| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024de•fy /dɪˈfaɪ/USA pronunciation v., -fied, -fy•ing. - [ ~ + obj] to challenge the power of;
resist boldly or openly:They seemed to enjoy defying my authority. - [ ~ + obj + to + verb] to challenge (a person) to do something thought of as impossible:I defy you to tell the difference between these two brands.
- to offer resistance to;
withstand: [~ + object]The plane seems to defy gravity.[ ~ + obj + to + verb]:The problem defies all attempts to solve it.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024de•fy (v. di fī′;n. di fī′, dē′fī),USA pronunciation v., -fied, -fy•ing, n., pl. -fies. v.t. - to challenge the power of;
resist boldly or openly:to defy parental authority. - to offer effective resistance to:a fort that defies attack.
- to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible:They defied him to dive off the bridge.
- [Archaic.]to challenge to a combat or contest.
n. - a challenge;
a defiance.
- Vulgar Latin *fīdāre, variant of Latin fīdere
- Old French desfier, equivalent. to des- dis-1 + fier to trust
- Middle English defien 1250–1300
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged dare, brave, flout, scorn.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: defy /dɪˈfaɪ/ vb ( -fies, -fying, -fied)(transitive)- to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly
- to elude, esp in a baffling way
- formal to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dare
- archaic to invite to do battle or combat
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French desfier, from des- de- + fier to trust, from Latin fīderedeˈfier n |