show examples and contexts
betray v. [出賣,背叛] be unfaithful; reveal unconsciously or unwillingly The two spies betray their country by selling military secrets to the enemy. Show examples and contexts
bid v. [出價,投標,(打牌時)叫牌] make an offer of; propose; offer in words; declare, as a wish, a greeting, a threat, or defiance 'Then you and I must bid good-bye for a little while?' 'I suppose so, sir.' Show examples and contexts
bite v. [咬,(蟲)叮,(魚)咬餌] pierce the skin with teeth; seize with the teeth; sting with a stinger; eat into; have a sharp taste Our laws must bite; that is the only language that the criminals will understand. Show examples and contexts
bitter a. [苦(味)的] harsh or corrosive in tone; painful; acrid; acrimonious He is perhaps the best-qualified person for many years to solve a long-standing and bitter dispute. Show examples and contexts
bizarre a. [怪異的] fantastic; violently contrasting; strangely unconventional in style or appearance The plot of the novel was too bizarre to be believed. Show examples and contexts
blame v. [譴責,責備] condemn; rebuke; find fault with; censure The doctor says that natural variability in the weather is probably to blame, but human influence can't be ruled out. Show examples and contexts
blank a. [空白的,無表情的,漠然的,無興趣的] of white or pale color; without color; empty; void But he stares out over my shoulder at the skyline, his expression blank, seemingly disinterested in whether I choose to go with him or not. Show examples and contexts
blast n. [爆破] explode; burst; gale; a powerful gust of wind or air The blast is the deadliest incident since a series of ones killed three people in Bangkok on New Year's Eve in 2006. Show examples and contexts
bleed v. [流血,(指內心)悲痛,放血,取血] emit blood; lose blood; withdraw blood from the body All the young soldiers are ready to bleed for the country. Show examples and contexts
bless v. [祝福,頌揚] make or pronounce holy; consecrate; make happy My family and I will be praying along with Rick that God will again bless your country. Show examples and contexts
block v. [阻止,阻礙] hinder; obstruct; indicate broadly without great detail; sketch He failed to get enough allies to block the reform. Show examples and contexts
blonde a. [白膚金發的(女人),白膚金發女子] of a fair color; light-colored; as, blond hair; a blond complexion. The wig this woman wore during a two-day robbery across New York earned her the name blonde bandit. Show examples and contexts
board n. [委員會, (薄而平的)木板] a committee having supervisory powers; a flat piece of material designed for a special purpose Instruments on the board include the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer, which will analyze the comet nucleus's chemical composition - the icy core in the comet's head. Show examples and contexts
boarding n. [供膳宿的,上飛機(或輪船)的,(由幾塊木板拼成的)大木板] wooden boards collectively; act of entering a ship; supplying with meals and lodgings for pay If I had a kid like that, I'd put him in boarding school. Show examples and contexts
bold a. [勇敢的,大膽的,放肆無禮的] brave; daring; intrepid; impudent After five months of detention without trial, the release of the bold young newspaper editor-in-chief marks a significant victory. Show examples and contexts
bolt v. [衝刺,快速移動] dash or dart off; move or jump suddenly Jack was set to bolt out the front door. Show examples and contexts
bond n. [聯結,聯繫,粘連,化學鍵V 結合] link; connection; uniting force or tie; binding agreement; duty Last year, the average short-term bond fund gained about 9%, according to Morningstar. Show examples and contexts
bonus n. [紅利,獎金,額外津貼,意外收穫] an extra dividend to the shareholders; money paid in addition to a stated compensation She's very dissatisfied with not getting a bonus. Show examples and contexts
boom n. [繁榮] bonanza; prosperity; prosper; expand; flourish It is a hi-tech boom town, the center for dozens of successful biotech and IT firms, and the home to an ever-expanding middle class. Show examples and contexts
booth n. [貨攤,攤位,隔開的小間] house or shed built for temporary occupation; covered stall or temporary structure There is a telephone booth near the cinema. Show examples and contexts
border n. [邊,邊緣,邊境,國界] outer part or edge of anything, as of a garment, a garden; margin; verge; brink; boundary This table had a cover made out of beautiful oilcloth, with a red eagle painted on it and a painted border all around. Show examples and contexts
bore v. [鑽孔,令人厭煩] drill; make a hole in or through, with or as if with a drill Three types of protein that enable the cells to bore in and out of blood vessels. Show examples and contexts
bother v. [打擾,煩擾,麻煩] annoy; trouble; make agitated or nervous; fluster But that doesn't bother me because I don't want love; I want my music. Show examples and contexts
