好词典

utility

UK /juːˈtɪləti/US /juːˈtɪləti/

词源

源自拉丁语 'utilitas',意为'有用性'或'利益',后经古法语 'utilité' 进入英语。

noun

❶ 指某物的实用性或有用性,强调其能满足特定需求或解决问题的功能价值。

“The utility of this tool lies in its ability to fix multiple problems.”

(这个工具的实用性在于它能解决多种问题。)

“She questioned the utility of buying such an expensive device.”

(她质疑购买这么昂贵的设备是否有用。)

❶ 指公用事业,如水电、燃气等提供基本生活服务的公司或系统。

“The city's utility company provides electricity and water to all residents.”

(该市的公用事业公司为所有居民提供电力和水。)

“The storm caused major damage to the local utilities.”

(风暴对当地的公用事业设施造成了严重破坏。)

同义词:usefulness, functionality, benefit

adjective

❶ 形容某物具有实用功能,通常设计简单且注重实用性而非外观。

“He wore a utility jacket with many pockets for his tools.”

(他穿了一件多口袋的工具夹克,非常实用。)

“The kitchen was designed with utility in mind, not style.”

(这个厨房的设计注重实用性而非风格。)

同义词:practical, functional, serviceable

常见短语

utility room — 指家庭中用于存放杂物或进行洗衣等日常事务的房间,通常不用于居住。

“She keeps the vacuum cleaner and laundry supplies in the utility room.”

(她把吸尘器和洗衣用品放在杂物间里。)

public utility — 指由政府或私营公司提供的公共服务,如电力、供水、公共交通等。

“The city council oversees the operation of public utilities.”

(市议会监督公共事业的运营。)