好词典

ferret

UK //ˈfer.ɪt//US //ˈfer.ət//

词源

源自拉丁语 'furittus'(小偷),通过古法语 'furet' 进入英语,因其善于偷偷进入洞穴捕猎的特性得名。

noun

❶ 一种细长的小型肉食动物,常被驯养用于捕捉兔子或老鼠,有着柔软的皮毛和好奇的性格。

“She keeps a ferret as a pet because it's playful and intelligent.”

(她养了一只雪貂当宠物,因为它既活泼又聪明。)

“The hunter used ferrets to chase rabbits out of their burrows.”

(猎人用雪貂把兔子从洞穴里赶出来。)

同义词:polecat, weasel, mink

verb

❶ 指像雪貂一样搜寻或探查,通常用于描述仔细搜索隐藏的东西或信息。

“He ferreted through the old documents to find the missing contract.”

(他在旧文件中仔细搜寻,想找到那份丢失的合同。)

“The detective ferreted out the truth after months of investigation.”

(经过数月的调查,侦探终于查明了真相。)

同义词:search, rummage, hunt

常见短语

ferret out — 指通过仔细搜索或调查发现隐藏的事物或信息,常用于揭露秘密或真相。

“The reporter managed to ferret out the scandal from confidential sources.”

(记者设法从机密消息来源中挖出了这桩丑闻。)