bounce v. [跳起,彈回] jolt; rebound after having struck an object or a surface All patients bounce back to good health with that particular medicine. Show examples and contexts
bound n. [範圍,限制] tied; held; committed; limit; constraint; leap; jump Supreme Court ended a term bound to affect our lives in significant ways in the months ahead. Show examples and contexts
boutique n. [精品店,時裝精品屋] small shop within a large department store or supermarket Located in historic Fabric Row, the boutique is a good place for gem buyers. Show examples and contexts
brand n. [商標,牌子,燃燒的木頭,烙印] a burning piece of wood; mark made by burning with a hot iron; distinctive mark upon in any way He has his own brand of humor and always brings laugh for us. Show examples and contexts
break n. [機會,運氣] opportunity to do something; pause or interval, as from work; a sudden change A former boxer, he got his break as an actor when he replaced Marlon Brando in the Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Show examples and contexts
breakdown n. [故障,損壞,衰弱,崩潰] process of failing to function or continue; a sudden collapse in physical or mental health; summary of itemized data His frequent depressions were the prelude to a complete mental breakdown. Show examples and contexts
breeze n. [微風] light current of air; gentle wind; progress swiftly and effortlessly Tomorrow Night: A light, but the steady breeze from the southwest keeps temperatures warmer than tonight. Show examples and contexts
bribe n. [賄賂,賄賂] something serving to influence or persuade; reward or gift to prevent judgment It was easy to see the gift as a sort of bribe. Show examples and contexts
brief a. [短暫的,簡短的,簡單地說] short in time, duration, length, or extent; concise When my brief career as a pop star ended, I found I had done fairly well. Show examples and contexts
briefcase n. [公文包] portable, often flat case with a handle, used for carrying papers or books After each campaign stop, he returned to his car, where his black-leather briefcase is always in its place beside him. Show examples and contexts
brilliant a. [輝煌的,才氣煥發的] full of light; shining; bright; sharp and clear in tone The refreshing meal, the brilliant fire, the presence, and kindness of her beloved instructress had roused her powers among them. Show examples and contexts
brutal a. [殘忍的,嚴酷的] like a brute; savage; cruel; inhuman; merciless In many cases, a rich businessman reached the top by trampling others in the most brutal way. Show examples and contexts
bubble n. [氣泡,水泡] foam; dome-shaped covering made of transparent glass or plastic; fantastic or impracticable idea or belief This is the most anticipated public offering since the dot-com bubble burst four years ago. Show examples and contexts
buck v. [(馬)跳躍,振作精神,高興起來] move quickly and violently; jump vertically; strive with determination John is trying to buck for a promotion. Show examples and contexts
bucket n. [水桶,吊桶,傾瀉] vessel for drawing up water from a well; a vessel for hoisting and conveying coal, ore, grain It may be a drop in the bucket, but any drop is a dangerous one when it comes to violence. Show examples and contexts
bud n. [芽,蓓蕾] one that is not yet fully developed; sprout The first thing to be thought of is to pluck the disease in its bud, which is best done by injections. Show examples and contexts
budget n. [預算] estimate; a sum of money allocated for a particular purpose Earlier this week, EU governments voted to bend the rules o that France and Germany wouldn't be penalized for breaking the rules on budget deficits. Show examples and contexts
bug n. [臭蟲,竊聽器] general name applied to various insects It might have seemed to him a waste of ammunition to kill a bug with a battery of artillery. Show examples and contexts
bull n. [公牛,雄性大動物(如像,鯨等)] male of any species of cattle; large, strong, and aggressive person; optimist regarding business conditions We are in a medium-term bull market, a corrective move within a long-term bear market. Show examples and contexts
bully n. [欺負,威協] noisy, blustering fellow; one who is threatening and quarrelsome; insolent, tyrannical fellow I found early in life that the best way to defeat a bully is a punch to the nose. Show examples and contexts
bump n. [腫塊,突起] impact as from a collision; lump on the body caused by a blow Have you ever found a small lump or a bump on your body? Show examples and contexts
bunch n. [串,束,群] clump; cluster; gathering They found the sharp new heap they sought and ensconced themselves within the protection of three great elms that grew in a bunch within a few feet of the grave. Show examples and contexts
bush n. [矮樹叢,灌木] place abounding in trees or shrubs; the wild forest When they got pretty close on to us, we dodged into the bush and let them go by and then dropped in behind them. Show examples and contexts
