thin material used for writing, printing, drawing, or wrapping

表示材料时通常不可数：some paper, a sheet of paper；不说 two papers 来表示两张纸。

a newspaper considered as one publication

此义可数；the paper 是日常语境中“报纸”的说法。与 newspaper 同义但 newspaper 更明确。

an exam set of questions or a piece of formal academic writing

exam paper 指试卷；a paper on + 主题 指一篇论文，须由语境判断。

a tool used for writing with ink

pen 通常指使用墨水书写的笔。

to write something, especially a piece of text

pen 作动词较正式，常指撰写信、诗或文章。

a wooden or plastic tool for writing or drawing with graphite

pencil 常与 sharpen 连用；write in pencil 指“用铅笔写”。

a book of blank or lined pages for writing notes

notebook 通常指纸质笔记本；laptop 是笔记本电脑。

a table used for working, writing, or studying

A desk is for work or study.

a soft white or coloured substance used for writing or drawing

作书写材料时通常不可数；a piece of chalk 指一支粉笔。

to write or draw something with chalk

常用 chalk sth on/onto a board 或 pavement；sth 是被写或画出的内容。

an object used to remove pencil marks

eraser 主要用于美式英语；英国英语常说 rubber。

having a fine edge or sudden change

Sharp describes an edge or a sudden, strong change.

make sharper

Sharpen takes a pencil, knife, or skill as its object.

a tool for making a point sharp

A sharpener is a tool noun formed from sharpen.

a small tool used to make a pencil point sharp

Pencil sharpener is a countable compound noun; its head word is sharpener.

a set of papers or digital records kept together

Use file for a paper folder or a computer document; save a file is common for digital work.

a coloured liquid used for writing or printing

Ink is usually uncountable. In ink describes writing made with ink rather than pencil.

a small shaped piece of metal used to open or lock a door, box, or vehicle

A key is countable; keys is common when someone has several keys together.

most important for achieving a result or understanding a situation

Key before a noun means especially important.

a series of names, items, or things written down

Make a list of is useful for planning or remembering things.

a plan listing activities or events and when they will happen

A schedule can organise one person's day, transport departures or broadcasts. On schedule means at the planned time; ahead of schedule means earlier.

a formal list of items or amounts, often included in a document

In formal documents, schedule can mean an organised list, not only a timetable. A schedule of fees lists the amounts charged.

to arrange for something to happen at a particular time

Schedule takes the event as its object. Use for before a planned time, or be scheduled to followed by a verb.

the activity of learning, a piece of research, or a quiet room for reading

a study of 表示“对……的研究”。

to spend time learning a subject or examining something carefully

study for + 考试；study + 事物 表示仔细研究。

careful study to discover facts or develop knowledge

research 作“研究”时通常不可数。

to study a subject carefully in order to find information

及物动词，后接研究对象或从句。

written with one or more letters in the wrong order or form

Misspelled is the American spelling; misspelt is common in British English.

to write or say the letters of a word in the correct order

spell 后接单词；英式过去式常为 spelt。

magic words believed to have special power

spell 作名词时可指故事中的咒语。

the way a word is written, or the ability to write words correctly

spelling 可指具体拼法，也可泛指拼写能力。

all the words a person knows or uses

Vocabulary can mean the words of a language or the range of words a person knows.

a single unit of language, or a promise that someone has made

keep your word 表示“信守诺言”。

connected with study or serious learning

Academic describes school or university study, especially subjects, work, and achievement.

a teacher or researcher at a university

As a noun, an academic is a university teacher or researcher; this use is more formal.

a school or institution for special study

An academy is an institution for special study or training.

an institution for further or higher education

In British English, college may name a further-education college or a college within a university.

a formal talk that explains a subject to an audience

A lecture is usually a structured talk by one speaker. Use on or about for its subject.

to give a formal talk or teach through lectures

Lecture can be used without a direct object. On introduces the topic; at can introduce the institution.

