fixation
/fɪkˈseɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /fɪkˈseɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /fik-ˈsā-shən/ (ame, mw)
fixation — noun
- fixationsingular
- fixationsplural
1. an unhealthy or unusually strong interest in one particular thing or person, whe
an unhealthy or unusually strong interest in one particular thing or person, where someone keeps thinking about it and cannot turn their attention to anything else
Aarav's fixation with old vinyl records means his bedroom has no space left for clothes.
fixation with + noun for an obsessive interest
The coach worried about Naoko's fixation on winning every match at any cost.
fixation on + gerund for an unhealthy focus
Modern teenagers often develop a fixation with the number of likes they get online.
Henrik went to therapy after realising his fixation on his ex-girlfriend was ruining new friendships.
Romi's fixation with cleaning kept her scrubbing the kitchen floor twice a day.
- obsession
closest match; equally negative; both are countable nouns
- preoccupation
slightly softer; suggests something always on the mind rather than unhealthy
- compulsion
stronger; stresses an urge to act, not just to think
- indifference
complete lack of interest, the opposite extreme
文法句型
a fixation with/on + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person; the object of 'with' or 'on' is whatever they cannot stop thinking about. Often carries a negative judgement that the interest has gone too far.
常見錯誤
2. the action of joining one thing tightly to another so that it cannot move, usual
the action of joining one thing tightly to another so that it cannot move, usually by screwing, sewing, or gluing the parts together
The dentist explained that fixation of the new crown would take about twenty minutes.
fixation of + noun for the process of attaching
Antonia studied the careful fixation of each silver button onto the bridal gown.
Engineers tested the fixation of the solar panels before strong winter winds arrived.
Proper fixation of the shelf to the wall stops books from falling onto the dog.
- attachment
more everyday; less specialised than fixation
- fastening
wider; covers any joining method including buttons or zips
- removal
the opposite action of taking the parts apart
文法句型
fixation of + noun
用法筆記
Used in technical, medical, or craft contexts where the joining must be permanent or load-bearing. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is uncountable and refers to a physical action, never to a mental state.
常見錯誤
3. in science labs, the treatment of a small piece of plant or animal material with
in science labs, the treatment of a small piece of plant or animal material with a chemical so that it keeps its shape and can be safely stored or examined under a microscope later
Linh prepared the chemical bath for fixation of the leaf samples before lunch.
fixation of + sample for laboratory preservation
Poor fixation of the tissue ruined three days of careful microscope work for the students.
Ilan taught the new interns that quick fixation prevents the cells from breaking down.
The textbook describes fixation of muscle fibres using a special pink liquid called formalin.
- preservation
wider term; includes drying or freezing as well as chemical methods
文法句型
fixation of + tissue/sample/specimen
用法筆記
Used only in scientific writing about biology, histology, or pathology. Often followed by 'of' plus the material being preserved (tissue, sample, specimen). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense always involves a chemical agent.