Water
It’s a
swollen1 orange sunset by the time Lucy
wades2 into the river.
Rumor3 has emptied the banks. No one around to see as she damps her skirts, pauses. As, very carefully, she contorts herself to
undo4 all thirty pearl buttons. She floats naked beside her dress. The water rushes over flesh and
fabric5 alike, dispassionate in its
cleansing6.
If Anna is her second friend in Sweetwater, the river is her first.
Five years ago she first crossed into town. Carts banged into her, a crowd
spun7 her round. She was lost. The sky no help—look up as she’d learned to do in the hills, and buildings crowded her view. Clouds didn’t circle. She was the center of nothing and the land didn’t speak. She was no one.
She found her way to a restaurant kitchen. A relief in what she knew:
greasy8 dishes, low ceiling, ache in her
bent9 neck. Three other girls stood at the sink. One pale, two dark. Lucy murmured: An
orphan10. Left. Don’t know. No one.The pale girl lost interest. The dark girls were
persistent11, whispering together till they approached Lucy in the
alley12.
“Who are you?” the taller asked.
“An orphan.”
“No,” said the shorter, stepping closer. Lucy looked them full in the face: Indian, most like. There were a number of Indians, people of all stripes, in Sweetwater’s streets. “Who are your people?” The short girl pressed a hand to her chest,
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收听单词发音
1
swollen
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adj.肿大的,水涨的;v.使变大,肿胀 |
参考例句: |
- Her legs had got swollen from standing up all day.因为整天站着,她的双腿已经肿了。
- A mosquito had bitten her and her arm had swollen up.蚊子叮了她,她的手臂肿起来了。
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2
wades
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(从水、泥等)蹚,走过,跋( wade的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- A lumi wields a golden morningstar with trained ease as it wades into melee. 光民熟练地挥舞钉头锤加入战团。
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3
rumor
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n.谣言,谣传,传说 |
参考例句: |
- The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
- The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。
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4
undo
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vt.解开,松开;取消,撤销 |
参考例句: |
- His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。
- I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。
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5
fabric
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n.织物,织品,布;构造,结构,组织 |
参考例句: |
- The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
- I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。
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6
cleansing
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n. 净化(垃圾)
adj. 清洁用的
动词cleanse的现在分词 |
参考例句: |
- medicated cleansing pads for sensitive skin 敏感皮肤药物清洗棉
- Soap is not the only cleansing agent. 肥皂并不是唯一的清洁剂。
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7
spun
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v.纺,杜撰,急转身 |
参考例句: |
- His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
- Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。
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8
greasy
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adj. 多脂的,油脂的 |
参考例句: |
- He bought a heavy-duty cleanser to clean his greasy oven.昨天他买了强力清洁剂来清洗油污的炉子。
- You loathe the smell of greasy food when you are seasick.当你晕船时,你会厌恶油腻的气味。
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9
bent
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n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 |
参考例句: |
- He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
- We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
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10
orphan
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n.孤儿;adj.无父母的 |
参考例句: |
- He brought up the orphan and passed onto him his knowledge of medicine.他把一个孤儿养大,并且把自己的医术传给了他。
- The orphan had been reared in a convent by some good sisters.这个孤儿在一所修道院里被几个好心的修女带大。
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11
persistent
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adj.坚持不懈的,执意的;持续的 |
参考例句: |
- Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
- She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤,使她很难为情。
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12
alley
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n.小巷,胡同;小径,小路 |
参考例句: |
- We live in the same alley.我们住在同一条小巷里。
- The blind alley ended in a brick wall.这条死胡同的尽头是砖墙。
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13
spoke
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n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 |
参考例句: |
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
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14
loft
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n.阁楼,顶楼 |
参考例句: |
- We could see up into the loft from bottom of the stairs.我们能从楼梯脚边望到阁楼的内部。
- By converting the loft,they were able to have two extra bedrooms.把阁楼改造一下,他们就可以多出两间卧室。
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15
inviting
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adj.诱人的,引人注目的 |
参考例句: |
- An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
- The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人,使人感到亲切温馨。
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16
pestering
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使烦恼,纠缠( pester的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He's always pestering me to help him with his homework. 他总是泡蘑菇要我帮他做作业。
- I'm telling you once and for all, if you don't stop pestering me you'll be sorry. 我这是最后一次警告你。如果你不停止纠缠我,你将来会后悔的。
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17
filth
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n.肮脏,污物,污秽;淫猥 |
参考例句: |
- I don't know how you can read such filth.我不明白你怎么会去读这种淫秽下流的东西。
- The dialogue was all filth and innuendo.这段对话全是下流的言辞和影射。
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18
deliberately
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adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地 |
