daily English learning

Recently, I’ve been frequently encountering unfamiliar words when receiving messages. Previously, I would simply look them up in a dictionary like Eudic to understand their meaning. When I encounter similar words again, I get confused about their meanings. For example, “familiar” and “similar”

Similar words

word	meaning	more details
familiar	[Adj.] 熟悉的	familiar with 熟悉
similar	[Adj.] 相似的	similar 相似的, familiar 熟悉的
drink	饮料🥤	口语, hard drink 和 soft drink 区别是有无酒精, do you want to drink something? 或 would you like a drink? 通常指喝酒
beverage	饮料🥤	正式、书面通常用于菜单,如 Dishes & Beverages. Hi, I’d like to order a pearl milk tea, half sugar, and less ice, please.

Don’t guess

word	meaning	more details
opt	[Verb] 选择;作出选择	opt out 决定退出;插播;请求免除
coverage	[N-Uncounted] 新闻报道;覆盖范围	cellular coverage 手机信号覆盖

Don’t know

word	meaning	more details
retain	[Verb] 保留;保持	keep 指长时间牢固地保持或储存 retain 指继续保持 maintain 维持;保养,维护;主张
preserve	[Verb] 储存	preserve 主要指为防止损害变质而储存 reserve 指为了将来用途而储存、保留 conserve 一般指储存自然资源,保全人的精力、力量
work overtime	加班	i have to work overtime today to meet the deadline 我今天必须加班赶上截止日期
burn the midnight oil	加班	I’ll have to burn the midnight oil today to finish this task 我今天不得不熬夜加班完成这个任务
put in extra hours	加班	I’ll be putting in some extra hours over the weekend to finalize the contract details 我周末加了班,最终确定合同细节
stay late at work	加班	I’m staying late at work tonight because there’s a lot of work to catch up on 我今晚要加班,因为有很多工作需要赶上
peg	[N-Count] 挂钩	晾衣的夹子，楔子，栓， [Verb] 用楔子、木栓固定，限定（价格、数量），把…固定在一定水平，使与…挂钩 peg a double sheet on a washing line 把双人床单固定在晾衣绳上

• emoticon: [N-Count] an emoticon is a symbol used in e-mail to show how someone is feeling. :-) is an emoticon showing happiness. [computing] 情感符号(电子邮件中用来表示情感的符号) [计算机]
  emotion: [N-Var] an emotion is a feeling such as happiness, love, fear, anger, or hatred, which can be caused by the situation that you are in or the people you are with. 情感;情绪
  [N-Uncounted] emotion is the part of a people’s character that consists of their feelings, as opposed to their thoughts. (与理性相对的)感性
• documentary: [N-Count] a documentary is a television or radio program, or a film, which shows real events or provides information about a particular subject. (电视📺、广播📢等)纪实节目;纪录片
  [Adj.] documentary evidence consists of things that are written down. (证据)有文件记录的,来源于文件的,书面的
• sketch: [N-Count] a sketch is a drawing that is done quickly without a lot of details. artists often use sketches as a preparation for a more detailed painting or drawing. 草图;略图;素描
  [Verb] if you sketch something, you make a quick, rough drawing of it. 为…画素描
  [N-Count] a sketch of a situation, person, or incident is a brief description of it without many details. 概略描述;简述
  [Verb] if you sketch a situation or incident, you give a short description of it, including only the most important facts. 概述;简述
  [N-Count] a sketch is a short humorous piece of acting, usually forming part of a comedy show. (通常指喜剧节目中的)幽默短剧
• doodle: [N-Count] a doodle is a pattern or picture that you draw when you are bored or thinking about something else. (无聊或心不在焉使)涂鸦,胡写乱画
  [Verb] when someone doodles, they draw doodles. 乱涂乱画;涂鸦
• preset: also pre-set, [Verb] if a piece of equipment is preset, its controls have been set in advance of the time you want it to work. [usually passive] 预先设置,预调(设备)
• urban: [Adj-graded] urban means belonging to, or relating to, a town or city. 城市的;城镇的;都市的
  (Urban) 厄本 (人名)
• suburban: [Adj.] suburban means relating to a suburb. 郊区的;城外的
  [Adj-graded] if you describe something as suburban, you mean that it is dull and conventional. 平淡乏味的;呆板的;传统的
• sausage: [N-Var] a sausage consists of minced meat, usually pork, mixed with other ingredients and is contained in a tube made of skin or a similar material. 香肠;腊肠
  
