
extinctions
词源
源自拉丁语 'extinctio',意为'熄灭'或'消灭',由 'ex-'(出)和 'stinguere'(熄灭)组成。
noun
❶ 指某个物种或群体的完全消失或灭绝,通常由于环境变化、人类活动或其他自然原因导致。
“Many scientists believe we are currently experiencing a mass extinction event.”
(许多科学家认为我们正在经历一次大规模物种灭绝事件。)
“The dodo bird is one of the most famous examples of human-caused extinction.”
(渡渡鸟是人类导致物种灭绝最著名的例子之一。)
❶ 指某种事物、文化或现象的消失或终止,不再存在或发挥作用。
“The extinction of traditional crafts is a loss to cultural heritage.”
(传统工艺的消失是对文化遗产的损失。)
“Many languages face extinction as fewer people speak them.”
(许多语言面临灭绝,因为使用它们的人越来越少。)
常见短语
mass extinction — 指在相对较短的地质时期内,大量物种同时灭绝的现象。
“The dinosaurs disappeared during the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event.”
(恐龙在白垩纪-古近纪大灭绝事件中消失。)
on the brink of extinction — 形容某物种或事物处于即将消失的边缘,情况非常危急。
“The Amur leopard is on the brink of extinction with fewer than 100 individuals left.”
(远东豹濒临灭绝,现存数量不足100只。)