assortment

/əˈsɔːtmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈsɔːrtmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈsȯrt-mənt/ (ame, mw)

assortment — noun

1. a mixed set of things, or sometimes people, that are similar in one way but diff

1.名詞B2
釋義

a mixed set of things, or sometimes people, that are similar in one way but different in shape, size, colour, type, or background.

例句

The bakery window held an assortment of fresh breads, sweet pastries, and small cakes.

assortment of + list of related items

Amara's grandmother kept a wide assortment of buttons in an old biscuit tin.

collocation: wide assortment of

同義詞
  • selection

    more neutral; suggests items chosen on purpose, while 'assortment' often implies a casual mix

  • variety

    focuses on the range of types; 'assortment' focuses on the physical group of items

  • mix

    informal; shorter and less specific about kind or category

  • collection

    broader; can be a single set of related items, while 'assortment' stresses difference within the set

反義詞

文法句型

assortment of + plural noun

wide/large/mixed assortment of

用法筆記

Almost always followed by 'of' + a plural or uncountable noun. Common adjectives in front signal how mixed the group is: 'wide', 'large', 'broad', 'mixed', 'colourful', 'strange', 'odd'. When applied to people, it usually carries a hint of surprise at how varied the group is.

常見錯誤

❌She bought an assortment of cheese.
✅She bought an assortment of cheeses.
💡the noun after 'of' is normally plural because the meaning is several different kinds.
❌There were many assortments of books on the shelf.
✅There was a wide assortment of books on the shelf.
💡one mixed group is one assortment; vary the adjective instead of pluralising.