• pasta: [N-Mass] pasta is a type of food made from a mixture of flour, eggs, and water that is formed into different shapes and then boiled. Spaghetti, macaroni, and noodles are types of pasta. 面食(如意大利面条🍝、通心粉等)
• credit: [N-Uncounted] if you are allowed credit, you are allowed to pay for goods or services several weeks or months after you have received them. 赊购;赊欠
  [N-Uncounted] if someone or their bank account is in credit, their bank account has money in it. 结余;存款💵 [mainly British]
  [Verb] when a sum of money is credited to an account, the bank adds that sum of money to the total in the account. (给账户)存(钱);把…记入贷方
  [N-Count] a credit is a sum of money which is added to an account. 存款金额;贷记
  [N-Count] a credit is an amount of money that is given to someone. (给某人的)一笔钱
  [N-Uncounted] if you get the credit for something good, people praise you because you are responsible for it, or are thought to be responsible for it. 赞扬;称赞;认可
  [Verb] if people credit someone with an achievement or if it is credited to them, people say or believe that they are responsible for it. 认为是…的功劳;把…归于 [also V n + to, V + with]
  [Verb] if you credit someone with a quality, you believe or say that they have it. 认为…有(某种品质)
  [N-Sing] if you say that someone is a credit to someone or something, you mean that their qualities or achievements will make people have a good opinion of the person or thing mentioned. 为…赢得好感的人(或事物)
  [Verb] if you cannot credit something, you cannot believe that it is true. 相信;信任 [no cont, with brd-neg]
  [N-Count] the list of people who helped to make a film, a CD, or a television program is called the credits. 演职员表;摄制人员名单 [usually plural]
  [N-Count] a credit is a successfully completed part of a higher education course. at some universities and colleges you need a certain number of credits to be awarded a degree. (某些大学获得学位所必需的)学分,学习单元
  [Phrase] if you say that something does someone credit, you mean that they should be praised or admired because of it. 使值得赞扬(或仰慕)
  [Phrase] if you say ‘credit where credit's due’, you are admitting that you ought to praise someone for something that they have done or for a good quality that they possess. (某人的成绩或优点)值得表扬👍,应予肯定
  [Phrase] to give someone credit for a good quality means to believe that they have it. 相信…具有(某种优良品质);称赞👍;认可
  [Phrase] you say on the credit side in order to introduce one or more good things about a situation or person, usually when you have already mentioned the bad things about them. (常用于提出缺点之后)就优点而言
  [Phrase] if something is to someone’s credit, they deserve praise for it. 值得赞扬
  [Phrase] if you already have one or more achievements to your credit, you have achieved them. (成就)归于…;在…名下
  
