hybrid
/ˈhaɪ.brɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhaɪ.brɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhī-brəd/ (ame, mw) · /ˈhaɪbrɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhaɪbrɪd/ (ame, ipa)
hybrid — noun
- hybridsingular
- hybridsplural
1. a vehicle that runs on both petrol and electric power, switching between or comb
a vehicle that runs on both petrol and electric power, switching between or combining the two to use less fuel and produce fewer emissions
Felipe drives a hybrid that uses half the fuel of his old car.
drive + a hybrid; fuel efficiency comparison
Taxi drivers in Tokyo are switching to the Toyota Prius hybrid to cut fuel costs.
The Honda hybrid can travel sixty kilometres on battery power before the petrol engine starts.
Mark saved over three hundred dollars on fuel in his first year driving a hybrid.
- electric car
different — an EV has no petrol engine at all
- fuel-efficient car
broader category; not all fuel-efficient cars are hybrids
- petrol car
runs on a single fuel source
- diesel car
runs on a single fuel source
文法句型
drive/own/buy + a hybrid
用法筆記
Often shortened to just 'a hybrid' in informal speech. Distinguish from 'electric vehicle' (EV), which runs solely on battery power.
常見錯誤
2. a living organism created by crossbreeding two distinct species, varieties, or b
a living organism created by crossbreeding two distinct species, varieties, or breeds, typically to improve qualities such as strength, size, or resistance to disease
Pim's farm grows a hybrid of wheat and rye that resists disease.
hybrid + of + two species; crossbreeding for disease resistance
The liger, a hybrid of a lion and a tiger, rarely appears in the wild.
Farmers in Kenya use hybrid maize seeds that produce twice the yield of local varieties.
The rancher created a hybrid by crossing a Hereford bull with a Brahman cow.
- crossbreed
more specific to intentional breeding; less common in everyday speech
- mongrel
used only for dogs; carries a slightly negative tone
- offspring
general term for any young; does not imply mixed parentage
- purebred
an animal from parents of the same breed or variety
文法句型
hybrid + of + [species/breed]
用法筆記
Often used in agriculture and horticulture. The hybrid offspring may be sterile — a liger, for example, cannot produce its own young.
常見錯誤
3. something formed by blending two very different elements, styles, or traditions
something formed by blending two very different elements, styles, or traditions into a single thing
Björk's album Homogenic is a hybrid of orchestral strings and electronic beats.
hybrid + of + [style A] + and + [style B]
The building is a hybrid of modern glass and traditional brick.
Noor's cooking style is a hybrid of Malaysian and Chinese cuisine.
The café offers a hybrid of Japanese and Italian dishes on its menu.
- blend
suggests a smoother, more uniform mixture than hybrid
- combination
the most general term; less implication of crossing distinct categories
- fusion
often used for cooking and music; implies a seamless new creation
- pure form
something unmixed and true to one source
文法句型
hybrid + of + [noun] + and + [noun]
用法筆記
Subject often carries the descriptor 'a hybrid of X and Y' where X and Y are contrasting categories. Common in reviews and cultural commentary.
常見錯誤
4. a bicycle that combines features of a road bike and a mountain bike, making it s
a bicycle that combines features of a road bike and a mountain bike, making it suitable for both paved roads and off-road trails
Tunde rides a hybrid to work because it handles both roads and park paths well.
ride + a hybrid; dual-purpose use
Min-ji bought a hybrid bicycle after moving to a town with paved roads and gravel paths.
Adina bought a hybrid after her mountain bike felt too heavy on city streets.
A hybrid is lighter than a mountain bike but more stable than a road bike.
- cross bike
less common term for the same bicycle category
- commuter bike
overlapping category focused on city travel, not trail use
- road bike
optimised for speed on paved surfaces
- mountain bike
optimised for rough off-road terrain
文法句型
ride/own/buy + a hybrid
用法筆記
Hybrid bikes have flat handlebars, medium-width tyres, and a comfortable upright riding position. They are often recommended for casual commuters.
hybrid — adjective
- hybridpositive
- more hybridcomparative
- most hybridsuperlative
1. formed by combining parts from several distinct sources, systems, or styles
formed by combining parts from several distinct sources, systems, or styles
The company uses a hybrid system that combines office work with remote work.
hybrid system + that-clause; workplace context
Jisoo's design is a hybrid approach blending Korean and Western fashion.
hybrid approach; blending X and Y
Netflix uses a hybrid cloud model that stores popular shows on local servers and rare films in the cloud.
The school uses a hybrid teaching method with online lessons and in-person classes.
- pure
not mixed with anything else
- single-source
from one origin only
文法句型
hybrid + [noun]
be + hybrid
用法筆記
This is the broadest adjective sense, applicable across many domains including technology, education, fashion, and business. It often pairs with nouns describing systems or methods.
常見錯誤
2. describing a vehicle that draws power from both a petrol engine and an electric
describing a vehicle that draws power from both a petrol engine and an electric motor
Hybrid buses in London produce less nitrogen oxide than standard diesel buses.
hybrid + cars; comparative environmental benefit
The government offers tax breaks to people who buy hybrid vans.
Aarav chose a hybrid SUV because it uses less fuel on long drives.
Delivery companies are testing hybrid trucks to cut their fuel costs.
- electric
different — an electric vehicle has no petrol engine
- low-emission
broader category; includes electric, hybrid, and hydrogen vehicles
文法句型
hybrid + [car/vehicle/engine]
用法筆記
Commonly paired with vehicle types: hybrid car, hybrid SUV, hybrid van. Less common with non-road vehicles such as hybrid boats or hybrid aircraft, but usage is growing.
3. describing a work arrangement in which employees split their time between workin
describing a work arrangement in which employees split their time between working at the office and working from home or another remote location
Astrid's company introduced a hybrid work model after the pandemic.
hybrid work model; post-pandemic context
Many employees prefer hybrid schedules that allow two days at home per week.
hybrid schedules; employee preference
The marketing team holds hybrid meetings where staff in the office use screens to include remote colleagues.
A hybrid policy helps employees balance family time with office responsibilities.
- on-site
working in the office every day
- fully remote
working from home or elsewhere every day
文法句型
hybrid + [work/working/model/schedule]
用法筆記
This sense became very common after the COVID-19 pandemic. Distinguish from 'fully remote' (never in an office) and 'on-site' (always in an office).
常見錯誤
4. created by crossing parents from distinct species or varieties, especially in fa
created by crossing parents from distinct species or varieties, especially in farming or horticulture
Hybrid roses bloom longer and resist pests better than traditional varieties.
hybrid + [flower]; comparative benefit
The hybrid corn grown by Tuan's family produces larger ears than local strains.
In central Brazil, hybrid macaws appear where two macaw species share the same forest.
Hybrid grape varieties can survive colder winters than their parent types.
文法句型
hybrid + [plant/animal/species]
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively before nouns referring to living things. Do not use for non-biology combinations — see adjective sense 1 for those.