general-purpose

/ˌdʒenrəl ˈpɜːpəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdʒenrəl ˈpɜːrpəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈjen-rəl-ˈpər-pəs ˈje-nə-/ (ame, mw)

general-purpose — adjective

1. made or designed to handle many ordinary jobs rather than one specific task — fo

1.形容詞B2
釋義

made or designed to handle many ordinary jobs rather than one specific task — for example, a kitchen knife that can chop vegetables, slice bread, and bone fish, instead of a tool built only for cutting cheese.

例句

Romi bought a general-purpose cleaner that works on glass, wood, and tiles.

general-purpose + noun (cleaner) with a list of typical surfaces

The library lends out general-purpose laptops that students can use for any class.

general-purpose modifies a tool category fit for many tasks

同義詞
  • all-purpose

    very close synonym; often interchangeable in product names

  • multipurpose

    stresses the number of different uses; common in technical contexts

  • versatile

    describes flexibility of use but can also describe people or skills, not just objects

反義詞

文法句型

general-purpose + noun

用法筆記

Almost always used attributively before a noun; rarely appears after 'be'. Subject noun is typically a tool, product, or program designed for varied tasks rather than a specialised one.

常見錯誤

❌This knife is general-purpose.
✅This is a general-purpose knife.
💡the adjective normally sits before the noun, not after 'be'.