word
noun
verb
wɜːd noun
1
UNIT OF LANGUAGE
语言单位
the smallest unit of language that people can understand if it is said or written on its own 字，词，单词 C
Write an essay of about five hundred words.
写一篇大约五百字的文章。
I know the tune, but not the words.
我熟悉曲调，但不知道歌词。
‘Vater’ is the German word for (=word that means) ‘father’. Vater
是德语“父亲”的意思。
Perhaps ‘lucky’ is not exactly the right word .
也许 lucky 这个单词意思还不是太准确。
search for/find etc a word (try to choose words that express what you want to say) 寻找恰当的词语
She was having difficulty finding the right words to tell him.
她找不出恰当的语言向他表达自己的意思。
2
sb’s words
the things that someone says or writes 某人所言 （写 ）
Those are his words, not mine.
那都是他说的话，我可没这么说。
in sb’s words
Jones was, in the judge’s words, ‘an evil man’.
琼斯，用法官的话来说，“是个邪恶的人”。
In your own words , explain the term ‘personal service’.
用你自己的话解释一下术语“个人服务”。
3
have a word
to talk to someone quickly, especially because you need their advice about something or you want to tell them to do something [尤口] 〔与某人〕说几句话〔尤因要征求对方的意见或叫对方做事〕 especially spoken
Could I have a word?
我们可否谈谈？
[+ with ]
I’ll have a word with him and see if he’ll help.
我要和他谈谈，看他是否愿意帮忙。
have a quick/brief word
I was hoping to have a quick word with you.
我希望能和你简短地说两句。
have/exchange a few words
Could I have a few words with you?
我能否和你简短地谈一谈？
4
want a word
to want to talk to someone, especially in order to criticize them [口] 想和某人谈话〔尤指为批评某人〕 spoken
[+ with ]
Wait a minute! I want a word with you!
等一下！ 我想和你谈谈！
5
not hear/understand/believe a word
used to emphasize that you cannot hear, understand etc what someone says or writes 一点都听不到/不了解/不相信
No one could hear a word because someone had cut the amplifier cable.
没人听得到，因为有人把扩音器的电线切断了。
[+ of ]
I can’t understand a word of Russian.
我一句俄语也不懂。
6
without (saying) a word
if you do something without a word, you do not say anything while you do it 什么也不说
He left without a word.
他一句话也没说就离开了。
7
say a word/say a few words
to make a short speech about something 〔关于某事〕说两句
I’d like to say a few words about the plans.
我想就这些计划说两句。
8
a word of warning/caution/advice/thanks etc
something you say that warns someone, thanks them etc 警告/告诫/建议/感谢等的话
It’s a beautiful city, but a word of warning: street robberies are very common.
这是个美丽的城市，不过要警惕: 街头抢劫很常见。
He left without a word of apology.
他一句道歉的话也没说就走了。
9
not say a word not breathe a word
a. also 又作 to not say anything about something because it is a secret b. to not say anything 不说话
Promise you won’t say a word to anyone?
你能保证不跟任何人说吗？
What’s wrong? You haven’t said more than two words since you got here.
怎么了？ 你到这儿以后说话还没超过两句呢。
10
put your feelings/thoughts etc into words
10. to express what you want to say clearly 用语言表达自己的感觉/思想等
He found it difficult to put ideas into words.
他发现很难用语言表达自己的想法。
11
have/exchange words (with sb)
11. to argue – use this when you do not want to make the argument seem serious 〔委婉语〕（与某人）吵架，（和某人）吵嘴
I was in a bad mood and he kept pestering me, so we had words.
我情绪不好而他又一直烦我，所以就吵了起来。
12
a harsh/a cross/an angry etc word
12. something you say that shows you are angry or want to criticize someone 刺耳的/生气的/气愤的等言辞
Mountain rescue teams have harsh words to say to people who climb without proper equipment.
登山救援队对不带合适装备登山的人颇有怨言。
They were married for 50 years and she says there was never an angry word between them.
他们结婚 50 年了，她说他俩从未拌过一次嘴。
13
NEWS/INFORMATION
新闻/信息
a piece of news or a message 一则新闻 （消息） singular 单数, U | old-fashioned formal
Word came that our duties would be changed.
有消息说我们的职责会有变动。
‘Have you heard from Ann?’ ‘No, not a word.’
“你有安的消息吗？”“没有，一点消息也没有。”
There was still no word from John.
还是没有约翰的消息。
word gets out/around (people hear about something) 消息传开; 人们听说
It’s a very small town and if you do something bad, word gets around.
这是个很小的城镇，要是有人做了坏事，消息很快就会传开。
the word is (that) /word has it (that) (people are saying that) 大家都在说
The word is that the two companies are planning a merger.
大家都在说这两家公司正计划合并。
spread/pass the word (tell other people some information or news) 传播[宣传]消息
Health officials are encouraging people to spread the word about the benefits of exercise.
负责医疗保健的官员鼓励人们宣传锻炼身体的好处。
send/bring word
The mayor sent word he’d be late.
市长传话说他要晚来。
Word of mouth (=information you get by someone telling you) is one of the best ways of getting business.
口头介绍是揽生意的最好方法之一。
by word of mouth
Much of this information is picked up by word of mouth from previous students.
其中很多信息是以前的学生说出来才得知的。
14
the last/final word
14. a. the power to decide whether or how to do something b. the last statement or speech in a discussion or argument c. in sports, the last hit or kick in a game, especially when it is successful 〔比赛中决胜的〕最后一击
[+ on ]
The final word on policy determination belongs to the committee.