参考例句: |
- The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
- They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。
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19
scraps
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油渣 |
参考例句: |
- Don't litter up the floor with scraps of paper. 不要在地板上乱扔纸屑。
- A patchwork quilt is a good way of using up scraps of material. 做杂拼花布棉被是利用零碎布料的好办法。
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20
rubble
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n.(一堆)碎石,瓦砾 |
参考例句: |
- After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后,花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
- After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。
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21
dented
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v.使产生凹痕( dent的过去式和过去分词 );损害;伤害;挫伤(信心、名誉等) |
参考例句: |
- The back of the car was badly dented in the collision. 汽车尾部被撞后严重凹陷。
- I'm afraid I've dented the car. 恐怕我把车子撞瘪了一些。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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22
tattered
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adj.破旧的,衣衫破的 |
参考例句: |
- Her tattered clothes in no way detracted from her beauty.她的破衣烂衫丝毫没有影响她的美貌。
- Their tattered clothing and broken furniture indicated their poverty.他们褴褛的衣服和破烂的家具显出他们的贫穷。
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23
stinking
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adj.臭的,烂醉的,讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 );发臭味;名声臭;糟透 |
参考例句: |
- I was pushed into a filthy, stinking room. 我被推进一间又脏又臭的屋子里。
- Those lousy, stinking ships. It was them that destroyed us. 是的!就是那些该死的蠢猪似的臭飞船!是它们毁了我们。 来自英汉非文学 - 科幻
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24
uncertainty
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n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物 |
参考例句: |
- Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
- After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后,压力开始产生影响了。
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25
starched
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adj.浆硬的,硬挺的,拘泥刻板的v.把(衣服、床单等)浆一浆( starch的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- My clothes are not starched enough. 我的衣服浆得不够硬。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The ruffles on his white shirt were starched and clean. 白衬衫的褶边浆过了,很干净。 来自辞典例句
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26
indentured
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v.以契约束缚(学徒)( indenture的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The Africans became indentured servants, trading labor for shelter and eventual freedom. 非洲人成为契约上的仆人,以劳力交换庇护及最终的自由。 来自互联网
- They are descendants of indentured importees. 他们是契约外来工的后代。 来自互联网
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27
solitude
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n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 |
参考例句: |
- People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
- They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。
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28
slash
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vi.大幅度削减;vt.猛砍,尖锐抨击,大幅减少;n.猛砍,斜线,长切口,衣衩 |
参考例句: |
- The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
- Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。
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29
pebbles
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[复数]鹅卵石; 沙砾; 卵石,小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The pebbles of the drive crunched under his feet. 汽车道上的小石子在他脚底下喀嚓作响。
- Line the pots with pebbles to ensure good drainage. 在罐子里铺一层鹅卵石,以确保排水良好。
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freckles
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n.雀斑,斑点( freckle的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- She had a wonderful clear skin with an attractive sprinkling of freckles. 她光滑的皮肤上有几处可爱的小雀斑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- When she lies in the sun, her face gets covered in freckles. 她躺在阳光下时,脸上布满了斑点。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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31
ripen
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vt.使成熟;vi.成熟 |
参考例句: |
- I'm waiting for the apples to ripen.我正在等待苹果成熟。
- You can ripen the tomatoes on a sunny windowsill.把西红柿放在有阳光的窗台上可以让它们成熟。
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32
prospector
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n.探矿者 |
参考例句: |
- Although he failed as a prospector, he succeeded as a journalist.他作为采矿者遭遇失败,但作为记者大获成功。
- The prospector staked his claim to the mine he discovered.那个勘探者立桩标出他所发现的矿区地以示归己所有。
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33
likeness
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n.相像,相似(之处) |
参考例句: |
- I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
- She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。
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34
hoarded
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v.积蓄并储藏(某物)( hoard的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- It owned great properties and often hoarded huge treasures. 它拥有庞大的财产,同时往往窖藏巨额的财宝。 来自辞典例句
- Sylvia among them, good-naturedly applaud so much long-hoarded treasure of useless knowing. 西尔维亚也在他们中间,为那些长期珍藏的无用知识,友好地、起劲地鼓掌。 来自互联网
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35
Amended
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adj. 修正的
动词amend的过去式和过去分词 |
参考例句: |
- He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
- He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。
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36
marvels
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n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 );令人惊奇的事物(或事例);不平凡的成果;成就v.惊奇,对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The doctor's treatment has worked marvels : the patient has recovered completely. 该医生妙手回春,病人已完全康复。 来自辞典例句
- Nevertheless he revels in a catalogue of marvels. 可他还是兴致勃勃地罗列了一堆怪诞不经的事物。 来自辞典例句
