alpine

/ˈælpaɪn/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈælpˌaɪn] /ˈælpaɪn/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈælpˌaɪn] /ˈal-ˌpīn/ (ame, mw) · /ˈæl.paɪn/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈælpˌaɪn] /ˈæl.paɪn/ (ame, ipa)

alpine — adjective

  • alpinepositive
  • more alpinecomparative
  • most alpinesuperlative

1. connected with the great mountain range of the Alps that stretches across centra

1.形容詞B1
釋義

connected with the great mountain range of the Alps that stretches across central Europe through countries such as France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria.

例句

Renata grew up in a small alpine village in Switzerland surrounded by snow-covered peaks.

collocation: alpine village + place name

The alpine climate in Austria attracts tourists who enjoy mountain hiking and fresh air.

attributive use before climate and geographical nouns

同義詞
  • Alps

    Used as a noun modifier ('Alps region') rather than an adjective; less formal than 'alpine'

文法句型

alpine + noun (region, village, scenery, climate)

用法筆記

Frequently used as an attributive adjective before place-related nouns. When this sense is intended, the context usually mentions a specific country in the Alps region.

常見錯誤

❌We went alpine hiking in Taiwan.
✅We went mountain hiking in Taiwan.
💡'Alpine' in this sense refers specifically to the European Alps range, not any high mountains.
❌The alpine climate in Japan is very cold.
✅The mountain climate in Japan is very cold.
💡Use 'mountain' or 'highland' instead when not referring to the Alps.

2. related to the sport of racing down steep mountain slopes on skis, including eve

2.形容詞B2
釋義

related to the sport of racing down steep mountain slopes on skis, including events such as slalom and downhill competition.

例句

Sofia competed in alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics in South Korea.

collocation: alpine skiing + Winter Olympics

Rohan prefers alpine racing to cross-country because he enjoys the speed of downhill runs.

contrast: alpine vs cross-country skiing

同義詞
  • downhill

    More common in casual conversation; 'alpine' is the formal competition term used by the Olympic committee

反義詞
  • Nordic

    Refers to cross-country skiing and ski jumping on flatter terrain

文法句型

alpine + skiing / race / event / championship

用法筆記

Only sense used in sports journalism and competition contexts. Contrasts with 'Nordic' skiing, which covers cross-country racing and ski jumping.

常見錯誤

❌She is an alpine skier who goes on flat forest trails.
✅She is a cross-country skier who goes on flat forest trails.
💡'Alpine' skiing means going downhill on steep slopes, not across flat terrain.

3. growing or living in the high, rocky zone of mountains above the line where tree

3.形容詞B1
釋義

growing or living in the high, rocky zone of mountains above the line where trees can no longer grow, found in mountain ranges worldwide.

例句

Alpine meadows are covered with wildflowers for only a few weeks each summer.

collocation: alpine meadow

Folake studied alpine plants that survive extreme cold and strong winds above the tree line.

同義詞
  • high-mountain

    Less technical and more descriptive; suitable for general writing about mountain environments

  • montane

    A technical ecology term for the forested mountain belt below the alpine zone; more specific than 'alpine'

反義詞
  • lowland

    Describes areas at low elevation near sea level, the opposite of high mountain terrain

文法句型

alpine + noun (meadow, plant, zone, region, climate)

用法筆記

Common in ecology, geography, and outdoor recreation writing. Unlike the Alps-related sense, this sense applies to high mountain environments anywhere in the world, from the Himalayas to the Andes.

常見錯誤

❌Alpine plants only grow in the Alps.
✅Alpine plants grow in high mountain regions all over the world.
💡The mountain-ecology sense of 'alpine' describes the high-altitude zone, not the European Alps specifically.
❌We visited an alpine forest.
✅We visited a subalpine forest.
💡True alpine zones are above the tree line, so there are no trees — use 'subalpine' for forests just below the tree line.

alpine — noun