好词典

pliable

UK //ˈplaɪəbl//US //ˈplaɪəbəl//

词源

源自中古法语plier(弯曲),最终来自拉丁语plicare(折叠),与ply(反复弯曲)、comply(顺从)同源。14世纪进入英语。

adjective

❶ 指物体柔软易弯曲的特性,通常形容材料或物品能够被轻松塑形而不易断裂。

“The clay is very pliable when it's wet.”

(黏土在湿润时非常柔软易塑。)

“This leather becomes pliable after applying oil.”

(这种皮革上油后会变得柔韧。)

❶ 形容人性格温顺或容易受他人影响,常含轻微贬义,指缺乏主见。

“He's too pliable and always agrees with the last person who spoke.”

(他太容易动摇,总是附和最后发言的人。)

“The new employee was pliable and accepted all assignments without question.”

(新员工很顺从,毫无异议地接受了所有任务分配。)

同义词:flexible, malleable, supple, adaptable, docile

常见短语

pliable material — 指具有良好可塑性的材料,容易弯曲或成型而不破裂。

“Artists often prefer pliable materials like clay for sculpting.”

(艺术家通常偏好像黏土这样可塑性强的材料进行雕塑。)

pliable mind — 形容思维开放易受影响的特质,可能指学习能力强或缺乏坚定立场。

“Young children have pliable minds that absorb information quickly.”

(幼儿具有吸收信息快的可塑性思维。)