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单词 ephemeral
释义
ephemerale‧phem‧e‧ral /ɪˈfemərəl/ adjective Word Origin
WORD ORIGINephemeral
Origin:
1500-1600 Greek ephemeros ‘lasting a day’, from hemera ‘day’
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
  • Hopes of political unity in the region have proved ephemeral.
  • No dictionary can really capture something as fleeting and ephemeral as slang.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
  • A few years later, it made timid and ephemeral attempts to pursue a progressive social policy.
  • Goodwill can permit effective cooperation for purchasing of secondary care but goodwill is ephemeral when difficult decisions have to be made.
  • I have no idea who they are, which just goes to show the ephemeral nature of psychiatric certainties.
  • Likewise, those that thought they were too ephemeral and effervescent, began to appreciate them.
  • Some were, of course, ephemeral, including books and articles written in the 1930s when he lived by his pen.
  • The ephemeral nature of fluid flow belies the rigid rules which govern its behaviour.
  • What is of merit, what is not ephemeral, is shunned.
Thesaurus
THESAURUStime
not long: · I lived in Tokyo for a short time.· Smokers have a shorter life expectancy than non-smokers.
especially written lasting only for a short time. Brief is more formal than short, and is used especially in written English: · The president will make a brief visit to Seattle today.· He coached Hingis for a brief period in the 1990s.
[only before noun] taking a short time to do something: · I had a quick look at the map.· He had a quick shower and then went out.
lasting only for a short time – used especially when someone wishes that a good situation had been able to last for longer: · short-lived success· The ceasefire was short-lived.· a short-lived romance· short-lived optimism about the economy
lasting only for an extremely short time – used especially when someone wishes that something had been able to last for longer: · a fleeting visit· a fleeting smile· She caught a fleeting glimpse of him.· a fleeting moment of happiness· a fleeting thought
lasting for a very short time – used especially about feelings or pauses: · There was a momentary pause in the conversation.· The momentary panic ended when he found his two-year-old son waiting happily outside the store.
[only before noun] lasting only for a short time – used especially when people are only interested in something or mention something for a short time: · passing fashions· He made only a passing reference to war.· It’s just a passing phase (=it will end soon).
formal lasting only for a short time, and ending quickly like everything else in this world: · Beauty is ephemeral.· the ephemeral nature of our existence· His wealth proved to be ephemeral.
continuing for only a limited period of time: · I’ve got a temporary office job, but I hope I’ll find something more permanent soon.· I’m sure the problem is only temporary.· temporary staff· a temporary visa
temporary – used especially about arrangements or information that people may decide to change in the future. Also used about licences or governments which are only arranged to last for a short time: · Does the hotel accept provisional bookings?· They have set a provisional date for the next meeting.· a provisional driving licence· In June, the rebels claimed to have formed a provisional government.· Provisional figures yesterday from the Department of Transport showed that 4,274 people were killed last year — 6 percent fewer than the previous year.
[only before noun] temporary – used about something that you use for a short time until you can replace it with something better: · The Republicans will approve the one-month budget as a stopgap measure to keep the state operating.· This is only a stopgap solution to the country’s debt problem.
[only before noun] temporary – used about an interest, thought, or feeling that is short and not very serious: · Tonight’s game will be exciting, even to those with only a passing interest in the sport.· As a student, I didn’t give working in finance even a passing thought.
formal existing or popular for only a short time: · the ephemeral beauty of white snow on green trees and bare branches· Many new words, particularly slang, are fleeting and ephemeral.
formal continuing for only a limited time, or staying somewhere for only a short time – used especially to say that something is always changing, or people only stay somewhere for a short time: · the transient nature of life· transient changes in the electrical properties of the neurons· Arizona has a highly transient population.
Longman Language Activatorcontinuing for only a short time
continuing for only a short time: · The meeting was shorter than I'd expected.· the shortest day of the year· a short course in aromatherapy· It would have been better if they'd closed the road for a short period of time while the repairs were done.
a quick action takes only a very short time, because you are in a hurry: · I took a quick look at the map.· Do I have time for a quick shower before we go out?· She's going to give me a quick lesson on Feng Shui this afternoon. · Can I ask just one quick question?
a brief pause, visit etc is short, especially because there is not much time available: · It was impossible to see everything during our brief visit to Paris.· After a brief intermission, the performance continued.
if something does not take long , you do it and finish it in a short time: · Let me show you how to use the program -- it won't take long.not take long to do: · We'll have the chicken drumsticks - they won't take long to thaw.it doesn't take (somebody) long to do something: · It didn't take long to solve the problem.· It sure didn't take you long to smell the food!
something that is temporary is expected to continue for only a short time and will not be permanent: · The doctor says the swelling is just temporary and should go down in a few days.· a temporary driver's license· They're living in temporary accommodation at the moment.temporary workers/staff/job etc: · Demand for temporary workers continues to rise.· Ben's found a temporary job until November.
something that is short-lived ends sooner than you want it to - use this especially about a feeling or relationship: · They had a passionate but short-lived affair. · We were glad to be home, but our happiness was short-lived.· However, the President's popularity may prove to be short-lived.
: passing thought/interest/fashion/phase etc one that continues for a short time and then quickly disappears: · At the time, I didn't give Alison so much as a passing thought -- I had other things on my mind.· Most people take only a passing interest in their horoscope.· Whether this is just a passing fad or a lasting fashion trend, only time will tell.
formal continuing for only a short time - used especially in literature: · No dictionary can really capture something as fleeting and ephemeral as slang. · Hopes of political unity in the region have proved ephemeral.
 existing or popular for only a short time SYN  transitory:  Fashion is by nature ephemeral.► see thesaurus at short
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更新时间：2024/12/22 16:52:06