好词典

whiskers

UK //ˈwɪskəz//US //ˈwɪskərz//

词源

源自中古英语 'wisker'(意为扫过或快速移动),与动词 'whisk'(快速移动)相关,因动物胡须的颤动动作得名。

noun

❶ 指动物(如猫、老鼠等)嘴边长而硬的触须,用于感知周围环境和物体。

“The cat twitched its whiskers when it smelled the fish.”

(猫闻到鱼味时,胡须轻轻抽动。)

“A mouse uses its whiskers to navigate in the dark.”

(老鼠靠胡须在黑暗中探路。)

❶ 幽默或非正式用法,指人脸上的胡须,尤其是浓密或突出的胡子。

“Grandpa's bushy whiskers always tickled my face.”

(爷爷浓密的胡子总是蹭得我脸痒痒的。)

“He grew long whiskers during his vacation.”

(他在假期留了长长的胡子。)

同义词:vibrissae, facial hair, beard, bristles, stubble

常见短语

by a whisker — 以极小的差距(成功或失败),常用于形容比赛或竞争中以微弱优势获胜或惜败。

“He won the race by a whisker, just 0.1 seconds ahead.”

(他以0.1秒的微弱优势险胜比赛。)