
copper
词源
来自古英语 'coper',可能源自拉丁语 'cuprum'(塞浦路斯的金属),因塞浦路斯岛在古代是铜的主要产地。
noun
❶ 铜,一种红棕色的金属元素,具有良好的导电性和延展性,常用于制造电线、管道和硬币等。
“The statue is made of copper and has turned green over time.”
(这座雕像是铜制的,随着时间的推移已经变绿了。)
“Copper wires are widely used in electrical circuits.”
(铜线广泛应用于电路中。)
❶ 警察(俚语),源自铜制警徽或制服纽扣的颜色。
“The coppers caught the thief red-handed.”
(警察当场抓住了小偷。)
“He's been a copper for over twenty years.”
(他当警察已经超过二十年了。)
verb
❶ 用铜覆盖或镀铜,使物体表面具有铜的特性或外观。
“They decided to copper the bottom of the ship to protect it.”
(他们决定给船底镀铜以保护它。)
“The artisan coppered the jewelry to give it a rustic look.”
(工匠给首饰镀铜以赋予其 rustic 外观。)
常见短语
copper-bottomed — 原指船底镀铜的,引申为完全可靠或质量有保证的。
“This is a copper-bottomed guarantee from the manufacturer.”
(这是制造商提供的绝对可靠的保证。)
hot copper — 俚语,指刚偷来的钱或物品,源自偷窃后物品还'热乎'的概念。
“The gang was caught trying to sell hot copper wires.”
(这个团伙在试图销赃偷来的铜线时被抓获。)