• sour: [Adj-graded] something that is sour has a sharp, unpleasant taste like the taste of a lemon. 酸的;酸味的
  [Adj.] sour milk is milk that has an unpleasant taste because it is no longer fresh. (牛奶🥛)变质的,馊的
  [Adj-graded] someone who is sour is bad-tempered and unfriendly. (人)乖戾的,尖酸刻薄的,不友好的
  [Adj.] if a situation or relationship turns sour or goes sour, it stops being enjoyable or satisfactory. (状态、关系等)变坏,变糟,不再令人满意
  [V-ERG] if a friendship, situation, or attitude sours or if something sours it, it becomes less friendly, enjoyable, or hopeful. (使)(友谊、局势、态度等)变坏;(使)恶化
  [Phrase] if you refer to someone’s attitude as sour grapes, you mean that they say that something is worthless or undesirable because they want it themselves but cannot have it. 酸葡萄(喻指由于得不到而加以贬低的东西)
• possessive: [Adj-graded] someone who is possessive about another person wants all that person’s love and attention. 占有欲强的;有控制欲的
  [Adj-graded] someone who is possessive about things that they own does not like other people to use them. 不愿与人分享的;自私的 [usually verb-link Adj.]
  [Adj.] in grammar, a possessive determiner or possessive adjective is a word such as ‘my’ or ‘his’ which shows who or what something belongs to or is connected with. the possessive form of a name or noun has ‘s added to it, as in ‘Jenny’s’ or ‘cat’s’. (语法中)所有格的
  [N-Count] a possessive is a possessive determiner or the possessive form of a name or noun. 所有格;物主代词
• obsessive: [Adj-graded] if someone’s behavior is obsessive, they cannot stop doing a particular thing or behaving in a particular way. 着迷的;迷恋的;强迫性的;过分(到不正常程序)的
  [N-Count] an obsessive is someone who is obsessive about something or who behaves in an obsessive way. 着迷的人;强迫症患者
• plot: [N-Count] a plot is a secret plan by a group of people to do something that is illegal or wrong, usually against a person or a government. 阴谋;密谋 [usually Noun to-infinitive]
  [Verb] if people plot to do something or plot something that is illegal or wrong, they plan secretly to do it. 图谋;密谋
  [Verb] when people plot a strategy or a course of action, they carefully plan each step of it. 计划;制订
  [N-Var] the plot of a film, novel, or play is the connected series of events which make up the story. (电影🎬、小说或戏剧的)情节
  [N-Count] a plot of land is a small piece of land, especially one that has been measured or marked out for a special purpose, such as building houses or growing vegetables. (尤指作特殊用途的)一小块(土地)
  [Verb] when someone plots something on a graph, they mark certain points on it and then join the points up. 绘制…的曲线
  [Verb] when someone plots the position or course of a plane or ship, they mark it on a map using instruments to obtain accurate information. (在地图上)标绘出(飞机✈️、船舶的位置或航线)
  [Verb] if someone plots the progress or development of something, they make a diagram or a plan which shows how it has developed in order to give some indication of how it will develop in the future. 绘制…的图表📈(或平面图)
  [Phrase] if someone loses the plot, they become confused and do not know what they should do. 困惑😖;迷惘😶‍🌫️;不知所措😕 [informal]
• soothe: [Verb] if you soothe someone who is angry or upset, you make them feel calmer. 安抚;抚慰;使平静
  [Verb] something that soothes a part of your body where there is pain or discomfort makes the pain or discomfort less severe. 减轻,缓和(身体的痛处或不适)
  soothing: [adj.] affording physical relief. freeing from fear and anxiety. 舒缓的,镇痛的;安慰的,使人平静的
  soothing music: 舒缓的音乐
• gush: [V-T/V-I] when liquid gushes out of something, or when something gushes a liquid, the liquid flows out very quickly and in large quantities. 喷出;涌出;冒出
  [N-Sing] a gush of liquid is a sudden, rapid flow of liquid, or a quantity of it that suddenly flows out. 涌流;喷出;冒出
  [Verb] if someone gushes, they express their admiration or pleasure in an exaggerated way. 过分称赞;吹捧;装腔作势地说
  [N-Sing] you can use gush in expressions such as a gush of enthusiasm to refer to a sudden intense feeling or an expression of a feeling. (感情的)迸发,爆发
• insect: [N-Count] an insect is a small animal that has six legs. Most insects have wings. Ants, flies, butterflies, and beetles are all insects. 昆虫🪲;虫🐛
  
