好词典

utter

UK //ˈʌtə(r)//US //ˈʌtər//

词源

源自古英语'ūtian'(意为'放出'),与'out'同源。中古英语时期演变为'utteren',表示'说出'或'表达'。形容词用法始于15世纪,表示'完全的'。

verb

❶ 发出声音或说出话语,通常指清晰明确地表达。可以用于描述说话、喊叫或发出其他声音的行为。

“She didn't utter a single word during the meeting.”

(她在会议期间一句话也没说。)

“The baby uttered a cry when he saw the stranger.”

(婴儿看到陌生人时发出了一声啼哭。)

同义词:say, speak, express, voice, pronounce

adjective

❶ 完全的,彻底的,强调程度达到极端。常用于修饰负面或极端的情况。

“It was an utter disaster from start to finish.”

(从头到尾这完全是一场灾难。)

“The room was in utter chaos after the party.”

(派对结束后房间一片狼藉。)

同义词:complete, total, absolute, sheer, pure

常见短语

utter nonsense — 形容完全荒谬、毫无意义的话语或想法,带有强烈否定意味的表达方式。

“Don't listen to him - he's talking utter nonsense!”

(别听他的——他说的全是胡言乱语!)

utter darkness — 形容完全没有任何光线的黑暗状态,强调黑暗的彻底性。

“When the power went out, the basement was plunged into utter darkness.”

(停电时,地下室陷入一片漆黑。)