diaphragm

/ˈdaɪəfræm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdaɪəfræm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdī-ə-ˌfram/ (ame, mw)

diaphragm — noun

  • diaphragmsingular
  • diaphragmsplural

1. the large muscle under the lungs that moves to help air go in and out of the bod

1.名詞C1
釋義

the large muscle under the lungs that moves to help air go in and out of the body

例句

The doctor asked Mauricio to relax his diaphragm before the scan.

body part in a medical exam

Deep singing uses the diaphragm more than the throat muscles.

pattern: use the diaphragm in singing

同義詞

文法句型

the diaphragm

breathe from the diaphragm

diaphragm pain

用法筆記

Usually singular when it means the body muscle. It often appears in singing, breathing, and medical contexts, especially in the pattern breathe from the diaphragm.

常見錯誤

❌Sing from your stomach.
✅Sing from your diaphragm.
💡In voice training, the diaphragm is the specific muscle that supports breathing.

2. a soft cup put inside the vagina before sex to stop sperm from reaching the womb

2.名詞C2
釋義

a soft cup put inside the vagina before sex to stop sperm from reaching the womb

例句

At the clinic, Alessia learned how to insert a diaphragm safely.

pattern: insert a diaphragm safely

Gabriel bought spermicide because his partner uses a diaphragm for birth control.

with spermicide for birth control

同義詞

文法句型

insert a diaphragm

diaphragm size

use a diaphragm with spermicide

用法筆記

Often appears with words like fit, size, insert, and spermicide. In everyday speech, people usually need context to know that this sense means the contraceptive device, not the body muscle.

常見錯誤

❌She took a diaphragm before bed.
✅She inserted a diaphragm before sex.
💡A diaphragm is a barrier device, not a pill you swallow.

3. a thin layer stretched across a hole or tube to keep two spaces apart

3.名詞C2
釋義

a thin layer stretched across a hole or tube to keep two spaces apart

例句

A torn diaphragm inside the pump let water leak all night.

The mechanic replaced the rubber diaphragm at the top of the valve.

machine part: rubber diaphragm in a valve

同義詞
  • membrane

    a broader word for a thin layer, not always a machine part

  • partition

    a more general divider, often more rigid than a diaphragm

文法句型

a rubber diaphragm

a diaphragm inside a valve

replace the diaphragm

用法筆記

Used for a separating layer in equipment, tubes, and containers. Unlike sense 5, this sense does not specifically mean the sound-making part in audio devices.

4. the part in a camera lens that opens or closes to control how much light enters

4.名詞C2
釋義

the part in a camera lens that opens or closes to control how much light enters

例句

Tuan closed the diaphragm to keep the bright sky from washing out the photo.

photography: control light entering the lens

On the old microscope, Eri adjusted the diaphragm before focusing.

optics: adjust the diaphragm before focus

同義詞
  • aperture stop

    the more technical optics term for the light-limiting mechanism

  • iris

    often used for the adjustable opening in a lens

文法句型

adjust the diaphragm

open the diaphragm

close the diaphragm

用法筆記

Mostly used in photography and optics. In everyday camera talk, many speakers simply say aperture for the opening itself.

常見錯誤

❌I changed the diaphragm to zoom in.
✅I changed the diaphragm to let in more light.
💡This part controls the opening size, not the lens magnification.

5. the moving disc inside a speaker or microphone that vibrates when sound hits it

5.名詞C2
釋義

the moving disc inside a speaker or microphone that vibrates when sound hits it or when sound is played

例句

Ingrid heard a buzz because the speaker diaphragm was loose.

audio: speaker diaphragm

The repair shop replaced the torn diaphragm inside the microphone.

audio: microphone diaphragm

同義詞
  • vibrating membrane

    a descriptive technical phrase for the moving sound part

  • cone

    a common speaker term for the moving part, especially in larger speakers

文法句型

speaker diaphragm

microphone diaphragm

replace the diaphragm

用法筆記

This sense is specific to audio equipment and often appears after the device name, as in speaker diaphragm or microphone diaphragm. Unlike sense 3, the part's job is to vibrate with sound.