a long, serious talk telling someone that their behaviour is wrong

This informal sense often suggests that the listener finds the criticism unwelcome or too long.

to tell someone at length how they should behave

In this sense, lecture takes the person as a direct object, often followed by about or on.

a person who works in a library and helps people use its books and information

A librarian works in or manages a library.

a place where books and other information can be borrowed or read

Use a library card to borrow books from a library.

to discover or get something after looking for it

Find often means successfully locate something or discover information after looking.

to discover that someone or something has a particular quality or is in a particular state

After find, an adjective or -ing form can describe what you discover: find the task difficult; find someone waiting.

a fact or result discovered by research, an investigation, or careful examination

Finding is often used in the plural for the results of research or an investigation.

right or free from mistakes

As an adjective, correct describes something accurate or free from error.

to change something so that it is no longer wrong

As a verb, correct takes the mistake or error as its object.

a change made to remove a mistake

A correction is the change itself; point out an error, not a correction.

not correct or accurate

Incorrect commonly describes an answer, detail, or statement that is wrong.

a mistake in an action, calculation or piece of information

Error is slightly more formal than mistake. In error means by mistake, often in official messages.

the quality of being important

Importance is uncountable; use the importance of to say why a particular thing matters.

having great value, influence, or effect

Use important to for a person or purpose, and it is important to do sth for advice or emphasis.

not important or not likely to have much effect

Unimportant is the opposite of important; it describes a thing that does not matter much in the situation.

most important or largest

Main comes before a noun.

a way of pronouncing words, or stress on a syllable

指发音特色时可数；指单词重音时常说 put the accent on。

a device that makes sound louder

A loudspeaker sends amplified sound to a group of people.

a system of communication used by a country or group of people

Language is countable for a particular system of communication, such as English or Chinese.

to say hello to someone or welcome someone when they arrive

Greet takes the person or event being welcomed as its object.

words or actions used to say hello or show good wishes

Greeting can be spoken, written, or shown by an action.

a state with no sound or with nobody speaking

silence 通常不可数；break the silence 表示打破沉默。

not speaking or making any sound

remain silent 指保持沉默；silent 还可形容没有声音的事物。

a sound, especially one that is loud, unpleasant, or unwanted

Noise is often uncountable for unwanted sound in general, but a noise can mean one particular sound.

full of loud or unpleasant sounds

Noisy describes a place, activity, or group that produces a lot of noise.

something that you hear

sound 作名词可指任何可听到的声音。

to give a particular impression when heard or described

sound 后接形容词或 like。

to make a warning or other sound

及物动词 sound 后可接 alarm、warning 等。

reliable, based on good judgement, or deep and undisturbed

sound advice 指合理明智的建议；sound sleep 指深沉、安稳的睡眠。

pleasantly smooth or easy to press

soft 常指触摸起来不硬。

quiet, gentle, or not bright

还可形容声音、光线或颜色不强烈。

a device used for speaking to someone at a distance

phone 作名词时可指电话机，也可指电话联系。

to call someone using a phone

phone 后可直接接人；phone sb back 表示“回电话给某人”。

to cause a person or thing to go to a place

send sb sth 和 send sth to sb 都可表示“把某物送给某人”。

the system of sending letters and parcels, or the letters sent by it

在英式英语中 post 常指邮政或邮件；美式英语常用 mail。

to send a letter or parcel by post

可说 post a letter/package；不要把这里的 post 和网上“发帖”的含义混在一起。

the money paid for sending a letter or parcel by post

postage 通常作不可数名词，表示寄送所需的费用。

a public place for postal services

这是固定的复合名词；到邮局常说 go to the post office。

a group of letters and numbers in a UK address that helps sort mail

postcode 是英国常用词；谈美国地址时通常说 ZIP code。

letters and parcels sent by post

Mail is uncountable in this sense.