business n. [職業,職責,本分,事務] rightful concern or responsibility; occupation, work, or trade-in which a person is engaged; commercial enterprise I think that women doing big things in business are inspirational to others because it helps eliminate role discrimination. Show examples and contexts
bust n. [半身(雕)像,過度飲食] the occasion for excessive eating or drinking; complete failure; sculpture of the head and shoulders of a person With major debt repayments due over in 18 months, the business could go bust. Show examples and contexts
buzz n. [嗡嗡聲,發出嗡嗡聲] confusion of activity and gossip; the sound of rapid vibration Still, despite the robust growth, if you listen closely to the analysts and bankers, you can pick up a low buzz of concern over some economic areas. Show examples and contexts
cabin n. [小屋(通常為木製的),船艙] a small room on a ship or boat where people sleep British Airways says passengers reported a slight smell of petrol in the cabin of BA flight 003 bound for New York. Show examples and contexts
cabinet n. [櫥櫃,政府內閣] group of persons appointed by a head of state or a prime minister; hut; cottage; small house; small room; a closet On Wednesday, the Indian cabinet deferred the anti-corruption legislation. Show examples and contexts
cable n. [纜索,鋼絲繩,電纜] solid thick rope made of twisted steel or metal wire It provides cable television services and high-speed internet services to the community. Show examples and contexts
cafe n. [咖啡館,小餐館] coffee house; restaurant where coffee and liquors are served The police came and ejected the noisy youths from the cafe room. Show examples and contexts
cafeteria n. [自助餐館] a restaurant where you serve yourself and pay a cashier The Medicine Hat College cafeteria offers a wide range of food services. Show examples and contexts
calendar n. [曆法,日曆,月曆,一覽表,記錄表] the orderly arrangement as years, months, weeks, and days; a table showing months, weeks, and days He didn't like the desk calendar and put it on the shelf. Show examples and contexts
campaign n. [(政治或商業性)活動,競選活動] battle; a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end The Clinton campaign has raised more money in the first three months of this year than all nine Democratic candidates combined. Show examples and contexts
campus n. [校園] the field where the buildings of a university are situated Usually, a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, student residential areas, and park-like settings. Show examples and contexts
cancel v. [取消] revoke; call off; omit or delete The meeting in Addis Ababa has heard Chinese promises to cancel debts and increase Chinese investments in Africa. Show examples and contexts
candidate n. [候選人] a person who is considered for something; a person who is nominated for an office, prize, or honor The European Union is welcoming these ten candidate countries with open arms and broad smiles. Show examples and contexts
capable a. [有能力的] having the ability required for a specific task Canadian politicians have been capable of ending this primitive practice. Show examples and contexts
capacity n. [容量,生產量,能力] mental or physical ability; ability to accommodate Mike had the capacity to handle several jobs at once. Show examples and contexts
cape n. [披風,斗篷,岬,海角] piece or point of land, extending beyond the adjacent coast into the sea or a lake; sleeveless outer garment Out on the cape is a fine lighthouse that we admired as we came up the coast on the ship. Show examples and contexts
capital n. [首都,首府,省會,資本,資金,大寫字母] wealth in the form of money or property; assets available for use; a city that is the official seat of government It has so far received $45 billion in capital from the Treasury, and the Treasury is insuring 300 billion dollars of its assets. Show examples and contexts
capture n. [捕獲,俘獲,贏得,繳獲品] act of seizing by force, or getting possession of by superior power; thing taken by force, surprise, or stratagem He presently got safely beyond the reach of capture and punishment. Show examples and contexts
carrot n. [胡蘿蔔] the root of cultivated varieties of the plant, usually spindle-shaped and of a reddish yellow color The dish of boiled beef and carrot tastes good. Show examples and contexts
carry v. [運送,搬運] convey or transport in any manner from one place to another; hold or support while moving; bear They carry the news by word of mouth to every settlement in a few days. Show examples and contexts
cart n. [二輪運貨馬(或牛)車,手推車] common name for various kinds of vehicles; two-wheeled vehicle; light business wagon The horse pulled a cart loaded with potatoes. Show examples and contexts
carton n. [紙板箱,紙板盒] pasteboard for paper boxes; pasteboard box The kids drink up a whole big carton of juice after the play in the hot sun. Show examples and contexts
