好词典

motley

UK //ˈmɒtli//US //ˈmɑːtli//

词源

源自中古英语 'motley',原指杂色布料,可能来自古法语 'motle'(斑点)或与 'mote'(微粒)相关,14世纪开始用于形容小丑服装。

adjective

❶ 形容由多种不同颜色、类型或元素组成的混杂体,常带有杂乱或不协调的负面意味。

“The crowd was a motley mix of tourists and locals.”

(人群是游客和本地人的混杂组合。)

“She wore a motley assortment of clothes from different decades.”

(她穿着来自不同年代的杂乱混搭服装。)

同义词:assorted, mixed, varied, heterogeneous, diverse

noun

❶ 指小丑或弄臣的传统杂色服装,也引申指混杂的人群或事物。

“The jester dressed in his traditional motley.”

(小丑穿着他传统的杂色服装。)

“The festival attracted a motley of performers and artists.”

(节日吸引了形形色色的表演者和艺术家。)

同义词:jester's costume, medley, mishmash, hodgepodge

常见短语

motley crew — 形容由不同类型或背景的人组成的群体,通常带有幽默或贬义色彩。

“Our department is a motley crew of engineers, designers and marketers.”

(我们部门是由工程师、设计师和营销人员组成的杂牌军。)