a small label for sending a letter, or a mark made by an official tool

邮寄信件时常说 put a stamp on an envelope。

to hit the ground hard with a foot, or to mark something with a stamp

stamp one's feet 常表示因冷或生气而跺脚。

a piece of writing in a newspaper, magazine, academic journal, or on a website

article 常指报刊、网站或学术期刊上的一篇文章，也可指报道或论文。

a particular thing, especially one item among several

这个义项较正式，常见于 rules、lost property 等语境。

a word such as a, an, or the used before a noun

英语中的 a、an、the 都是冠词；a/an 多用于泛指单数可数名词，the 常用于特指。

a separate numbered rule or section in a legal document or agreement

这个义项多见于法律、协议或组织章程等正式文本。

to prepare written or recorded material for use by correcting or changing it, or to be in charge of a publication

Edit can mean changing the content yourself or being responsible for a publication. Edit out means remove a part; editing a film may involve selecting and arranging recorded material.

a particular version of a book or one issue of a newspaper, magazine or programme

Edition is countable. A new edition of a book may contain revisions; an edition of a newspaper or programme is one issue or instalment. A copy is one physical item, not necessarily a different edition.

a person who prepares written or recorded material for publication or is in charge of a publication

An editor may revise individual material, manage a publication or assemble film footage. Add the type of work, such as newspaper or film, when the role needs to be clear.

a short piece of writing that discusses a subject or presents the writer's ideas

An essay often develops a point of view rather than simply listing facts. Use on or about to introduce its subject; a literary essay can be a reflective piece of prose.

a book in which someone writes about events, thoughts, or experiences regularly

A journal can be a personal record written regularly.

a serious magazine that publishes articles about a particular subject

A journal can also be a magazine, especially one about a specialist or academic subject.

a person whose job is to collect, write, or report news

A journalist reports or writes news for newspapers, television, radio, or online media.

a small printed sheet that gives information or advertising

A leaflet is usually a single small sheet or folded paper, not a long book.

an official paper or electronic record

This noun names a written or electronic record.

to record information in writing or electronically

As a verb, document means record information or events.

a visible sign or line on a surface

This sense refers to a visible sign or trace.

a score given for school work

In British English, mark is commonly used for a school score.

something that someone says about a subject

A remark is usually a short comment.

unusual or surprising in a way that people notice

Remarkable describes something notably unusual or impressive.

the word by which a person, place, or thing is known

A person's name can include a given name and a family name.

to give a name to someone or something, or to identify it by name

Be named after means to receive a name in honour of someone or something.

information about recent events

news 虽以 -s 结尾，通常作不可数名词并用单数谓语；不说 a news。

a printed or digital publication carrying reports about recent events

可数：a newspaper / two newspapers。读报常说 read the newspaper；报纸机构也可用 newspaper 指代。

to give a book, film, or work a particular title

常用 be entitled + 名称，表示“题为……”。

to give someone the right to have or do something

常用 entitle sb to sth，表示“使某人有权得到某物”。

the name of a book, film, or job position

title 可指作品名称或职位名称。

a piece of information sent to someone

Message is countable.

special attention or importance given to something

Place emphasis on + noun or use with an emphasis on + noun to state a priority.

a fixed expression whose meaning is not simply its individual words

An idiom works as a whole expression; translating each word separately may give the wrong meaning.

a characteristic style of expression in language or art

In writing about music or art, idiom means a recognisable style rather than a fixed phrase.

the feeling of wanting to know about or take part in something

Interest is uncountable in show interest, but countable in take an interest in something.

money that a bank pays you for keeping money there, or that you pay for borrowing money

Interest is uncountable when it means money paid for saving or borrowing.

wanting to know more about something or to take part in it

Use interested for a person's feeling: be interested in something or doing something.

causing someone to want to know more or pay attention

Interesting describes the thing that creates interest; interested describes the person who feels it.

to say that something is true, often without proof

Claim that + clause reports what someone says; it does not guarantee that the statement is true.

a quality that attracts or a serious request

Appeal can mean attraction or a public request for help.

attract someone or make a serious request

Appeal to names the person addressed or attracted; appeal for names what is requested.