cash n. [現金,零錢,錢,兌現,付款] money paid at the time of purchase; money in the form of bills or coins; currency You must pay cash there; we don't offer credit. Show examples and contexts
cast v. [分派角色,隨機選擇] assign the roles of; choose at random They're going to use a television reality show to cast the three actors who will play Evo Morales in the different stages of his life. Show examples and contexts
casual a. [非正式的,隨便的,漫不經心的] informal; purposeless; occurring by chance The wildlife officer, in casual conversation, asks Hunter Joe where that deer came from. Show examples and contexts
catch v. [偶然遇到,遭遇] capture or seize, especially after a chase; take by or as if by trapping; reach just in time A person's genetic makeup has a strong influence on the likelihood that they catch HIV. Show examples and contexts
catching a. [傳染的,有魅力的,迷人的] act of seizing or taking hold of; captivating; alluring That is the appeal in catching them; I think it is amazing to pull something massive out of muddy water that few people actually see. Show examples and contexts
catholic a. [一般的,普遍的,天主教的] broadly sympathetic; universal; related to Roman Catholic Church He was extremely catholic in his taste and read everything he could find in the library. Show examples and contexts
cellar n. [地下室,酒窖] room or rooms under a building, and usually below the surface of the ground The New Zealand wineries are similar to the American wineries and welcome visitors to what they call the cellar door. Show examples and contexts
cemetery n. [墳墓,公墓] place or ground set apart for the burial of the dead; graveyard A vehicle for conveying a coffin is to a church or cemetery. Show examples and contexts
cereal n. [穀類,穀類食品] grass such as wheat, oats, or corn, the starchy grains of which are used as a food I have a bowl of cereal every morning. Show examples and contexts
ceremony n. [典禮,儀式,禮節] a formal act or set of acts performed as prescribed by ritual or custom This afternoon, a swearing ceremony is set for a man who will replace the late Senator Ted Kennedy. Show examples and contexts
certificate n. [證書,憑證,執照] the document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts; document issued to a person completing a course A diploma or certificate is given on graduation from university. Show examples and contexts
challenge v. [挑戰,邀請比賽,盤問,質詢] assert a right; raise a formal objection; take exception to Nowadays no one will challenge the fact that the earth is round. Show examples and contexts
chamber n. [室,房間] cell; compartment; room Before being taken to the execution chamber, he acknowledged that he deserved punishment, but he said it was unfair that only he paid the ultimate price. Show examples and contexts
champagne n. [香檳酒] light wine, of several kinds, originally made in the province of Champagne, in France Why don't we crack open a bottle of champagne to celebrate? Show examples and contexts
champion v. [擁護] protect or fight for the first place They believe he could champion the oppressed in their struggle for equality. Show examples and contexts
channel n. [海峽,溝,途徑,渠道,頻道] passage for water or other fluids to flow through; bed of a stream or river; route of communication or access You should take her request through the official channel, and there is no private room for her issue. Show examples and contexts
chaos n. [混亂] disorder; condition or place of great disorder or confusion; disorderly mass Their job is to stop a repeat of the chaos that blighted the last election in 2002. Show examples and contexts
chapel n. [小禮拜堂] place of worship that is smaller than and subordinate to a church; service conducted in a chapel Slightly smaller than the shrine, the chapel is also a domed structure cruciform in plan. Show examples and contexts
chapter n. [(書,文章的)章,回] division of a book or treatise; assembly of monks; bishop's council; organized branch of some society A new chapter in a novel is something like a new scene in a play. Show examples and contexts
charge v. [要價,索價,要人支付,收費] set or ask for a certain price; load to capacity; fill; instruct or urge authoritatively; command The barbers share the same haircut service price: they charge six dollars for boys and ten for girls. Show examples and contexts
charity n. [仁慈,施捨] activity or gift that benefits the public at large This is potentially embarrassing for those involved in the concerts, as the rock stars use charity to disguise self-promotion. Show examples and contexts
charm n. [魔力,護身符,咒文,符咒,魅力] power or quality of pleasing or delighting; attractiveness; item worn for its supposed magical benefit Her spirit and charm is going to be a great lesson to all young women and teens Show examples and contexts
