
feathers
词源
源自古英语'feþer',与古诺尔斯语'fjöðr'、德语'Feder'同源,原始印欧语词根*pet-意为'飞翔'。
noun
❶ 鸟类身体表面覆盖的轻质角质结构,用于飞行、保暖和展示。通常由中央的羽轴和两侧的羽片组成。
“The peacock displayed its colorful feathers to attract a mate.”
(孔雀展示其色彩斑斓的羽毛以吸引配偶。)
“She found a blue jay feather on the forest path.”
(她在森林小径上发现了一根蓝松鸦的羽毛。)
verb
❶ 用羽毛装饰或覆盖某物,使其看起来更轻盈或华丽。也指像羽毛般轻柔地移动。
“The costume designer feathered the edges of the cloak with ostrich plumes.”
(服装设计师用鸵鸟羽毛装饰斗篷的边缘。)
“Her calligraphy brush feathered the ink gracefully across the paper.”
(她的毛笔像羽毛般轻盈地在纸上勾勒墨迹。)
常见短语
ruffle someone's feathers — 惹恼或激怒某人,原意指鸟类受惊时竖起羽毛的样子。
“His rude comment really ruffled her feathers during the meeting.”
(他粗鲁的评论在会上着实惹恼了她。)
a feather in one's cap — 值得骄傲的成就或荣誉,源自欧洲往帽饰插羽毛象征战功的传统。
“Winning this award is another feather in the scientist's cap.”
(获得这个奖项是这位科学家又一项值得骄傲的成就。)