attractive or interesting

Appealing describes something that makes people interested or pleased.

the main idea

Use the theme of a book, talk, or event for its main subject; a topic may appear without being its central theme.

a subject that people discuss, write about or study

Topic names what a discussion or text is about, not necessarily its exact title. Use on the topic of to introduce the subject.

a particular way of doing or presenting something

style 可指艺术、穿着或写作的风格。

letters or words that have been printed rather than written by hand

small print 指合同等中的小号印刷文字；in print 也可指书仍在印行。

the business or medium of printing and publishing

此义把 print 看作印刷和出版这一行业或媒介。

to produce words or pictures on paper using a printer

print out 也常用，表示把电子内容打印出来。

to write letters clearly and separately, like printed letters

此义不是用打印机，而是用清晰的印刷体手写。

to publish a book, newspaper, or article, or to include writing in one

作此义时，主语常是出版社、报纸或杂志。

needing attention or action very soon

Urgent concerns time: action should happen quickly. Something important may matter greatly without being urgent.

not taking action or not actively involved

Passive often contrasts with active and describes a lack of action or initiative.

small in amount, degree or importance

Slight describes a small degree. The expression not in the slightest means not at all.

small and thin in build

For a person, slight describes a small, slender body rather than a slight degree of something.

to a small degree

Slightly can modify an adjective, a comparative or a verb to limit the degree of change.

a request to someone to come to an event or to do something

An invitation to is followed by an event or place; an invitation to do sth is also common.

to ask someone to come to an event, place, or activity

Invite takes a person as its object: invite someone to an event or to do something.

help or advice about what to do

Guidance is uncountable and often refers to practical advice.

a person or book that shows people where to go or what to do

A guide can be a person or an information source.

support given to someone who needs it

Help is uncountable when it means support or assistance.

to make a task easier for someone or assist them in doing it

As a verb, help can take a person and a task.

useful for solving a problem or doing something

Helpful in this sense describes information, advice, or an action that is useful.

willing to help other people

Helpful in this sense describes a person who is willing to assist others.

unable to take action or protect yourself

Helpless describes someone unable to deal with a situation.

to know the meaning of something or how it works

understand 后可接名词、疑问词从句或 that 从句。

knowledge of something, or sympathy for another person’s feelings

an understanding of 后接所理解的事物。

to understand someone or something incorrectly

Misunderstand has the past tense misunderstood.

to be connected with something

见搭配与例句。

to understand or empathize with someone’s experience

见搭配与例句。

to show or make a connection between two things

见搭配与例句。

to tell a story or describe an event

见搭配与例句。

connected with something

见搭配与例句。

connected as members of the same family

见搭配与例句。

a connection between things

见搭配与例句。

the way countries or organizations deal with each other

通常用复数 relations。

a member of your family

见搭配与例句。

the way people or things are connected

见搭配与例句。

to depend on or trust someone or something

Rely normally takes on or upon. It can express practical dependence or trust that someone will act as expected.

able to be trusted to work well or do what is expected

Reliable can describe people who keep their promises, things that work consistently, or information that can be trusted.

to make something ready for a purpose or event

prepare 作及物动词时后接要准备的物品、场所或材料。

to get ready for something

prepare for 后接考试、活动等；此处 prepare 不直接带宾语。

the process of getting ready for something

不可数时强调准备这一过程；in preparation for 后接活动或事件。

the particular things arranged before an event

preparations 常用复数，指为某事做的具体准备和安排。

regular activity done to improve a skill

practice 可指泛指的练习，也可指一次训练活动。英式英语中它作名词；动词拼作 practise。美式英语中动词也常拼作 practice。

the use of an idea or method in a real situation

put ... into practice 表示把想法或计划付诸实践。

a usual way of doing something

作可数名词时常指一种惯例或习俗；作不可数名词可泛指惯例。

the professional work or business of a doctor or lawyer, or the place or firm where they work

