nibble, circumstance, refractory, rupture,

nibble /ˈnɪbl/ DJ /'nɪbḷ/ KK


verb

1.to take small bites of something, especially food 小口咬，一點點地咬（食物） ~ (at sth)

We sat drinking wine and nibbling olives. 我們坐在那兒，喝着葡萄酒嚼着橄欖。 VN

He nibbled her ear playfully. 他開玩笑地輕咬着她的耳朵。

She took some cake from the tray and nibbled at it. 她從盤子裏拿了塊蛋糕慢慢地吃着。 V

2.to show a slight interest in an offer, idea, etc. （對…）略微表現出興趣 V ~ (at sth)

He nibbled at the idea, but would not make a definite decision. 他對這個主意略感興趣，但還不願意作出明確決定。

Phrasal: nibble away at something

1.to take away small amounts of something, so that the total amount is gradually reduced 慢慢地削弱；蠶食

Inflation is nibbling away at spending power. 通貨膨脹正在慢慢地減弱消費能力。

noun

1.a small bite of something 一小口 countable

I took a nibble from the biscuit. 我咬了一小口餅乾。

2.small things to eat with a drink before a meal or at a party （餐前或聚會中的）點心，小吃 plural

wine and nibbles 葡萄酒和點心

Alternate: nibbles


circumstance /ˈsɜːkəmstəns/ DJ /-stɑːns/ DJ /-stæns/ DJ /ˈsɜːrkəmstæns/ DJ US /'sɝkəmˈstæns/ KK US


noun

1.the conditions and facts that are connected with and affect a situation, an event or an action 條件；環境；狀況 countable usually plural

The company reserves the right to cancel this agreement in certain circumstances. 本公司保留在一定條件下取消這項協議的權利。

changing social and political circumstances 正在變化的社會和政治環境

I know I can trust her in any circumstance. 我知道我在任何情況下都能信任她。

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the boy's death. 警方說關於男孩死亡一事沒有發現可疑的情況。

The ship sank in mysterious circumstances. 那艘船神秘地沉沒了。

She never discovered the true circumstances of her birth. 她從未弄清她身世的真相。

2.the conditions of a person's life, especially the money they have 境況；境遇；（尤指）經濟狀況 plural

Grants are awarded according to your financial circumstances. 補助金根據經濟狀況發給。

family/domestic/personal circumstances 家庭╱個人經濟狀況

Alternate: circumstances

3.situations and events that affect and influence your life and that are not in your control 命運；客觀環境 uncountable formal

a victim of circumstance(= a person who has suffered because of a situation that they cannot control) 客觀環境的犧牲品

He had to leave the country through force of circumstance(= events or the situation made it necessary). 為環境所逼，他不得不離開這個國家。

Idiom: in/under the circumstances

1.used before or after a statement to show that you have thought about the conditions that affect a situation before making a decision or a statement 在這種情況下；既然如此

Under the circumstances, it seemed better not to tell him about the accident. 在這種情況下，不告訴他有關這次事故的情況似乎更好。

She did the job very well in the circumstances. 她在那種情況下仍把工作幹得很出色。

Idiom: in/under no circumstances

1.used to emphasize that something should never happen or be allowed 決不；無論如何不

Under no circumstances should you lend Paul any money. 你無論如何都不能借錢給保羅。

Don't open the door, in any circumstances. 在任何情況下都不要開門。

See also: pomp and circumstance; reduced circumstances



refractory /rɪˈfræktəri/ DJ /rɪ'fræktərɪ/ KK


adjective

1.of a person 人 difficult to control; behaving badly 難以駕馭的；行為乖戾的 formal

2.of a disease or medical condition 疾病或體格狀況 difficult to treat or cure 難以診治的；難以治瘉的 medical


rupture /ˈrʌptʃə(r)/ DJ /'rʌptʃɚ/ KK


noun

1.an injury in which something inside the body breaks apart or bursts （體內組織等的）斷裂，破裂 medical countable uncountable

the rupture of a blood vessel 血管破裂

2.a situation when something breaks or bursts 斷裂；爆裂 countable uncountable

ruptures of oil and water pipelines 石油和輸水管道的爆裂

3.a hernia of the abdomen 疝氣 informal countable uncountable

I nearly gave myself a rupture lifting that pile of books. 提那一大堆書差點兒讓我得了疝氣。

4.the ending of agreement or of good relations between people, countries, etc. （關係的）破裂，決裂；絕交 formal countable uncountable

a rupture in relations between the two countries 兩國關係的破裂

Nothing could heal the rupture with his father. 沒有什麼可以彌合他和父親之間的裂痕。

verb

1.to burst or break apart something inside the body; to be broken or burst apart （使體內組織等）斷裂，裂開，破裂 medical

a ruptured appendix/spleen/artery 闌尾穿孔；脾／動脈破裂 VN

He ruptured himself(= got a hernia)trying to lift the piano. 他試着搬動鋼琴，發了疝氣。

2.to make something such as a container or a pipe break or burst; to be broken or burst （使容器或管道等）斷裂，破裂

The impact ruptured both fuel tanks. 衝撞使兩個燃料箱都爆裂了。 VN

A pipe ruptured, leaking water all over the house. 一根水管斷裂，漏了滿屋子的水。 V

3.to make an agreement or good relations between people or countries end 使（友好關係）破裂；使絕交；毀掉（協議） VN written

ex: Necrosis is charaterized by the rupture of cell membrane as a result of swelling of the cytoplasm (oncosis).