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37
velvet
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n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的 |
参考例句: |
- This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
- The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。
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38
vaulted
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adj.拱状的 |
参考例句: |
- She vaulted over the gate and ran up the path. 她用手一撑跃过栅栏门沿着小路跑去。
- The formal living room has a fireplace and vaulted ceilings. 正式的客厅有一个壁炉和拱形天花板。
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39
mimic
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v.模仿,戏弄;n.模仿他人言行的人 |
参考例句: |
- A parrot can mimic a person's voice.鹦鹉能学人的声音。
- He used to mimic speech peculiarities of another.他过去总是模仿别人讲话的特点。
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40
mere
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adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 |
参考例句: |
- That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
- It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
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41
prospecting
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n.探矿 |
参考例句: |
- The prospecting team ploughed their way through the snow. 探险队排雪前进。
- The prospecting team has traversed the length and breadth of the land. 勘探队踏遍了祖国的山山水水。
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42
mansion
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n.大厦,大楼;宅第 |
参考例句: |
- The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
- The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。
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43
lurks
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n.潜在,潜伏;(lurk的复数形式)vi.潜伏,埋伏(lurk的第三人称单数形式) |
参考例句: |
- Behind his cool exterior lurks a reckless and frustrated person. 在冷酷的外表背后,他是一个鲁莽又不得志的人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Good fortune lies within Bad, Bad fortune lurks within good. 福兮祸所倚,祸兮福所伏。 来自互联网
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44
grooms
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n.新郎( groom的名词复数 );马夫v.照料或梳洗(马等)( groom的第三人称单数 );使做好准备;训练;(给动物)擦洗 |
参考例句: |
- Plender end Wilcox became joint grooms of the chambers. 普伦德和威尔科克斯成为共同的贴身侍从。 来自辞典例句
- Egypt: Families, rather than grooms, propose to the bride. 埃及:在埃及,由新郎的家人,而不是新郎本人,向新娘求婚。 来自互联网
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45
transformation
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n.变化;改造;转变 |
参考例句: |
- Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
- He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。
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46
crooked
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adj.弯曲的;不诚实的,狡猾的,不正当的 |
参考例句: |
- He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.他弯了弯手指,示意我们到他那儿去。
- You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。
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47
sneaked
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v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 );偷偷溜走;(儿童向成人)打小报告;告状 |
参考例句: |
- I sneaked up the stairs. 我蹑手蹑脚地上了楼。
- She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch. 她偷偷看了一眼手表。
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48
insignificant
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adj.无关紧要的,可忽略的,无意义的 |
参考例句: |
- In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季,这种作用是不明显的。
- This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。
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49
Flared
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adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的
动词flare的过去式和过去分词 |
参考例句: |
- The match flared and went out. 火柴闪亮了一下就熄了。
- The fire flared up when we thought it was out. 我们以为火已经熄灭,但它突然又燃烧起来。
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50
doorway
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n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径 |
参考例句: |
- They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
- Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
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51
crumbs
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int. (表示惊讶)哎呀
n. 碎屑
名词crumb的复数形式 |
参考例句: |
- She stood up and brushed the crumbs from her sweater. 她站起身掸掉了毛衣上的面包屑。
- Oh crumbs! Is that the time? 啊,天哪!都这会儿啦?
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orchards
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(通常指围起来的)果园( orchard的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- They turned the hills into orchards and plains into granaries. 他们把山坡变成了果园,把平地变成了粮仓。
- Some of the new planted apple orchards have also begun to bear. 有些新开的苹果园也开始结苹果了。
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53
launders
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v.洗(衣服等),洗烫(衣服等)( launder的第三人称单数 );洗(黑钱)(把非法收入改头换面,变为貌似合法的收入) |
参考例句: |
- This fabric launders well. 这种织品经洗耐用。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- This linen launders well. 这亚麻布经洗。 来自互联网
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54
delicacies
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n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 );精致;精美的食物;周到 |
参考例句: |
- Its flesh has exceptional delicacies. 它的肉异常鲜美。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- After these delicacies, the trappers were ready for their feast. 在享用了这些美食之后,狩猎者开始其大餐。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗
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55
puckers
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v.(使某物)起褶子或皱纹( pucker的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- This cloth puckers (up) badly. 这块布皱得很厉害。 来自辞典例句
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56
ridges
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n.脊( ridge的名词复数 );山脊;脊状突起;大气层的)高压脊 |
参考例句: |
- The path winds along mountain ridges. 峰回路转。
- Perhaps that was the deepest truth in Ridges's nature. 在里奇斯的思想上,这大概可以算是天经地义第一条了。
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