chart n. [海圖,圖表] graph; diagram; map showing coastlines, water depths, or other information of use to navigators A fisherman's chart may be the crucial evidence that finally helps to rest the mystery of what happened to Roald Amundsen. Show examples and contexts
chase v. [追捕] pursue to kill or take; hunt; follow as if to catch He saw the policeman chase the mugger down the alley. Show examples and contexts
chat n. [閒談] talk without exchanging too much information; informal conversation Inviting others into the chat is as simple as sending them a human-readable URL, and nobody has to sign up or answer an invitation email. Show examples and contexts
check v. [控制,阻止] stop motion; curb or restrain Young man, you'd better check your temper. Show examples and contexts
cheer n. [歡呼,喝采,高興,愉快] the lightness of spirits or mood; source of joy or happiness; festive food and drink; refreshment The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for everyone to hear! Show examples and contexts
cherish v. [懷抱(希望)] harbor; treasure; treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear One aspect of my marriage that I truly cherish is how Darrell and I work together as a team. Show examples and contexts
chew v. [咀嚼,咬碎] bite and grind with the teeth You must chew your food well before you swallow it. Show examples and contexts
chief a. [領袖,首長,首領] highest in office or rank; principal; head The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her flamingo. Show examples and contexts
chill a. [使冷,變冷,冷卻] cool; freeze; a feeling of cold Mists as chill as death wandered to the impulse of east winds along those purple peaks. Show examples and contexts
chin n. [頜,下巴] the central forward portion of the lower jaw; bottom of the face The face is mild and weak, especially in the thin short chin and feeble mouth. Show examples and contexts
chip v. [碎片,(賭注用)籌碼,油煎土豆片] cut small pieces from; diminish or reduce to shape; break or crack The snow stopped, and they began to chip ice from the windows. Show examples and contexts
choir n. [(教堂的)歌唱隊] band or organized company of singers, especially in church service Some people will say that being in a choir is lots of involvement because you have both rehearsals and services, which is true. Show examples and contexts
choke v. [使窒息] breathe with great difficulty, as when experiencing a strong emotion; reduce the air supply Children can choke on peanuts. Show examples and contexts
circuit n. [電路] electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow On rare occasions, microscopic metal particles can lead to a short circuit within the cell, causing overheating and potentially flames. Show examples and contexts
circus n. [馬戲團,流動戲班,馬戲] public entertainment of performances by acrobats, clowns, and trained animals I am not an animal rights person, but training animals to perform in a circus is cruel. Show examples and contexts
civil a. [平民的,市民的,民事的,非軍事的,國內的,文明的] having to do with citizens or the state; courteous and polite Although Internal Revenue Service agents are civil servants, they are not always courteous to suspected tax cheats. Show examples and contexts
civilian a. [平民的,民用的,,非軍事的] of or relating to non-military life The first is integrating former rebels back into civilian life. Show examples and contexts
claim n. [鎮靜的,沉著的] demand for something as rightful or due They struck in support of their claim for a shorter workday. Show examples and contexts
classic n. [第一流的,模範的,著名的,典型的] work of acknowledged excellence and authority, or its author; creation of the highest excellence His face was like a Greek face, very pure in outline: quite a straight, classic nose; quite an Athenian mouth and chin. Show examples and contexts
clearance n. [清理,清除,安全調查,結關證] act of clearing; space cleared; permission to proceed or trust Professors who wish to work with human genetic material need clearance from their university's review board. Show examples and contexts
click v. [使發出卡嗒聲,發出輕而短的聲音] make a slight, sharp noise by gentle striking; tick Students prefer to click the mouse rather than to strike the keyboard. Show examples and contexts
client n. [委託人,(律師的)當事人,顧客,主顧] someone who pays to get goods or services Gentlemen, my plan is broken up: what this lawyer and his client say is true: I have been married, and the woman to whom I was married lives! Show examples and contexts
clinic n. [門診所] healthcare facility for outpatient care In one of the worst-hit villages in the Bachu area, authorities say about a thousand homes collapsed and at least one school and a clinic. Show examples and contexts
clip n. [小夾子,回形針,彈夾,選錄,摘錄] a small section of filmed or filed material Phil's job at Fox Sports involved selecting the most important clip of the day's sporting highlights for later broadcast. Show examples and contexts
