horizons
horizons — noun
- horizonssingular
- horizonsesplural
1. the distant line that seems to separate the sky from the ground or ocean, as far
the distant line that seems to separate the sky from the ground or ocean, as far away as you can see.
From the old lighthouse, Ingrid watched distant horizons turn pink as the sun went down.
plural noun: distant horizons (the literal skyline)
For days the sailors saw only flat horizons and grey water around their wooden boat.
The desert stretched for miles, with empty horizons on every side of the small camp.
Folake climbed the hill at dawn to photograph the wide horizons beyond the rice fields.
On the cliff at sunset, Hugo watched dark ships fade into the distant horizons.
- skyline
The outline of land or buildings against the sky; about shapes more than the far dividing line.
- the distance
The far-off area you can see, without naming the exact line where sky meets land.
文法句型
the + horizon
on the + horizon
distant + horizons
用法筆記
Most often singular with 'the' (the horizon) for one skyline; the plural 'horizons' appears in descriptive or literary writing about wide, open views.
常見錯誤
2. the full range of what a person knows, has done, or thinks is possible, especial
the full range of what a person knows, has done, or thinks is possible, especially when this can grow wider.
Studying abroad in Lima really broadened Mateo's horizons and changed how he saw the world.
collocation: broaden one's horizons (gain wider experience)
Books from many different countries slowly widened Anjali's horizons beyond her quiet hometown.
The exchange programme opened up new horizons for students who had never left their village.
A part-time job at the clinic expanded Liam's horizons and sparked his interest in medicine.
A summer coding course opened wider horizons for Sofia, who soon joined a startup.
文法句型
broaden / widen + somebody's + horizons
new + horizons
open up + horizons
用法筆記
Almost always plural in this sense (broaden / widen / expand your horizons). Distinguish from sense 1: nothing physical is seen — it is about knowledge and opportunity.
常見錯誤
3. a distinct band of earth or stone that differs from the layers lying above and b
a distinct band of earth or stone that differs from the layers lying above and below it.
Christopher dug a deep pit to study the different soil horizons beneath the old farm.
geology: soil horizons (layers in a soil profile)
Geologists label each of the soil horizons with letters, from the dark topsoil downward.
label each horizon with a letter
The lower horizons held far more clay than the sandy layers near the surface.
Élise measured how thick the buried horizons were after the riverbank slowly wore away.
文法句型
soil + horizon
the + [letter] + horizon
lower + horizons
用法筆記
Subject is usually soil science or fieldwork; each horizon is named by a letter (O, A, B, C) in a soil profile.
4. In archaeology, a layer of ground from one period of time, known by the kinds of
In archaeology, a layer of ground from one period of time, known by the kinds of objects buried in it.
The dig revealed three separate horizons, each full of pottery from a different ancient people.
archaeology: dated horizons (layers of finds)
Beneath the temple, the lowest horizons held grain jars left by an ancient farming culture.
horizons hold finds from one ancient period
Antonia carefully recorded which tools came from the upper horizons of the cave floor.
Jabari brushed away soil to expose a horizon packed with bones, beads, and tools.
文法句型
cultural + horizon
the lowest + horizon
用法筆記
Used mainly by archaeologists; a horizon here is defined by its artifacts, not by depth alone.