释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024u•til•i•ty /yuˈtɪlɪti/USA pronunciation n., pl. -ties. - [uncountable] the state or quality of being useful;
usefulness. - [countable] a public service, as that providing electricity or water.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024u•til•i•ty (yo̅o̅ til′i tē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ties, adj. n. - the state or quality of being useful;
usefulness:This chemical has no utility as an agricultural fertilizer. - something useful;
a useful thing. - a public service, as a telephone or electric-light system, a streetcar or railroad line, or the like. Cf. public utility (def. 1).
- Often, utilities. a useful or advantageous factor or feature:the relative utilities of a religious or a secular education.
- Business[Econ.]the capacity of a commodity or a service to satisfy some human want.
- Philosophythe principle and end of utilitarian ethics;
well-being or happiness; that which is conducive to the happiness and well-being of the greatest number. - ComputingSee utility program.
- Business utilities, stocks or bonds of public utilities.
- Fooda grade of beef immediately below commercial.
adj. - (of domestic animals) raised or kept as a potentially profitable product rather than for show or as pets:utility breeds; utility livestock.
- having or made for a number of useful or practical purposes rather than a single, specialized one:a utility knife.
- designed chiefly for use or service rather than beauty, high quality, or the like:a utility vehicle; utility furniture.
- Latin ūtilitās, equivalent. to ūtil(is) useful (see utile) + -itās -ity
- Old French utelite
- Middle English utilite 1350–1400
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: utility /juːˈtɪlɪtɪ/ n ( pl -ties)- the quality of practical use; usefulness; serviceability
- (as modifier): a utility fabric
- something useful
- a public service, such as the bus system; public utility
- (as modifier): utility vehicle
- the ability of a commodity to satisfy human wants
- See disutility
Also called: utility truck, (informal) ute Austral NZ a small truck with an open body and low sides, often with a removable tarpaulin cover; pick-up- a piece of computer software designed for a routine task, such as examining or copying files
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French utelite, from Latin ūtilitās usefulness, from ūtī to use |