console
/kənˈsəʊl/ (bre, ipa) · [kənsˈol] /kənˈsoʊl/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈɑnsol] /ˈkän-ˌsōl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkɒn.səʊl/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈɑnsol] /ˈkɑːn.soʊl/ (ame, ipa)
console — verb
- consolepresent simple I / you / we / they
- consoles3rd person singular
- consoling-ing form
- consoledpast simple
1. to speak kindly to a person who feels sad, upset, or let down, so they begin to
to speak kindly to a person who feels sad, upset, or let down, so they begin to feel calmer and less unhappy.
Yuna failed her driving test, so her mother consoled her with a hug and soup.
console + someone + with + something
After losing the match, the captain consoled the disappointed young players.
console + someone + after + event
Jack consoled his crying sister by saying their pet rabbit was in a happy place.
The hotel manager consoled the worried guests by offering them free rooms for the night.
Kwame's grandfather consoled him with stories of his own youthful rejections.
文法句型
console + someone
console + yourself
用法筆記
Often followed by 'with' to show the method of comforting. The reflexive form 'console yourself' is common and means using something to make yourself feel better (see sense 2 below).
常見錯誤
2. to use a thought, activity, or object to make yourself feel less disappointed or
to use a thought, activity, or object to make yourself feel less disappointed or unhappy about a bad situation.
After losing his job, David consoled himself with the thought that he would finally have time to travel.
console yourself with the thought that + clause
Elena consoled herself by eating an entire tub of ice cream after her boyfriend cancelled their dinner plans.
console yourself by + gerund
The losing team consoled themselves that they had played better than anyone expected.
Selim consoled himself with the fact that thousands of other applicants had also been rejected from the university.
Rohan consoled himself by calling his best friend and talking about everything except the exam.
- comfort yourself
more informal and slightly less common
- take comfort in
follows a different structure: 'take comfort in the fact that...'
- reassure yourself
focuses on reducing worry rather than sadness
- blame yourself
the opposite emotional direction — finding fault rather than comfort
文法句型
console yourself with + something
console yourself by + doing
console yourself that + clause
用法筆記
Unlike comforting someone externally, this reflexive form describes how a person copes with disappointment internally. Common structures include 'console yourself with + noun', 'console yourself by + gerund', and 'console yourself that + clause'.
常見錯誤
console — noun
- consolesingular
- consolesplural
1. a flat surface or unit that holds the buttons, switches, dials, and screens used
a flat surface or unit that holds the buttons, switches, dials, and screens used to operate a machine, vehicle, or electronic system.
The pilot adjusted the altitude by pressing a button on the aircraft's main console.
console as part of aircraft cockpit
Sofia turned a dial on the sound mixing console to make the guitar louder.
The guard watched twelve camera feeds from one console in the control room.
Red warning lights flashed on the engineer's console, signalling a problem in the power plant.
Diego cleaned the dust off the car's centre console, where the radio controls were located.
- control panel
more precise for machinery; interchangeable in most contexts
- dashboard
specifically the panel in a car or aircraft; not used for audio equipment
- control board
suggests a larger setup with multiple interconnected panels
用法筆記
Commonly modified by the type of equipment: 'audio console', 'mixing console', 'computer console', 'car centre console'. The 'centre console' in a car also includes a small storage compartment (see sense 4).
常見錯誤
2. a device that you connect to a screen in order to play electronic games, using h
a device that you connect to a screen in order to play electronic games, using hand-held controls to move and act in the game.
Omar saved his pocket money for months to buy a new video game console with two controllers.
video game console — the full noun phrase
The children took turns playing racing games on the console in the living room.
Nadia's older brother had three different game consoles connected to the same television set.
Many modern consoles allow players to download games directly instead of buying discs.
A loud cheer came from the bedroom as Amara beat the final boss on her favourite console game.
- game console
the full term, unambiguous
- gaming system
broader term that may include handheld devices
- PC
personal computer — the alternative platform for gaming
用法筆記
Often shortened to just 'console' in gaming contexts (e.g. 'I play on console, not on PC'). Common brands are called 'the Switch', 'the PlayStation', 'the Xbox' — these are specific consoles, while 'console' is the general term.
常見錯誤
3. a long, narrow table that is placed against a wall, often used in an entrance ha
a long, narrow table that is placed against a wall, often used in an entrance hall or living room for displaying decorative items or holding a lamp.
Zola placed a tall vase of fresh flowers on the wooden console table in the hallway.
The antique console against the wall was wide enough for a telephone and a small lamp.
console against a wall — the distinguishing position
Grace found a beautiful mirrored console at a second-hand shop and put it in her entrance area.
In the dining room, a marble console table stood beneath a large oval mirror.
- console table
the more precise term
- hall table
specifically for entrance halls
用法筆記
Also called a 'console table'. Unlike most tables, it is designed to be placed against a wall rather than in the centre of a room. Many have decorative legs or brackets.
常見錯誤
4. a cabinet or housing unit that contains electronic devices such as a radio, tele
a cabinet or housing unit that contains electronic devices such as a radio, television, or stereo system, or a small storage compartment between the front seats of a car.
The old television console was a heavy wooden cabinet that took up half the living room wall.
television console — a cabinet housing a TV
Arun stored his sunglasses and car registration papers inside the centre console between the driver and passenger seats.
centre console of a car — storage compartment
A 1970s stereo console stood in the corner, with a record player built into its lid.
Kavita found a lost earring stuck in the gap behind her car's centre console.
- cabinet
more general term for a storage unit
- housing
technical term for the outer casing of electronics
- centre console
specifically the car compartment between front seats
用法筆記
In modern usage, 'centre console' in a car almost always refers to the storage bin between the seats. The 'television console' sense is becoming less common as flatscreen TVs are mounted on walls instead.