• headline: [N-Count] a headline is the title of a newspaper story, printed in large letters at the top of the story, especially on the front page. (尤指报纸头版的)标题,大字标题
  [N-Plural] the headlines are the main points of the news which are read on radio or television. (广播📢或电视📺里的)新闻提要,简明新闻📰
  [Verb] if a newspaper or magazine article is headlined a particular thing, that is the headline that introduces it. 标题为 (also V n quote) [usually passive]
  [Verb] if someone headlines a show, they are the main performer in it. 在(演出)中担任主演
  [Phrase] someone or something that hits the headlines or grabs the headlines gets a lot of publicity from the media. 成为新闻📰焦点
• takeaway: [N-Count] a takeaway is a shop or restaurant which sells hot cooked food that you eat somewhere else. 外卖店;外卖餐馆 [British]
  [N-Count] a takeaway is hot cooked food that you buy from a shop or restaurant and eat somewhere else. (商店🏬、餐馆的)外卖食品 [British]
  in AM, use takeout.
• concise: [Adj-graded] something that is concise says everything that is necessary without using any unnecessary words. 简洁的;简明的
  [Adj.] a concise edition of a book, especially a dictionary, is shorter than the original edition. (尤指词典)简明的,简缩的
• affair: [N-Sing] if an event or a series of events has been mentioned, and you want to talk about it again, you can refer to it as the affair. 事情;事件
  [N-Sing] you can refer to an important or interesting event or situation as ‘the … affair’. …事件(指重要或有趣的事件或情况) [mainly journalism]
  [N-Sing] you can describe the main quality of an event by saying that it is a particular kind of affair. …事(指具有某种特点的事情)
  [N-Sing] you can describe an object as a particular kind of affair when you want to draw attention to a particular feature, or indicate that it is unusual. (不寻常的或具有某种特点的)东西
  [N-Count] if two people who are not married to each other have an affair, they have a sexual relationship. 风流韵事;私通
  [N-Plural] you can use affairs to refer to all the important facts or activities that are connected with a particular subject. (关于某个主题所有的)事务
  [N-Plural] your affairs are all the matters connected with your life which you consider to be private and normally deal with yourself. 私事;个人事务
  [N-Sing] if you say that a decision or situation is someone’s affair, you mean that it is their responsibility, and other people should not interfere. (不容别人干涉的)事务
• sticker: [N-Count] a sticker is a small piece of paper or plastic, with writing or a picture on one side, which you can stick onto a surface. (正面有字或画的)小贴纸,不粘胶贴纸
• flashback: [N-Count] in a film, novel, or play, a flashback is a scene that returns to events in the past. (电影🎬、小说、戏剧中的)闪回,倒叙
  [N-Count] if you have a flashback to a past experience, you have a sudden and very clear memory of it. (往事的)突然重现,闪回,再现
  
• tin: [N-Uncounted] tin is a soft silvery-white metal. 锡
  [N-Count] a tin is a metal container which is filled with food and sealed in order to preserve the food for long periods of time. 罐头🥫 [mainly British]
  [N-Count] a tin is a metal container with a lid in which things such as biscuits, cakes, or tobacco can be kept. 金属罐;马口铁罐
  [N-Count] a baking tin is a metal container used for baking things such as cakes and bread in an oven. (蛋糕🍰或面包🥖)烤模,烤盘 [British]
  a tin of something is the amount contained in a tin. 一罐(或一听)的量
  in AM, use can.
  
• aerial: [Adj.] you talk about aerial attacks and aerial photographs to indicate that people or things on the ground are attacked or photographed by people in airplanes. 航空的;飞机的;由飞机进行的;空中的
  [Adj.] you can use aerial to describe things that exist or happen above the ground or in the air. 空气中的;地表以上的
  [N-Count] an aerial is a device or a piece of wire that receives television or radio signals and is usually attached to a radio, television, car, or building. 天线 [British]
  in AM, use antenna.
• disrupt: [Verb] if someone or something disrupts an event, system, or process, they cause difficulties that prevent it from continuing or operating in a normal way. 使中断;扰乱
  disruption: [N-Var] when there is disruption of an event, system, or process, it is prevented from continuing or operating in a normal way. 中断;扰乱;混乱
• trackside: [N] alongside the track. beside the track. 轨道旁,线路旁
• suspend: [Verb] if you suspend something, you delay it or stop it from happening for a while or until a decision is made about it. 暂缓;推迟;暂停⏸️
  [Verb] if someone is suspended, they are prevented from holding a particular job or position for a fixed length of time or until a decision is made about them. 使暂时停职
  [Verb] if something is suspended from a high place, it is hanging from that place. 悬挂;吊 [usually passive]
• frightful: [Adj-graded] frightful means very bad or unpleasant. 讨厌的;令人不快的;可怕的 [old-fashioned]
  [Adj.] frightful is used to emphasize the extent or degree of something, usually something bad. 非常的;极度的 [informal, old-fashioned, emphasis]
• emit: [Verb] if something emits heat, light, gas, or a smell, it produces it and sends it out by means of a physical or chemical process. 发出,排放,散发(热、光、气或气味) [formal]
  [Verb] to emit a sound or noise means to produce it. 发出(声音或噪音) [formal]
• resort: [Verb] if you resort to a course of action that you do not really approve of, you adopt it because you cannot see any other way of achieving what you want. 诉诸;采取
  [N-Uncounted] if you achieve something without resort to a particular course of action, you succeed without carrying out that action. to have resort to a particular course of action means to have to do that action in order to achieve something. 采取;凭借;诉诸;求助
  [N-Count] a resort is a place where a lot of people spend their holidays. (度假⛱️)胜地
  [Phrase] if you do something as a last resort, you do it because you can find no other way of getting out of a difficult situation or of solving a problem. 最后的办法;最终手段
  [Phrase] you use in the last resort when stating the most basic or important fact that will still be true in a situation whatever else happens. 最终

