好词典

owl

UK /aʊl/US /aʊl/

词源

源自古英语ule,与古高地德语uwila同源,拟声词模仿猫头鹰的叫声。

noun

❶ 猫头鹰,一种主要在夜间活动的猛禽,特点是圆脸、大眼睛和无声飞行能力。常被视为智慧的象征。

“The owl hooted softly in the dark forest.”

(猫头鹰在黑暗的森林里轻声鸣叫。)

“We saw an owl sitting on the tree branch at night.”

(晚上我们看到一只猫头鹰停在树枝上。)

同义词:night bird, raptor, bird of prey

常见短语

night owl — 指习惯熬夜或夜间活动的人,形容其像猫头鹰一样在夜间保持清醒。

“My roommate is a night owl who always stays up until 3am.”

(我的室友是个夜猫子,总是熬到凌晨三点。)

wise as an owl — 形容某人非常聪明睿智,借用猫头鹰在西方文化中的智慧象征意义。

“The old professor was as wise as an owl.”

(那位老教授像猫头鹰一样睿智。)