| 释义 |
space
I. \ˈspās\ noun
(-s)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French espace, from Latin spatium — more at speed
1.
a. : lapse of time between two points in time
< the brief intermission allowed little space to relax >
b. : a period of time : spell
< now there was peace for a space >
especially : a relatively short interval of time
< during the contemplative space after breakfast and before work — Rebecca West >
< a brief resting space >
— often used in the phrase space of time
< this space of time wrought many changes — I.M.Price >
c. : a specified quantity of time : duration
< this continued by the space of two years — Acts 19:10 (Authorized Version) >
< nine times the space that measures day and night — John Milton >
< we stood for the space of a second or two — Francis Shean >
2.
a. : a limited extension in one, two, or three dimensions : a part marked off or bounded in some way : distance, area, volume
< written communication across the intervening space was more quickly accomplished — R.H.Brown >
< from the spaces under the trees about the house one looked toward the south — Elizabeth M. Roberts >
< space left in a petroleum product container to allow for expansion during temperature changes — Proving Ground >
< inner cells of land plants in contact with the outside air through the interconnecting intercellular spaces — Botanical Review >
b. : an extent or area set apart or available for a particular purpose
< the open-air lot would contain 945 parking spaces — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union >
< 1800 square feet of floor space >
< the seating space of an auditorium >
< down in the gasoline space deep in number five hold — K.M.Dodson >
c. : an unobstructed area (as of land)
< an inner zone of parks, public gardens, and open spaces — H.W.H.King >
< between the clumps of nutmeg and azalea, wide open spaces baked in the hot sunshine — R.L.Stevenson >
< a land of wide open spaces with a sparsely scattered population — London Calling >
< men whom the free spaces of thought frightened — V.L.Parrington >
< the social area between built-up conventions and the wide open spaces where riotous instincts roam at will — C.W.Cunnington >
d.
(1) : the shaped volume defined by architectural forms (as walls, roofs, courts, and wings)
< translations of architectural space into two dimensions — J.P.Coolidge >
< the appropriate use of space in small rooms has not been fully solved — Gladys Miller >
(2) : the representation or effect of three-dimensional forms and volumes in painting; also : an instance of this
< the actual lines and colors and spaces in a work of art — Clive Bell >
3. : one of the degrees between or above or below the lines of a musical staff
4.
a.
(1) : a three-dimensional entity that extends without bounds in all directions and is the field of physical objects and events and their order and relationships
(2) : a part of space unaltered by removal of a material object
b.
(1) : a mathematical model that pictures physical space as three-dimensional, as partly filled with material bodies, as capable of existence if all physical bodies were destroyed, and as determining but not determined by the relative positions of bodies : absolute space
(2) : a mathematical model that pictures physical space as dependent on and solely determined by the relative position and direction of material bodies
(3) : any of various mathematical models devised to explain observed or postulated phenomena inexplicable upon the assumption of a three-dimensional space unaltered by changes in the relations and state of material bodies — see space-time
c. : the a priori form of one's experience of external phenomena
5.
a. : the region beyond the earth's atmosphere — see outer space
b. : all of the universe beyond the solar system : the sidereal universe
< interstellar space >
6.
a. : a blank interval between words or lines in written or printed matter
b.
(1) : a piece of type that is cast less than type high so as not to print and is used to separate words or characters in a line; specifically : such type when narrower than an en quad — compare quad
(2) : a blank area in printing caused by the use of such type; also : a comparable unexposed area in photocomposition
c. : the measure of room that a typewritten character occupies on the paper or that is left blank by one movement of the space bar
< indent the first line several spaces — Modern Language Association Style Sheet >
d. : the measure of room that a line of typewriting occupies on the paper
< drop three spaces and indent >
7.
a. : a mathematical aggregate of n elements and n dimensions
b. : a three-dimensional region
8. : an expanse of empty air extending outward and downward from a particular point
< cornices which hung out over space on both sides — N.B.Clinch >
9. : a vague conception of distance and expansiveness induced by a listless or dreamy mental state
< was reminded of those dreamy spells of hers, the way she used to go drifting off into space — Hamilton Basso >
10. : a place left open in the pattern of a game of solitaire by the play of a card and made available for occupancy by another card
11. : an interval in operation during which a telegraph key is not in contact
12.
a. : linage 1, 3
< sell space for a newspaper >
< space in the newspaper is always restricted — F.L.Mott >
< reproduced his delicate drawings badly, paid him by space — F.J.Mather >
b. : time available on radio or television especially to advertisers
< air space is even more valuable than paper space — Joanna Jonsson >
13. : accommodations obtained or available on a public transportation vehicle
< the passenger agent was pretty sure there wouldn't be space on the incoming flight — J.S.Redding >
especially : such accommodations when reserved in advance
< reserved his space two weeks ago >
•
- in the mean space
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
transitive verb
1. : to bound in space : determine the spatial limits of
2. : to place at intervals : separate by periods of time : arrange with spaces between : interspace
< houses spaced as irregularly as pins on a map — American Guide Series: New York City >
< space children born in a family >
— often used with out
< the farms were small, and spaced out from four to five miles apart — H.L.Davis >
— see space out
intransitive verb
: to leave one or more blank spaces (as in a line of typing)
III. noun
1. : a set of mathematical entities (as points or vectors) with a set of axioms of geometric character — compare metric space herein topological space herein vector space herein
2. : the opportunity to assert or experience one's identity or needs freely
< we make the space that other women will occupy — Marge Piercy > |