dedicate & delicate

• dedicate: [Verb] if you say that someone has dedicated themselves to something, you approve of the fact that they have decided to give a lot of time and effort to it because they think that it is important. 献(身);投(身);致力 [approval]
  [Verb] if someone dedicates something such as a book, play, or piece of music to you, they mention your name. for example in the front of a book or when a piece of music is performed, as a way of showing affection or respect for you. 把(书📖、戏剧、音乐作品等)献(给)
  [Verb] if a building or church is dedicated to someone, a formal ceremony is held to show that the building will always be associated with them. [usually passive] 为(建筑物或教堂)举行奉献(或落成)典礼
• delicate: [Adj-graded] something that is delicate is small and beautiful shaped. 娇美的;精美的;雅致的;纤细的
  [Adj-graded] something that is delicate has a color, taste, or smell which is pleasant and strong or intense. (颜色)柔和的;(味道)鲜美的,清淡可口的;(气味)清香的
  [Adj-graded] if something is delicate, it is easy to harm, damage, or break, and needs to be handled or treated carefully. 娇贵的;脆弱的;易碎的
  [Adj-graded] someone who is delicate is not healthy and strong, and becomes ill easily. 娇弱的;柔弱的
  [Adj-graded] you use delicate to describe a situation, problem, matter, or discussion that needs to be dealt with carefully and sensitively in order to avoid upsetting things or offending people. 微妙的;棘手的;需要小心处理的
  [Adj-graded] a delicate task, movement, action, or product needs or shows great skill and attention to detail. 技巧性很强的;注重细节的
• indicate: [Verb] if one thing indicates another, the first thing shows that the second is true or exists. 表明;说明
  [Verb] if you indicate an opinion, an intention, or a fact, you mention it in an indirect way. 暗示
  [Verb] if you indicate something to someone, you show them where it is, especially by pointing to it. 指示;指出 [formal]
  [Verb] if one thing indicates something else, it is a sign of that thing. 是…的标志;象征;反映
  [Verb] if a technical instrument indicates something, it shows a measurement or reading. (仪器等)指示,显示
  [Verb] when drivers indicate, they make lights flash on one side of their vehicle to show that they are going to turn in that direction. (驾车时)打转向灯指示转弯⤴️ [mainly British]
  in AM, use signal.

sip & slurp

• sip: [Verb] if you sip a drink or sip at it, you drink by taking just a small amount at a time. 小口地喝;抿
  [N-Count] a sip is a small amount of drink that you take into your mouth. (饮料🥤)一小口;一啜的量
  (Sip) 西普 (人名)
• slurp: [Verb] if you slurp a liquid, you drink it noisily. 大声地啜;出声地喝
  [N-Count] a slurp is a noise that you make with your mouth when you drink noisily, or a mouthful of liquid that you drink noisily. (喝东西时发出的)咕嘟声

clutter & pile

• clutter: [N-Uncounted] clutter is a lot of things in an untidy state, especially things that are not useful or necessary. (尤指没用或不需要的)杂乱的东西
  [Verb] if things or people clutter a place, they fill it in an untidy way. 乱堆在;凌乱地塞满 [also V n P + with]
• pile: [N-Count] a pile of things is a mass of them that is high in the middle and has sloping sides. (上窄下宽的)堆
  [N-Count] a pile of things is a quantity of things that have been put neatly somewhere so that each thing is on top of the one below. (一个压着一个摆放整齐的)叠,摞
  [Verb] if you pile things somewhere, you put them there so that they form a pile. 堆放;堆积;叠
  [Verb] if something is piled with things, it is covered or filled with piles of things. 成堆地盖住(或装满) [usually passive]
  [Quant] if you talk about a pile of something or piles of something, you mean a large amount of it. 一大堆;大量 [informal]
  [Verb] if a group of people pile into or out of a vehicle, they all get into it or out of it in a disorganized way. 拥进/拥出;挤进/挤出
  [N-Count] you can refer to a large impressive building as a pile, especially when it is the home of a rich important person. (尤指富人或要人居住的)高大宏伟的建筑物
  [N-Count] piles are wooden, concrete, or metal posts which are pushed into the ground and on which buildings or bridges are built. Piles are often used in very wet areas so that the buildings do not flood. (房屋🏠和桥梁的)桩,桩柱 [usually plural]
  [N-Plural] piles are painful swellings that can appear in the veins inside a person’s anus. 痔疮
  [N-Sing] the pile of a carpet or of a fabric such as velvet is its soft surface. it consists of a lot of little threads standing on end. (地毯或织物的)绒面,绒毛,绒头
  [Phrase] someone who is at the bottom of the pile is low down in society or low down in an organization. someone who is at the top of the pile is high up in society or high up in an organization. 处于(社会或某组织的)下层/上层 [informal]
  (Pile) 派尔 (人名)