closet n. [壁櫥,衣櫥,碗櫥,私室] a small room or apartment; room for privacy Please put the coats back into the closet. Show examples and contexts
clue n. [線索,暗示] a ball of thread or cord; thread; something guides or directs anything of a doubtful or intricate nature The main clue is a sample of blood that was found at the scene. Show examples and contexts
coach n. [教練] tutor; teacher; a vehicle carrying many passengers When the players and coach arrive back later today, they'll be greeted as national heroes in the stadium where the first modern Olympics were held. Show examples and contexts
cocaine n. [可卡因,古柯鹼] drug extracted from coca leaves as a surface anesthetic or taken for pleasure, that can become addictive The dog sniffed out more than $1.6 million in cocaine from a sports utility vehicle, officials said. Show examples and contexts
code n. [代碼,密碼,規範,法典] body of law; system of rules or regulations relating to one subject; system of symbols, letters, or words Do you know the postal code of this postal district? Show examples and contexts
coin v. [鑄幣,發明,杜撰] make pieces of money from metal; invent or fabricate Slanderers coin nasty rumors. Show examples and contexts
coincidence n. [巧合] two or more things occurring at the same time by chance Was it just a coincidence that she and John had chanced to meet at the market, or was he deliberately trying to seek her out? Show examples and contexts
column n. [柱,支柱,圓柱,柱狀物,(印刷物上的)欄] pillar; cylindrical or polygonal support for roof; anything resembling, in form or position; upright body or mass This column is the latest in our series of interview articles. Show examples and contexts
combat v. [鬥爭,戰鬥,爭鬥] struggle as with an opposing force; fight with The ship has to combat the wind and waves this morning. Show examples and contexts
combine v. [聯合,結合] blend; fuse; merge Re-branded as one-army recruitment, the latest drive will, for the first time, combine recruiting to both the regular and territorial army. Show examples and contexts
comedy n. [喜劇,趣事,滑稽行為] light and humorous drama with a happy ending Anne Bancroft was also a regular in the comedy films made by her beloved second husband, Mel Brooks. Show examples and contexts
comic a. [滑稽的,好笑的,喜劇的] arousing or provoking laughter; ridiculous; amusing; humorous And, because the comic strips take place in superhero land, there are hints of the super-human. Show examples and contexts
comment v. [註釋,評論] express an opinion; remark She refused to comment about David Beckham's eye injury. Show examples and contexts
commercial a. [商業的,貿易的] money-making; involved in work that is intended for the mass market China's economic growth has been fuelled by investment in new factories and other commercial premises, many of them producing low-cost goods. Show examples and contexts
commission n. [佣金,委員會,委任,任命] fee for services; a group of people appointed to find out about something; authorize China has hit back, its foreign ministry urging the Congressional commission to wipe out its prejudice, respect the truth. Show examples and contexts
commit v. [犯(錯誤),幹(壞事)] do something that cannot be changed; cause to be admitted And small bands of extremists may again commit heinous crimes in the name of faith. Show examples and contexts
commitment n. [信奉,支持,許諾,承擔義務] pledge, undertaking; an act of binding yourself to a course of action My main commitment is to promote human values; this is what I consider the key factor for a happy life at the individual level, family level, and community level. Show examples and contexts
committee n. [委員會] special group delegated to consider some matter He was director of the central bank's monetary policy committee, which sets Brazil's interest rates. Show examples and contexts
communicate v. [傳達,溝通,通信] send information about; make known; impart; reveal clearly It came to me that the best way to communicate is to have direct, personal contact with people. Show examples and contexts
communication n. [溝通,通訊] the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information They predict that mobile communication devices' vast majority of internet connections will be closer to pocket computers than portable telephones. Show examples and contexts
community n. [社區,社會] society; a group of people living in the same locality and under the same government Where governments manage public life, human freedom in a community is compromised. Show examples and contexts
company n. [同伴,(陸軍的)連,連隊,衛隊] team; guard team; group of persons; business enterprise I slipped out of the room, unobserved by any eye - for the company were gathered in one mass about the trembling trio just returned. Show examples and contexts
compare v. [比較,對照,比喻] examine and note the similarities or differences of We compare the copy with the original, but there was not much difference. Show examples and contexts
