好词典

vulture

UK //ˈvʌltʃər//US //ˈvʌltʃər//

词源

源自拉丁语 'vultur',意为秃鹫。14世纪通过古法语 'voutour' 进入英语。

noun

❶ 秃鹫,一种大型食腐猛禽,头部无毛,以动物尸体为食,常见于热带和温带地区。

“A vulture was circling high above the dead animal.”

(一只秃鹫在动物尸体上空盘旋。)

“Vultures play an important role in cleaning up carcasses in nature.”

(秃鹫在自然界中清理动物尸体方面起着重要作用。)

❶ 比喻贪婪或剥削他人的人,指那些从他人不幸中获利的人。

“Loan sharks are like vultures preying on the poor.”

(高利贷者就像秃鹫一样掠夺穷人。)

“The reporters were like vultures circling the celebrity's scandal.”

(记者们像秃鹫一样围着名人的丑闻打转。)

同义词:scavenger, predator, exploiter

常见短语

culture vulture — 指对文化事物极度热衷的人,尤指那些追逐各种文化活动的人。

“She's a real culture vulture, attending every art exhibition in town.”

(她是个真正的文化狂热者,参加城里的每一个艺术展览。)