ephemeron

ephemeron — noun

1. a type of insect that lives as an adult for only one or two days, such as a mayf

1.名詞
釋義

a type of insect that lives as an adult for only one or two days, such as a mayfly

例句

Every spring, Lakan goes to the river at dusk to watch the ephemerons hatch and take flight.

collocation: ephemerons hatch

Ryan noticed a tiny ephemeron clinging to the porch light, its body barely longer than his fingernail.

同義詞
  • mayfly

    the everyday English name for the most common type of ephemeron

常見錯誤

❌I saw an ephemeron in the garden and thought it was a butterfly.
✅I saw an ephemeron near the pond, which is a type of mayfly.
💡Ephemerons belong to the order Ephemeroptera and look different from butterflies; they are not a general term for any short-lived insect.

2. something that exists, is popular, or has importance for a very short period of

2.名詞C1
釋義

something that exists, is popular, or has importance for a very short period of time, such as a passing fashion or a fleeting moment of beauty

例句

The viral dance trend on social media was an ephemeron, forgotten within days.

collocation: viral ephemeron

Sofia knew that the quiet afternoon with her grandmother was a precious ephemeron she would always treasure.

同義詞
反義詞
  • permanent fixture

    something that lasts or stays for a long time

  • classic

    something that remains popular or valued over time, unlike an ephemeron

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense refers to any short-lived experience, trend, or object, not to insects. Typically used in literary, reflective, or formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌This phone broke after two years so it was an ephemeron.
✅This viral hashtag was an ephemeron, popular for only a few hours.
💡Ephemeron describes things that are inherently short-lived by nature, not things that simply stopped working.