eight
/eɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈet] /eɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈet] /ˈāt/ (ame, mw)
eight — number
1. the whole number that comes after seven and before nine, used when counting thin
the whole number that comes after seven and before nine, used when counting things or saying how many there are.
Gabriela has eight cats at her home in the countryside.
eight + plural count noun (cats)
There are only eight students in the morning class today.
The eggs need to boil for eight minutes exactly.
Inês counted eight ducks swimming across the pond.
Nicholas paid eight dollars for a second-hand book.
文法句型
eight + plural noun
用法筆記
Always used directly before a plural countable noun: eight chairs, eight days. Do not add 'of' unless specifying a subset (eight of the chairs).
常見錯誤
eight — noun
1. the written symbol (8) or the word that stands for the quantity of seven plus on
the written symbol (8) or the word that stands for the quantity of seven plus one, used for example when talking about ages, scores, or house numbers.
The number eight is considered very lucky in Chinese culture.
the number eight as a noun phrase
Saira lives at number eight on Maple Street.
My little brother can already count to eight.
The row of houses ended with a tall building marked eight.
文法句型
the number eight
count to eight
用法筆記
When talking about a specific number as a label (house number, bus number), use 'number eight' or just 'eight' after the noun: Gate eight, Platform eight.
常見錯誤
2. the person, thing, or position that is number eight in a list, race, or ordered
the person, thing, or position that is number eight in a list, race, or ordered sequence — coming after the seventh and before the ninth.
Tunde finished eighth in the race and still received a medal.
eighth — ordinal position in a competition
The eighth house on the left is painted a bright shade of yellow.
Selim was the eighth person to arrive at the office this morning.
Noa opened the eighth box and found a gold necklace inside it.
- first
the opposite end of the order
文法句型
the eighth
eight in a series
用法筆記
This sense uses the ordinal form 'eighth' rather than the cardinal 'eight'. The definite article 'the' is almost always required: the eighth in line, the eighth chapter.
常見錯誤
3. a long, narrow racing boat designed for a team of eight rowers, each pulling one
a long, narrow racing boat designed for a team of eight rowers, each pulling one oar, or the eight-person team that rows such a boat.
The Oxford eight won the annual boat race by a narrow margin.
the + [institution] + eight = that institution's crew
Kofi trained every morning with his crew in the college eight.
The eight glided across the river as the cox shouted commands.
Lien watched the women's eight race past the finish line first.
- eight-oared boat
more explicit but less commonly used
文法句型
the + (institution) + eight
row in an eight
用法筆記
Common in British university rowing contexts. The definite article is usually required: 'the Cambridge eight', 'the club's eight'. Can refer either to the boat itself or the crew rowing it.
常見錯誤
4. a car, truck, or engine that has eight cylinders arranged to produce power, espe
a car, truck, or engine that has eight cylinders arranged to produce power, especially one with a V8 configuration.
The old eight consumed a lot of fuel but ran very smoothly.
an eight = an eight-cylinder vehicle (informal)
Xiu's father drove a black eight that had belonged to his grandfather.
Mechanics say an eight needs more oil than a smaller four-cylinder model.
Caleb parked his eight in the garage and checked the tyre pressure.
- V8
more specific — refers to the V-shaped cylinder arrangement
- four-cylinder
a smaller engine type
文法句型
drive an eight
an eight
用法筆記
Used informally, usually in automotive or mechanical contexts. The full phrase 'eight-cylinder' or 'V8' is more common in formal writing.
5. a playing card that shows eight symbols (called pips) on its face, belonging to
a playing card that shows eight symbols (called pips) on its face, belonging to one of the four suits: hearts, spades, clubs, or diamonds.
Gabriela won the hand when she played the eight of hearts.
the eight of + [suit] — naming a specific card
Lien placed the eight of spades on top of the pile carefully.
Inês realised the eight of clubs was missing from her deck.
Otis drew an eight and smiled at his sudden stroke of luck.
文法句型
the eight of + suit
用法筆記
When specifying the suit, the construction is always 'the eight of [suit]'. Without the suit, 'an eight' or 'the eight' may be used when the suit is clear from context.