不可数时指医生或律师的执业、业务活动；可数时指诊所、律师事务所等实体。

to do an activity regularly in order to improve at it

英式英语中 practise 是动词拼写，后可接名词或动名词。

to train regularly for an activity without naming the activity

不及物用法中 practise 后不直接接宾语；美式英语通常拼作 practice。

useful or suitable in real situations

practical 常形容建议、方案或技能，强调实际可行。

involving doing something rather than only learning about it

practical lesson/work 强调通过动手做来学习。

an ability that you learn through training or practice

skill 作可数名词时指一项具体技能。

the ability to do something well

不可数时强调做事的熟练程度或技巧。

having the training and ability to do a job well

skilled 常指受过训练的人；be skilled at 后接名词或动名词。

done with skill, or showing great skill

skillful 更常强调动作、处理方式或表演本身很巧妙。

based on ideas rather than practical experience

Theoretical describes an idea based on principles rather than practical testing.

an explanation based on ideas or facts

A theory may be an explanation supported by ideas or an unproven guess in everyday speech.

the study of ideas about life and knowledge, or a set of beliefs

Philosophy can be an academic subject or a person’s guiding set of beliefs.

to change words from one language into another

translate A into B 表示把 A 翻译成 B。

the process or result of changing words into another language

translation 可指翻译过程，也可指译文。

a person who translates written or spoken language

translator 指人或翻译工具；interpreter 更常指现场口译员。

a short phrase that expresses a person's or group's guiding belief

A motto expresses a principle to follow, not just an advertising message. Its plural may be mottos or mottoes.

matching sounds at the ends of words, a word with such a sound, or a short poem using them

Rhyme can be uncountable for the sound pattern or countable for a matching word or a short poem. A nursery rhyme is a traditional short verse for children.

to have matching end sounds, or use words with those sounds together

Words rhyme because of their sounds, not simply their spelling. Say A rhymes with B; rhyme A with B describes choosing a pair in writing.

a room where artists work or where radio or television programmes are made

studio 是创作或录制的专用场所，不是 study“书房”。

an outdoor area where children play

playground 常指学校或公园里供儿童活动的区域。

a tool with two blades used for cutting

通常作复数；用 a pair of scissors 表示“一把剪刀”。

a picture or pattern cut from paper

paper-cut 可指一幅剪纸作品；复数为 paper-cuts。

to examine something carefully in order to understand it

Analyse is British spelling; the American spelling is analyze.

a careful examination of facts or information

Analysis is the noun; its plural is analyses, not analysis.

a way of reasoning, or the study of rules for sound reasoning

Logic is normally uncountable. The logic behind a decision is the reasoning that supports it; logic as a subject studies how valid arguments work.

based on clear reasoning or sensible in the circumstances

Logical may describe an argument that follows from its reasons or a practical step that makes sense. It does not simply mean that someone likes an idea.

a thought, plan, or suggestion about what to do

Idea is countable: use an idea for one particular thought or suggestion.

perfect or most suitable for a particular purpose or situation

Ideal is commonly followed by for when saying what a thing is especially suitable for.

the result found by adding amounts and dividing by their number

常与 on average 连用，表示“平均而言”。

the usual level or standard

这是名词的“水平”义，不等同于形容词 average。

typical or ordinary; not especially good or bad

average 可描述数量，也可评价水平。

to have a particular average amount or level

主语可是一组数据、价格或数量。 动词词形：averages—averaging—averaged。

a number, or a person in a particular situation

Figure can mean a number or a person of importance; the noun after it clarifies the sense.

to form a picture or idea of something in your mind

Imagine is followed by a noun, doing, or a that clause; do not use imagine to do for this meaning.

a particular way of doing something

Method of is followed by -ing or a noun.

not easily convinced that something is true or useful

Sceptical about or of introduces the claim or idea being doubted. Sceptical is British spelling; skeptical is American.

a belief or view about something

in my opinion 常用于句首，表达个人观点。

connected with the subject being discussed