| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024ten•den•cy /ˈtɛndənsi/USA pronunciation n. [countable], pl. -cies. - a natural disposition to move or act in some direction or toward some result:The car has a tendency to slide to the left.
See -tend-. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024ten•den•cy (ten′dən sē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -cies. - a natural or prevailing disposition to move, proceed, or act in some direction or toward some point, end, or result:the tendency of falling bodies toward the earth.
- an inclination, bent, or predisposition to something:a tendency to talk too much.
- a special and definite purpose in a novel or other literary work.
- Medieval Latin tendentia. See tend1, -ency
- 1620–30
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged Tendency, direction, trend, drift refer to inclination or line of action or movement. A tendency is an inclination toward a certain line of action (whether or not the action follows), and is often the result of inherent qualities, nature, or habit:a tendency to procrastinate.Direction is the line along which an object or course of action moves, often toward some set point or intended goal:The change is in the direction of improvement.Trend emphasizes simultaneous movement in a certain direction of a number of factors, although the course or goal may not be clear for any single feature:Business indicators showed a downward trend.Drift emphasizes gradual development as well as direction:the drift of his argument.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged proclivity, leaning.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: tendency /ˈtɛndənsɪ/ n ( pl -cies)- (often followed by to) an inclination, predisposition, propensity, or leaning
- the general course, purport, or drift of something, esp a written work
Etymology: 17th Century: from Medieval Latin tendentia, from Latin tendere to tend1 |