好词典

appendage

UK //əˈpen.dɪdʒ//US //əˈpen.dɪdʒ//

词源

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'。

noun

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。)

同义词:limb, attachment, extension, protrusion, addition

常见短语

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。)