决策权掌握在委员会手中。
She has the final word on whether policies are put into action or not.
政策实施与否由她说了算。
The last word must go to Nick, who has organized the whole project.
最后的发言必须由尼克来作，是他规划了整个方案。
Why must you always have the last word in any argument?
为什么每次争论都得你最后说了算？
Adams had the final word with a last-minute goal.
亚当斯最后一分钟射进了制胜一球。
15
my/his/your etc word
15. a sincere promise to do something, or a promise that what you say is true 我的/他的/你的等诺言
I trust him to keep his word .
我相信他会履行诺言。
I give you my word (=I promise) that it won’t happen again.
我向你保证这种事不会再发生。
We only have his word for it that he has already paid.
我们姑且相信他说自己已经付过钱的话。
Delors claimed that Johnson had gone back on his word (=not done what he had promised to do) .
德洛尔声称约翰逊食言了。
The business is doing very well. You can take my word for it (=accept that what I say is true) .
生意很红火，你可以相信我的话。
I never know whether to take him at his word (=believe what he says) .
我从来不知道该不该相信他的话。
His word is his bond (=he always does what he promises to do) .
他向来言而有信。
be true to your word/be as good as your word
a man of his word/a woman of her word
16
word for word word by word
16. a. in exactly the same words b. also 又作 if you translate a piece of writing word for word, you translate the meaning of each single word rather than the meaning of a whole phrase or sentence 〔翻译〕逐字地，一字对一字地
The newspaper printed his speech more or less word for word.
报纸几乎逐字逐句刊登了他的讲话。
17
in a word
17. used before giving a very simple answer or explanation 总之，一句话，简言之〔用于引出十分简单的答案或解释〕
We are, in a word, busy. Ridiculously busy.
总之，我们很忙。 忙得不得了。
18
in words of one syllable
18. saying something in a way that is very easy to understand, especially because the person you are talking to is stupid 用极其简单的话〔尤因对方很笨〕
You have to put everything in words of one syllable for her.
每件事你都得用非常简单的话跟她解释。
19
in so many words in as many words
19. also 又作 in a direct way, or in a way that makes it very clear what you mean 直截了当地 usually negative 一般用否定式
Aunt Fay was angry and said so in as many words.
费伊姑妈很气愤，并且明确地说出来了。
20
take the words (right) out of sb’s mouth
20. if someone takes the words out of your mouth, they have just said what you were going to say [口] 先说出某人想说的话 spoken
21
put words into sb’s mouth
21. to tell someone what you think they are trying to say, in a way that annoys them [口] 硬说某人说过某话 spoken
Will you stop putting words into my mouth – I never said I disliked the job.
你不要信口开河 — 我从未说过不喜欢这份工作。
22
AN ORDER
命令
an order to do something 〔做某事的〕命令 singular 单数
On the word ‘go’ everyone has to run to the end of the room and back.
一听到“开始”的口令，所有人必须跑到房间尽头并返回。
When I give the word , grab him.
我一下命令，你们就抓住他。
23
(right) from the word go
23. from the beginning of something [口] 从一开始 spoken
The marriage was a disaster from the word go.
这场婚姻从一开始就是灾难。
24
too silly/complicated/ridiculous etc for words
24. spoken extremely silly, complicated etc [口] 傻/复杂/荒谬得难以言传
His behaviour has been too pathetic for words.
他的举止太不像样了！
25
(have/drop) a word in sb’s ear
25. to say something to someone privately, especially to give them advice or a warning 〔尤指把某事作为建议或警告〕秘密地告诉某人
If I were you, I’d have a word in his ear before it’s too late.
我要是你的话，就会在还来得及的情况下和他通通气。
26
get a word in (edgeways)
26. to get a chance to say something 找到说话的机会，插嘴
Once George starts talking it’s difficult to get a word in edgeways.
乔治一说起话来，别人很难插嘴。
27
put in a (good) word for sb
27. to try to help someone get or achieve something by saying good things about them to someone else 为某人说好话〔以帮助某人得到某物〕
I got the job because Paul put in a good word for me.
我得到这份工作是因为保罗为我说了好话。
28
words fail me
28. used to say that you are so surprised, angry, or shocked that you do not know what to say [口] 〔因惊讶、生气或震惊〕说不出话来，不知说什么好 spoken
I ... words fail me.
我…不知说什么好。
29
word!
29. used to say that you understand or agree with what someone has just said [美，非正式] 说的是！ AmE informal
30
(Upon) my word!
30. used when you are very surprised [口，过时] 哎呀！〔表示吃惊〕 spoken old-fashioned
My word! Hasn’t she grown?
哎呀！她长那么大啦？
31
surprised/angry/pleased etc isn’t the word for it
31. used to say you are extremely surprised, angry etc [口] 惊讶/生气/高兴等得难以言表 spoken
32
a man/woman etc of few words
32. someone who does not say very much 寡言少语的男子/女子等
My father was a man of few words.
我父亲是个很少说话的人。
33
the Word (of God)
33. the religious ideas and messages in the Bible 神的话，上帝的道〔《圣经》里的宗教思想和信息〕
verb
34 to use words that are carefully chosen in order to express something 用言语表达，措词;
How can we word the letter so as not to offend the parents?
这封信我们怎么措词才不会得罪家长？
carefully/strongly/vaguely etc worded
a carefully worded statement
一份措词严谨的声明
a strongly worded letter
一封措词强硬的信