
好词典

源自拉丁语 'appendere'(悬挂、附加),通过法语 'appendage' 进入英语,字面意为'被附加的东西'。
❶ 指生物体上附着的额外部分或结构,如手臂、腿、触角等,用于特定功能或运动。
“The crab uses its appendages to catch food.”
(螃蟹用它的附肢捕捉食物。)
“Insects have multiple appendages for sensing their environment.”
(昆虫有多根附肢用于感知周围环境。)
❶ 比喻依附于某事物的次要部分或附属物,通常非必需但有一定作用。
“The new building became an awkward appendage to the historic structure.”
(新建筑成了历史建筑的一个别扭附属物。)
“The appendix is often considered an unnecessary appendage of the human body.”
(阑尾常被视为人体不必要的附属器官。)
vestigial appendage — 指生物进化过程中退化残留的附属结构,如人类的尾骨,已失去原有功能。
“The whale's tiny hind legs are vestigial appendages from its land-dwelling ancestors.”
(鲸鱼微小的后腿是其陆地祖先遗留的退化附肢。)