| 释义 |
offset
I. \ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷\ noun
(plural offsets)
Etymology: off (III) + set, n. (after set off, v.)
1.
a. archaic : outset, start
b. : cessation — opposed to onset
< rapid regular beating of the heart … characterized by sudden onset and sudden offset — H.J.Stewart >
2.
a.
(1) : a short prostrate lateral shoot arising from the base of the parent plant (as a houseleek)
(2) : a small bulb arising from the base of a mother bulb
b. : a lateral or collateral branch of a family or race : offshoot
c. : a spur from a range of hills or mountains
d. : a short drift or crosscut driven from a main level or gangway of a mine
3.
a. : a horizontal ledge on the face of a wall, pier, or buttress formed by a diminution of its thickness above
b. : a level terrace on a bank or hillside
c. : horizontal displacement in faulting of strata from previous alignment : strike slip
d. : an abrupt change in the dimension or profile of an object (as a bowl) or the part set off by such change
4. : something that sets off to advantage or embellishes something else : foil
5.
a. : an abrupt bend in an object (as a pipe or rod) by which one part is turned aside out of line but nearly parallel with the rest; also : the part thus bent aside
b. : a short distance measured usually at right angles from a line (as to a boundary in computing the area of an irregular-shaped piece of land or to a continuation of a line parallel to itself at some distance away to avoid an obstruction)
c. : the distance of any point in a ship's structure from one of the three reference planes measured normal to that plane
6. : something that serves to counterbalance or to compensate for something else
< the offset of a century of industry was the universal ugliness — Sacheverell Sitwell >
specifically : either of two equivalent items on the two sides of an account
< these agencies … borrow money in order to relend it, and have offsets consisting of debts owed them — New Republic >
7. : offset well
8. [from past participle of offset (II) ]
a. : unintentional transfer of ink (as from the surface of a freshly printed sheet to the back of the sheet placed on top of it); also : the ink or image so transferred — called also setoff
b. or offset lithography : a printing process in which an inked impression (usually from a dampened planographic surface) is first made on a rubber-blanketed cylinder and then transferred to the paper being printed — compare dry offset, lithography, photo-offset, planography
9. : a rip current running out from or along a beach : sea puss
10. : difference in value or direction : deviation, discrepancy
< modern man cannot divest himself of his desire to act in the old way … the result is an offset between his desires and his possibilities — W.P.Webb >
II. \ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷\ verb
Etymology: off (I) + set, v.
transitive verb
1.
a. : to place over against : balance
< offset items of deposit and withdrawal >
b. : counterbalance, compensate
< had speed enough to offset his opponents' greater weight >
2. : to form an offset in (as a wall, rod, pipe)
3. geology : to move horizontally to one side out of alignment by faulting
4. : to transfer (an inked impression) from one surface to another by contact
intransitive verb
: to receive an unintentionally transferred impression : set off
< interleaving to prevent offsetting >
III. adjective
Etymology: from past participle of offset (II)
1. : placed or moved out of line or out of the center
< fishing rod with offset handle >
< offset wheels >
2. : neither parallel nor intersecting — used especially of the axes of gears or pulleys
3. : printed by the offset method
< an offset postage stamp > |