| 释义 |
util·i·ty
I. \yüˈtiləd.ē, -ətē, -i\ noun
(-es)
Etymology: Middle English utilite, from Middle French utilité, from Latin utilitat-, utilitas, from utilis useful (from uti to use + -ilis -ile) + -itat, -itas -ity — more at use
1. : the quality or state of being useful : fitness for some purpose : profitability to some desired end : serviceableness, usefulness
< demonstrated the utility of hard coal as a domestic fuel — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania >
< the design … is based on utility rather than artistic embellishment — American Guide Series: Minnesota >
< a road whose utility was proved — American Guide Series: Arkansas >
— sometimes used with of
< more of ostentation than of real utility in ships of this … burthen — Henry Fielding >
2. : something useful or designed primarily for use: as
a. : a useful factor or feature
< their views of the relative utilities of … democracy and communism — H.A.Steiner >
< many of the admitted utilities and amenities from social services — J.A.Hobson >
b. : a tool, device, or other implement; especially : one used as an adjunct to a more important machine
c. : a service provided by a public utility
d. chiefly Australia : a versatile motor vehicle : one having or adaptable to a number of uses (as both a truck and a car)
e. : a unit composed of one or more pieces of equipment usually connected to or part of a structure and designed to provide a service (as heat, light, power, water, or sewage disposal)
< the price of the house included all utilities >
3. : the capacity to satisfy human wants or desires — see marginal utility, subjective utility
4.
a. : public utility 1
< the utility's regular residential … customers — New York Times >
< effective public regulation of utilities — American Polit. Sci. Review >
b. utilities plural : stocks or bonds of utility companies
< utilities … displayed an easier tone — Brookmire Investment Reports >
II. adjective
1. : capable of serving as a substitute in any of various roles or positions
< a utility actor >
< utility workers >
— compare utility man
2.
a. : kept for the production of an economically valued product (as meat, eggs, or milk) rather than for show or as pets
< utility livestock >
< utility poultry >
< utility sheep >
b. : of, belonging to, or constituting an inferior grade of market cattle
< utility cows >
c. : of, belonging to, or constituting a low grade of meat or other food products
< utility beef >
< utility grades of lamb >
3. : serving primarily for utility rather than beauty : designed primarily for usefulness often at the expense of beauty, taste, or good quality : functional, utilitarian
< utility furniture >
< utility clothes >
< utility art >
< utility goods >
4. : having or designed for a number of useful and practical purposes : adapted or adaptable for general use especially in place of something specialized
< utility bag >
< utility knife >
< utility chair >
< utility boat >
5. : of, relating to, or based upon philosophical utility
< utility calculus >
< utility concepts >
6. : playing a usually minor part incidental to the plot but often of considerable technical or expository usefulness
< a utility character in a story or play >
7.
a. : of, relating to, or constituting a public utility
< utility companies >
< utility regulation >
< utility mergers >
< a utility meter >
b. : of, relating to, or based on the prices of shares of public utility stocks
< the utility average climbed 1.2 points in heavy trading >
III. noun
: a program or routine designed to perform or facilitate especially routine operations (as copying files or editing text) on a computer |