competition n. [競爭,競賽] struggle; rivalry; an act of competing as for a profit prize There she's against tough competition such as Meryl Streep, but this award will give her extra momentum towards what's undoubtedly the bigger prize in movies. Show examples and contexts
competitive a. [競爭的,有競爭力的] of or pertaining to competition; producing competition; showing a fighting disposition Nobody can entirely keep away from this competitive world. Show examples and contexts
complex a. [複雜的,費解的,結構複雜的] complicated in structure; a whole structure, as a building, made up of interconnected or related structures Prescott's speech comes as ministers worldwide struggle to overcome complex arguments about how the Kyoto agreement on cutting greenhouse gas emissions should work. Show examples and contexts
complicated a. [費解的,棘手的,結構複雜的] difficult to analyze or understand Legally this is a hugely complicated case, and it will take months for the judge to reach the verdict. Show examples and contexts
compliment n. [恭維,稱讚] praise; commendation; say something to someone that expresses praise A compliment is a gift, not to be thrown away carelessly unless you want to hurt the giver. Show examples and contexts
compromise v. [危害,妥協] adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of Sometimes the presence of a neutral third party can help adversaries compromise their differences. Show examples and contexts
concentrate v. [使集中於一點,濃縮] bring to or direct toward a common center; unite more closely; gather into one body I was now able to concentrate my attention on the group by the fire. Show examples and contexts
concept n. [概念,觀念] something formed in mind; thought or notion The local chain concept is simple: identify your customer, cater to their tastes and once successful, expand within a neighborhood. Show examples and contexts
concern n. [擔心,擔憂,關心,關照,有利害關係] interest in any person or thing; regard; solicitude; anxiety There is no telling what might have happened, now, but luckily the concern passed out of Aunt Polly's face. Show examples and contexts
concrete n. [用混凝土修築,澆混凝土,凝結] solid mass; covering with cement; hard, strong construction material consisting of sand, conglomerate, and gravel The anti-nuclear campaigners used concrete blocks to attach themselves to the line; it is difficult to release them without damaging the rails. Show examples and contexts
condition n. [條件,狀況,健康狀況] mode or state of being; fitness; existing circumstances The Organization Man survives as a modern classic because it captures a permanent part of our social condition. Show examples and contexts
conduct v. [做(試驗,研究等),引導,帶領] direct the course of; manage or control; lead or guide You cannot conduct business like this. Show examples and contexts
confess v. [坦白承認] acknowledge; admit that you have done something wrong When any vicious simpleton excites my disgust by his paltry ribaldry, I cannot flatter myself that I am better than he: I am forced to confess that he and I are on a level. Show examples and contexts
confidence n. [信心] feeling secure or certain about something He said the aim was to restore baseball fans' confidence, but the new penalties for players who test positive for drugs fall far short of those in other sports. Show examples and contexts
confident a. [有信心的,自信的] assured; having or marked by assurance They don't sound confident about the future of the industry. Show examples and contexts
confidential a. [機密的,秘密的,參與機密的] treated with confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; secret He has been on confidential missions to Berlin; all of us don't know his secret trip. Show examples and contexts
confirm v. [證實] support or establish the certainty or validity of; verify In the aftermath of Saturday's mass poisoning, the authorities imposed a virtual news blackout, refusing even to confirm how many people had died. Show examples and contexts
conflict n. [爭論,衝突,鬥爭] fight; struggle; incompatibility of dates or events According to the United Nations, malnutrition rates have now been cut by half since the start of the conflict. Show examples and contexts
confront v. [面對,正視] be face to face with; oppose in hostility or competition; deal with Here in the heart of conservative Texas, young criminals, murderers and thugs are forced to confront military-style discipline, a traditional view of right and wrong. Show examples and contexts
confusion n. [混亂,混淆] a mistake that results from taking one thing to be another; lack of clarity or order My uncle got into the back of the car, scratching his head in confusion, having missed the episode completely. Show examples and contexts