shield & reveal

• shield: [N-Count] something or someone which is a shield against a particular danger or risk provides protection from it. 屏障;保护物;保护人 [usually singular]
  [Verb] if something or someone shields you from a danger or risk, they protect you from it. 保护;掩护;庇护
  [Verb] if you shield your eyes, you put your hand above your eyes to protect them from direct sunlight. (为阻挡阳光直射而)挡住,遮住(眼睛👀)
  [N-Count] a shield is a large piece of metal or leather which soldiers used to carry to protect their bodies while they were fighting. 盾;盾牌🛡
  [N-Count] a shield is a sports prize or badge that is shaped like a shield. (体育运动的)盾形奖牌🏅,盾形徽章
• reveal: [Verb] to reveal something means to make people aware of it. 显示;表明;透露 [also be V-ed as n]
  [Verb] if you reveal something that has been out of sight, you uncover it so that people can see it. 揭露;展示;使显露
  

blaze & cruise

• blaze: [Verb] when a fire blazes, it burns strongly and brightly. 熊熊燃烧
  [N-Count] a blaze is a large fire which is difficult to control and which destroys a lot of things. 大火;烈火🔥 [journalism] (usually singular)
  [Verb] if something blazes with light or color, it is extremely bright. 照耀;发出(强光);绽放(光彩) [literary]
  [Verb] if someone’s eyes are blazing with an emotion, or if an emotion is blazing in their eyes, their eyes look very bright because they are feeling that emotion so strongly. (眼睛)闪耀,闪烁,充满(感情);(情感在眼中)燃烧 [usually cont, literary]
  [N-Sing] a blaze of publicity or attention is a great amount of it. 大量(宣传或关注)
  [Verb] if guns blaze, or blaze away, they fire continuously, making a lot of noise. (枪炮)连续射击(或开火)
  [Phrase] if someone blazes a trail, they discover or develop something new. 开辟道路;作开路先锋
• cruise: [N-Count] a cruise is a holiday during which you travel on a ship or boat and visit a number of places. 乘船游览;航游
  [Verb] if you cruise a sea, river, or canal, you travel around it or along it on a cruise. 乘船游览;航游
  [Verb] if a car, ship, or aircraft cruises somewhere, it moves there at a steady comfortable speed. (车🚗、船🚢或飞机✈️)以平稳且舒适的速度行驶,缓慢行进
  [Verb] if a team or sports player cruises to victory, they win easily. (球队或运动员)轻而易举赢得,轻取 [journalism]
  [Verb] if a gay man is cruising, he is searching in public places for a sexual partner. (在公共场所,尤指男同性恋者)寻找性伙伴,猎艳
  (Cruise) 克鲁斯 (人名)

terms

term	meaning	description
daylight saving time*	夏令时间;日光节约时间	(DST) 夏季将时间调快一小时,以便晚上有更长的日光时间

Phrase

gear up for school days

• gear up for: [Phrasal Verb] if someone is gearing up for a particular activity, they are preparing to do it. if they are geared up to do a particular activity, they are prepared to do it. 为…做准备;为(某个活动)做好准备 [usually passive]
• school days: [N-Plural] also schooldays, your schooldays are the period of your life when you were at school. 学生时代,求学时期

[!TIP] *:

• daylight saving time: a period of time in the summer when the clocks are set one hour forward, so that people can have extra light in the evening. 日光节约时间;夏令时间