congress n. [國會,議會] meeting of elected or appointed representatives Just a day after congress granted him special powers, he has begun turning the screws on the international oil companies. Show examples and contexts
conscience n. [良心,良知] motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles; source of moral or ethical judgment The truth in conscience is immediately near to me, as near the seed that rests upon the wayside. Show examples and contexts
conscious a. [有意識的,神誌清醒的] awake, thinking, and knowing what is happening around you; alert I was conscious that a moment's mutiny had already rendered me liable to strange penalties, and, like any other rebel slave, I felt resolved. Show examples and contexts
conspiracy n. [陰謀] plot; intrigue; agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act Information minister Jerry Gana released a statement in which he says there has been an international media conspiracy against Nigeria. Show examples and contexts
constant a. [不變的,持續的,一再重複的] invariable; repeating; continually occurring; persistent Yemen's state news agency says the president visited the three wounded officials at the Saudi hospital and expressed happiness about their health's constant progress. Show examples and contexts
constitution n. [憲法,構造,體質,體格] law determining the fundamental political principles of a government; the act of forming something President Putin said Britain knew Russia's constitution prohibits such extradition. Show examples and contexts
consult v. [諮詢,請教] seek advice or information of; take into account; consider I will consult with our friends, but it's going to be what's in the interests of our country first and foremost. Show examples and contexts
consumer n. [消費者] people who buy goods or services Adidas and Reebok are two of the world's best-known consumer brands, but they're in the shadow of Nike, the giant of the sportswear industry. Show examples and contexts
contact v. [使接觸,聯繫] get in touch with; reach But Britney, 21, says he called her at two of her homes and even tried to contact her at her parents' house. Show examples and contexts
contempt n. [輕視,鄙視] state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace; disobedience to, or open disrespect of The poor fools, who hold science in contempt, have no ability to realize that science proves them wrong at every turn. Show examples and contexts
content n. [內容,容量] volume; something contained; material, including text and images The brain is hungry not for the method but for content, especially the latter, which contains powerful, precise, and explicit generalizations. Show examples and contexts
contest v. [比賽,競爭,爭奪] contend for; call in question; oppose; dispute The lawyer decided to contest the claim and tried to prove that it was false. Show examples and contexts
contract v. [收縮] constrict; make smaller; compress or concentrate The heat will contract the woolen garment. Show examples and contexts
contrary a. [相反的,對抗的] relation of direct opposition; very opposed in nature or character or purpose Our boat took a course contrary to theirs. Show examples and contexts
convention n. [習俗,慣例] social or moral custom; formal meeting of members, representatives, or delegates; agreement between states Moreover, following this convention is our friend's normal behavior when in such a mood. Show examples and contexts
convict v. [證明有罪,宣告有罪] find or declare guilty If the jury decided to convict him of manslaughter, he could face up to 20 years in prison. Show examples and contexts
conviction n. [定罪,深信] the judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief Even her murder conviction did not shake Peter's judgment that Harriet was innocent of the crime. Show examples and contexts
convince v. [使相信,信服,說服] overpower; force to yield assent to truth; satisfy by proof; prove guilty Your argument is too weak to convince me; we need more evidence. Show examples and contexts
cooperate v. [合作] work or act together toward a common end or purpose The best way to get Pakistan to cooperate is to find why it is so keen to retain influence in Afghanistan and try to meet its concerns. Show examples and contexts
core n. [中心,核心,地核] basic, center, or most important part; the essence But at the core is a story about two men who can't let go of the sense that they are dreaming their way through what might be an ultimately meaningless life. Show examples and contexts
corner n. [角,犄角,(街道等的)拐角] position at which two lines, surfaces, or edges meet and form an angle I sat by myself in the corner without speaking. Show examples and contexts
corporate a. [團體的,共同的] united or combined into one body; collective; belonging to a corporation or incorporated body The demonstrators inspired thousands of allies to take to the streets to protest economic inequality and corporate greed. Show examples and contexts